Million Air Fall 2024

Clockwise from left One of the themed apartments; Le Sushi Bar; La Grande Table Marocaine

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restaurants share a pretty enclosed courtyard, should you wish to dine alfresco. The bar, also on the lobby fl oor, pays homage to Le Bar Diplomate, the fi rst American bar in Morocco, which attracted its share of luminaries in the 1950s and ’60s. Order a cocktail or peruse the cigar library. Up on the 23rd fl oor, the rooftop bar and restaurant is an urban sanctuary with trees growing up through the retractable pergola and a neutral color scheme with deep-green velvet and olive-green furnishings — a calming respite contrasted with the mad honking of the tra ffi c below. The sunsets here are spectacular; sit for hours and watch the sun paint the sky before it dips behind the mosque. There’s also the fi ne dining restaurant, La Grande Table Marocaine, with similarly captivating views. Serving classic Moroccan cuisine (M’qui de Petites Pêches des Côtes de Casablanca, a traditional dish of Casawi fi shermen; quail makfoul; lamb kofta; turbot tajine and a selection of couscous), there are two private dining areas that can be closed o ff from the rest of the restaurant — or keep the doors open to enjoy the live music. All restaurants are open to non-guests, so you’ll see the city’s well-heeled having business meetings and cocktails. To access both restaurants, there’s a glass footbridge — you can look down at the city beneath your feet. (There’s a non-glass walkway, too, if heights aren’t your thing.) RELAX The 27,000-sq-ft spa — the largest in the city — is spread across two fl oors with treatment rooms, a traditional hammam, swimming pool, beauty salon and a fully equipped gym with an adjoining studio for one-on-one boxing sessions. There’s also a spacious hair salon, designed by Sarah Hamizi of La Barbière de Paris salons in France, that caters to male grooming, from haircuts to beard trimming. The spa’s treatment menu is bountiful; I went for a 24-karat-gold age-defying facial that uses collagen and elastin, mogra, king of jasmine and 24-karat gold leaf. Book it for the morning and you won’t need a touch of makeup all day. EXPLORE While the hotel acknowledges that guests might be in town on business (there’s a printer and a shredder in every room, plus 47,200 sq ft of event space), there’s still plenty to explore. Book a sightseeing tour with the concierge (ask for Naima, an a ff ableand fabulously passionate guide) to cruise around the city in a Maybach. You’ll visit Le Petit Paris and its stunning Art Deco architecture, the Old Medina, and the incredible Hassan II Mosque — it’s one of the largest in the world and it took six years and thousands of craftsmen, who worked round-the-clock in shifts, to create. Naima will explain the details of the craftsmanship and take you to the best spots to snap pictures. You’ll have to remove your shoes to enter, so it’s best to wear sandals. By Samantha Coles One-bedroom Themed Apartment from $1,700 per night. Contact casablanca@royalmansour.com, +1 800 745 8883, royalmansour.com

STAY The unmatched service begins long before you even get close to the hotel. Airport transfers are in a Maybach, with the pristinely dressed driver presenting a traditional silver Moroccan pot with rose water to refresh (apparently, it is tradition to have the water sprayed on your face). There are 149 guest rooms to choose from, but opt for one of the four apartments. Each one has a theme paying homage to previous guests, and this theme dictates the decor. The two-bedroom, 2,368-sq-ft apartment’s theme is fashion: Within its chic living room (check out the magni fi cent views across the city, including the Hassan II Mosque), you’ll see a dressed mannequin that is changed four times a year, as well as copies of Vogue from the 1950s. The one-bedroom, 1,614-sq-ft apartment’s theme is music, so there you’ll fi nd a gorgeous turntable

complete with a number of vinyls to spin. All apartments come with butler service, gorgeous views of the city and a workspace — some apartments even have a watch winder. The largest suite is the four-bedroom Royal Suite. At 12,800 sq ft, it has a cinema room, fi tness studio, spa with hammam and a hanging garden on the 24th fl oor. DINE There are four restaurants and one bar: the lobby fl oor’s La Brasserie serves re fi ned French cuisine courtesy of chef Éric Fréchon of Paris’ three Michelin-starred Epicure (be sure to get a side of the perfectly crispy fries); Le Sushi Bar serves up divine sushi including the ‘Wagyu sandwich’ — juicy chunks of Wagyu between small bits of toast. Or, if you can’t decide, go for the omakase experience, where chef Keiji Matoba will provide culinary delights. The two

Photos Cyrille Robin