Article and photos by Dylan Clements

‍Last updated: July 2026

I had wanted to stay at Amanjena for years, and Morocco had been on my list for even longer, so I was genuinely excited about this trip.

Amanjena opened in 2000 as Aman’s first property in Africa, and it still feels unlike almost every other hotel in Marrakech.

It sits on 13 acres outside the city and has just 40 Pavilions and Maisons, so it never feels busy. The whole resort is built around reflecting pools, courtyards, olive trees, palms, and low rose-colored buildings.

It is extremely photogenic but in saying this photos do not do it justice, you need to see this resort for itself.

I spent a huge amount of time taking photos because there is always something else to notice. An archway. A lantern. A reflection in the water. A courtyard you somehow missed the first time.

The resort is even better at night.

There are hundreds of candle holders throughout the property, and every evening the team fills them with real candles and lights them by hand. Many hotels would use electric ones, but Amanjena doesn't.

That probably sums up the hotel quite well.

It would be much easier to use electric candles, but every evening the team still goes around lighting each one by hand. Once they're all lit and the reflections start dancing across the water, the whole resort changes.

Amanjena is also now strictly for hotel guests. The restaurants and bar are not open to outside visitors, mainly because so many people wanted to come in just to photograph the property and, from what I understand, it started creating crowds that took away from the serenity Aman is known for.

I was pleased about this.

One of the things I like most about Aman is the feeling that once you're through the gates, you're away from everything else. Keeping the resort for guests only helps preserve that.

The Lobby and Concierge

The lobby sets the tone for Amanjena straight away. It is large and open, with rose-colored walls, Moroccan arches, high ceilings, lanterns, and views across the main reflecting pool.

There is no busy reception desk or constant stream of people coming and going. Check-in feels calm, and the space feels more like a private residence than a conventional hotel lobby.

The concierge also deserves a mention. We were buying quite a lot of homewares for our house renovation, and instead of sending us to the obvious tourist shops, the team gave us a long list of places to visit, many away from the busiest parts of the Medina.

Several of the shops even supplied Amanjena itself.

We found some excellent rugs, pottery, and furniture, often at better prices than the more tourist-focused stores. That local knowledge

Arrival and Welcome Ceremony

There is no traditional reception desk at Amanjena.

Instead, we were welcomed by a member of the team dressed in traditional Moroccan clothing, who prepared mint tea for us with Amanjena's main reflecting pool in the background.

It was a great way to arrive and immediately slowed everything down after the journey.

We completed the check-in formalities there while enjoying our tea, and the whole process only took a few minutes.

We were then introduced to our host and escorted to our Pavilion. On the way, he gave us a tour of the resort, pointing out the restaurants, bar, spa, swimming pool, boutique, and other facilities.

As the resort is spread across 13 acres, I appreciated this. Amanjena is much larger than it first appears, so it was useful knowing where everything was rather than having to go looking for it later.

It was a calm and very Aman way to start the stay.

Where Is Amanjena?

Amanjena is around 20 minutes from Marrakech Menara Airport.

The airport appeared chaotic when we arrived, with long lines at immigration, so we had arranged a meet-and-greet service in advance.

We were met as we came off the plane and fast-tracked through immigration and customs, which made the arrival far easier. I would recommend arranging this, particularly if several international flights are landing at the same time.

Once we were through, the drive to Amanjena was straightforward.

The resort is located just outside central Marrakech, close to Amelkis Golf Club and Royal Golf Marrakech.

The Medina, Jemaa el-Fnaa, the souks, Bahia Palace, and many of Marrakech’s main attractions are around 15 to 20 minutes away by car, depending on traffic.

Some people see the location as a negative because it is not within walking distance of the Medina. For me, it was one of the hotel’s biggest strengths.

We spent our days wandering through the souks and shopping for rugs, pottery, lanterns, and homewares for our house renovation. Then, around 20 minutes later, we were back at Amanjena.

Marrakech is exciting, but it can also be busy and overwhelming. Being able to leave all of that behind at the end of the day was a major part of the appeal.

Rooms at Amanjena

Amanjena is an intimate resort with only around 40 Pavilions and Maisons.

There are no conventional hotel rooms at Amanjena. Even the entry-level Pavilion is a large standalone building with its own entrance, private courtyard, and generous indoor and outdoor living space.

What I liked most about the rooms is that they feel like you're in Morocco.

So many luxury hotels have gone down the same route of beige walls, pale timber, boucle furniture, and interiors that could be almost anywhere in the world. Amanjena couldn't be more different. The architecture, colors, furniture, and craftsmanship all reflect Morocco, giving the rooms a real sense of place rather than feeling like another interchangeable luxury hotel.

We booked an entry-level Pavilion and were fortunate enough to receive a complimentary one-category upgrade to a Deluxe Pavilion. We were more than happy with this.

You enter through a heavy wooden door set into Amanjena's rose-colored walls. There are no hotel corridors or endless rows of identical room doors. Each Pavilion stands on its own and feels much more like a private Moroccan residence than a hotel room.

The first thing you notice is the scale.

The ceilings are exceptionally high, making the Pavilion feel far larger than the square footage suggests. At one end of the room, the king bed sits on a raised platform, naturally separating the sleeping area from the rest of the space without using walls or partitions.

The bed is enormous, dressed in crisp white linen and surrounded by handcrafted bedside tables, Moroccan lanterns, carved timber furniture, handwoven rugs, and decorative pieces that feel authentic rather than imported simply to create a theme.

There is warmth throughout the Pavilion. Rich plaster walls, dark timber, traditional textiles, handcrafted furniture, and soft lighting create an atmosphere that feels unmistakably Moroccan without ever becoming overdone.

Opposite the bed is a full sitting area with sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, and plenty of room to relax. It is somewhere you could happily spend an afternoon reading, enjoy room service, or have a drink before dinner.

One feature I particularly enjoyed was the working fireplace.

Having the fire lit after dinner completely changed the feel of the room. The glow from the fire against the warm plaster walls made the Pavilion feel incredibly cozy despite its generous proportions. Marrakech can become surprisingly cool in the evenings, so it is a feature you'll genuinely appreciate rather than simply admire.

The dressing area is equally generous, with large wardrobes, extensive drawer space, luggage storage, full-length mirrors, and plenty of room for two people to unpack properly.

The marble bathroom continues the same feeling of space.

A deep soaking tub sits at its center, accompanied by large vanity areas, generous counter space, quality fittings, and enough room that two people can comfortably get ready without feeling cramped. Like the rest of the Pavilion, it feels luxurious while remaining completely in keeping with the Moroccan design.

Outside, every Pavilion has its own enclosed courtyard with outdoor seating. It is wonderfully private and the perfect place for a morning coffee or a quiet drink before heading out for dinner.

Our plan wasn't to spend all day in the room. We wanted to explore the souks, spend time in Marrakech, and visit the Atlas Mountains, so the Deluxe Pavilion suited us perfectly. It offered more than enough space without paying for facilities we probably wouldn't have used very often.

One piece of advice I would give is not to rely on an upgrade.

With only around 40 accommodations across the entire resort, Amanjena regularly operates close to full occupancy. If a Pavilion Piscine or one of the larger Maisons is important to you, I would reserve that category from the outset rather than hoping one becomes available.

Amanjena participates in Virtuoso, so eligible bookings receive the same benefits regardless of which room category you reserve. Our booking included:

• Daily breakfast for two
• Hotel credit during the stay
• One-category room upgrade, subject to availability
• Early check-in, subject to availability
• Late check-out, subject to availability
• Welcome amenity

I would never book expecting an upgrade. Treat it as a welcome bonus if it happens, but book the room category you'll be happiest staying in from the start.

Turn-Down Service and Daily Amenities

One of the things Aman does particularly well is the small touches that appear throughout your stay.

Each day, the housekeeping team refreshed the room while we were out, replacing bottled water, restocking the minibar, replenishing fresh fruit, and leaving small treats that changed from day to day. Everything was done quietly, and you rarely saw anyone working.

The evening turn-down service was equally well done. The lights were softened, slippers were placed beside the bed, curtains were drawn, and the room felt completely different when you returned after dinner. It created a calm atmosphere that made it easy to switch off for the night.

One evening, Amanjena arranged a romantic turn-down as a surprise. The bed was decorated with rose petals, candles were placed throughout the Pavilion, a candlelit bath had been prepared, and a bottle of Moroccan wine was waiting alongside a selection of canapés, sushi, desserts, olives, and nuts.

It never felt overdone or theatrical. Like most things at Amanjena, it was understated, elegant, and thoughtfully put together. If you're celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary, birthday, or simply want a memorable evening, it is well worth arranging in advance.

Dining at Amanjena

We ate very well at Amanjena.

The resort has several different places to eat, and each one feels quite different. That helped because we were not having every meal in the same dining room.

One thing I like about Aman, and this applies across the brand, is that the food is rarely overworked. The menus are built around recognizable dishes, whether Moroccan, Japanese, or Italian, but they are cooked extremely well and made with high-quality ingredients.

Nothing feels designed just to look impressive on a plate. The focus is on getting the basics right, and Aman usually does that better than most.

Breakfast at Arva

Breakfast is served at Arva, overlooking Amanjena’s main reflecting pool.

The setting is hard to beat first thing in the morning. You have the water in front of you, palm trees all around, birds in the gardens, and the sound of the fountains in the background.

Breakfast is a mix of buffet and à la carte.

The buffet had fruit, pastries, breads, cheese, smoked salmon, cereals, fresh juices, and Moroccan items. Hot dishes were ordered separately.

I also tried the Moroccan breakfast, which came with msemen, baghrir pancakes, local honey, olive oil, preserves, and mint tea.

Msemen is a layered Moroccan flatbread, while baghrir is a light pancake covered in tiny holes that soak up the honey.

It was a far more interesting breakfast than ordering the same egg dish again.

Arva

Arva is Amanjena’s Italian restaurant and sits beside the main reflecting pool.

We only went there for dinner, but it was still good to have another option within the resort. The setting is relaxed, with tables outside overlooking the water, and it looks especially good in the evening once the candles and lanterns are lit.

The menu is mainly Italian, with pasta, seafood, salads, and lighter Mediterranean dishes.

We did not spend enough time there to give a detailed verdict, but it is useful to know there is another restaurant available when you want a break from Moroccan food.

Nama

Amanjena also has Nama, its Japanese restaurant.

Every Aman I have stayed at seems to have a Japanese restaurant, and I always make a point of eating there because the food is consistently excellent.

Amanjena was no exception.

We had dinner at Nama one evening and ordered sushi, nigiri, maki, and tempura. Everything was fresh and very well prepared.

Japanese food may not be the first thing you think of when staying in Morocco, but after several Moroccan meals, it was nice to have something completely different.

The menu also includes sashimi and dishes from the robata grill.

I would still prioritize The Moroccan Restaurant on a short stay, but Nama is well worth booking as well.

The Moroccan Restaurant

If you only eat at one restaurant during your stay, make it The Moroccan Restaurant.

It was easily my favorite meal at Amanjena, but more than that, it is one of the most beautiful hotel restaurants I have ever been in.

I wasn't able to photograph it because there were guests dining and I didn't want to invade anyone's privacy, but hopefully the Aman image above gives you an idea of what it's like.

You walk through a traditional Moroccan entrance into a candlelit courtyard surrounded by olive trees, carved arches, rose-colored walls, lanterns, and intricate Moroccan details. Everywhere you look there is something to catch your eye. We were lucky enough to have a traditional Moroccan musician playing during dinner as well, which really suited the setting. It never felt over the top, just quietly in the background while everyone enjoyed their meal.

The menu is excellent. Rather than trying to reinvent Moroccan food, it focuses on the country's classic dishes.

We started with briouates, which are crisp pastry parcels filled with ingredients such as chicken, shrimp, beef kefta, cheese, or vegetables. Harira, Morocco's traditional soup made with tomatoes, lentils and chickpeas, is another classic, along with chicken and seafood pastilla.

For the main course, I ordered the preserved lemon chicken tagine.

If you've never had a tagine before, it's both the name of the dish and the clay pot it is cooked in. Everything cooks slowly inside the sealed pot, allowing the meat to become incredibly tender while the spices, preserved lemon, olives, herbs and sauce all come together. It's one of Morocco's signature dishes and something you have to try while you're here.

Other choices included lamb with saffron and apricot, monkfish, seabass, beef tagine, couscous dishes and slow-cooked lamb mechoui for sharing.

Desserts continued the Moroccan theme with saffron mille-feuille, Moroccan orange salad, chocolate baghrir pancakes and sweet briouates.

For me though, this restaurant was never just about the food.

By the time dinner started, the candles had all been lit across the resort, the musician had begun playing, and the whole place had a warmth that is difficult to describe. It was one of those evenings where you find yourself slowing down, looking around the room between courses and thinking, this is exactly why I wanted to come to Morocco.

Olive Grove

We had lunch in the Olive Grove most days.

The tables sit beneath mature olive trees, with views across the golf course, so it feels very different from eating beside a standard hotel pool.

The menu included salads, sandwiches, grilled dishes, pasta, seafood, and pizzas from the wood-fired oven. The pizzas were especially good.

The same menu is also available around the pool, which is only a short walk away, so you can order there without having to move far.

We usually preferred sitting in the Olive Grove, having another drink, and then heading back to the pool afterwards.

Amanjena Bar

The Bar is another great-looking room, with rose-colored walls, dark seating, Moroccan details, fireplaces, low lighting, and a terrace overlooking the main reflecting pool.

We usually came here for a cocktail before dinner. Once the fire outside was lit and the candles around the resort were glowing, it was one of the best places to sit in the evening.

Because Amanjena is reserved for resident guests, the bar stayed quiet and never felt crowded with people coming in just for drinks or photos.

The Pool and Public Areas

Amanjena is spread across more than 13 acres, and you notice the size of it almost immediately.

It is not one large hotel building. The Pavilions, restaurants, spa, library, pool, gardens, and courtyards are all spread across the grounds.

Walking around never felt like you were simply trying to get somewhere. There was always another courtyard, another stretch of water, or another part of the resort I had not noticed before.

The main swimming pool is around 33 metres long and surrounded by palms and loungers. There was plenty of space between the beds, and it never felt busy.

There was no music and no organised activity. Most people were reading, swimming, or sleeping in the sun, which was exactly what I wanted.

Service around the pool was very good. Towels arrived quickly, water was topped up, and the team checked in without constantly interrupting.

The reflecting pools are a huge part of Amanjena. You cannot swim in them, but they are everywhere and help define the resort. The light changes across the water throughout the day, and the reflections are especially good in the early morning and late afternoon.

The library is a large, quiet room with built-in bookshelves, comfortable chairs, board games, and plenty of Moroccan detail. We did not spend hours in there, but it was a useful place to sit during the hotter part of the day.

There is also a boutique selling clothes, hats, bags, sunglasses, and a few homeware pieces. It was larger than I expected and worth looking around, although the selection is very much priced as you would expect inside an Aman.

The gardens are very well kept without feeling too formal. There are mature olive trees, palms, hedges, and flowering plants everywhere, set against the pink walls and green roofs.

For photography, Amanjena is excellent. Because the resort is so spread out, it was usually easy to take photos without other guests in the background.

Amanjena Spa

One thing I tend to do whenever I stay at an Aman is book a treatment. The spas are usually one of the highlights of the stay, and I have had consistently good experiences across the properties I have visited.

At Amanjena, I booked a massage and also tried the traditional Moroccan hammam. Several clients I had booked here had recommended it to me, so I decided it was time.

The treatment starts with steam, followed by traditional black olive soap and exfoliation using a kessa mitt. Everything is then rinsed away before the treatment finishes with oils and moisturizer. It sounds quite straightforward, but I felt noticeably better afterwards.

I found it particularly relaxing after travelling, and I would book it near the beginning of a stay rather than leaving it until the end.

The spa also has an indoor heated pool, fitness center, yoga studio, tennis courts, and additional wellness facilities.

Aman Experiences

One of the reasons I wanted to stay at Amanjena in the first place was because of one of Aman Experiences.

A friend of mine who works for Aman shared photos from an excursion into the Atlas Mountains, and from that moment I knew it was something I wanted to do. We booked it, and it ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.

The drive takes you into the Atlas Mountains, where you're welcomed into the home of a local Amazigh (Berber) family.

We spent time learning about their daily life before sitting down to a homemade meal they had prepared for us. It was simple, hearty food and exactly the sort of experience I enjoy when travelling.

We also met their donkey, who was naturally one of my favourite parts of the visit. Donkeys are my favourite animal, and I actually have two of my own, so I was always going to enjoy that.

Responsible tourism is very important to me. I trust Aman completely, but I still did a lot of my own research before booking because I wanted to make sure the visit genuinely supported the local family and community rather than treating somebody's home as a tourist attraction.

After experiencing it myself, I came away feeling it had been handled respectfully from start to finish.

One Minor Frustration

I like my reviews to be as honest as possible.

Our stay at Amanjena was fantastic, and the hotel delivered everything I had hoped it would.

There was, however, one minor frustration during our stay.

Another guest repeatedly made speakerphone video calls around the resort.

The first time was during dinner in The Moroccan Restaurant. Later that evening he did the same thing in the bar. The following day it happened again, including while I was having a treatment in the spa, where I could hear the conversation through the wall.

It wasn't particularly loud, certainly not enough for staff on the other side of the room to hear, but if you were sitting nearby, you couldn't help but listen.

I mentioned it to the team twice.

I know they spoke to him on the first evening, and I believe the General Manager also spoke with him the following day. Whether they could realistically have done more, I don't know. Perhaps they were as firm as they could be and he simply didn't care.

It was disappointing because one of the reasons people stay at Aman is for the peace and quiet.

Thankfully, it was one inconsiderate guest rather than anything to do with the hotel itself.

Is Amanjena Worth It?

Absolutely.

If you're looking for somewhere with DJs around the pool, a lively social scene, and a packed schedule of activities, Amanjena probably isn't the right choice.

If, on the other hand, you're looking for somewhere to genuinely switch off, I think it is one of the best resorts in Morocco.

I'd wanted to stay here for years, and it exceeded my expectations.

What impressed me most wasn't one single thing. It was how everything came together. The architecture, the gardens, the food, the spa, the service, and the sheer amount of space all create an atmosphere that is difficult to find elsewhere.

I also appreciated how seriously the hotel takes guest privacy. Restricting the restaurants and bar to resident guests helps preserve the peace that Aman is known for, and after staying here, I completely understand why they made that decision.

Would I come back?

Without hesitation.

Book Amanjena with Clements Travel

As a Virtuoso travel advisor, I can book Amanjena with a range of complimentary benefits that are not included with most standard reservations or online bookings.

Depending on the rate and room category booked, these can include:

Daily breakfast for two
Room upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Hotel credit to use during your stay
Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

When you book through Clements Travel, your reservation remains directly with Aman. You will pay the hotel directly through Aman’s secure payment system, and there are no booking fees or additional charges for using my service. You receive the same hotel confirmation, while also benefiting from my advice, support, and direct relationship with the property.

Before you arrive, I personally introduce every client to the Amanjena team and share any important preferences or details about the stay. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, honeymoon, anniversary, or simply want the best possible experience, I will do everything I can to secure the best room allocation available and make sure the hotel knows who you are before arrival.

I can also assist with spa reservations, airport transfers, dining, special occasions, and other arrangements in advance. This gives the Amanjena team time to prepare properly and helps create a more personal stay from the moment you arrive.

If you are considering Amanjena and would like first-hand advice on the different Pavilions, Maisons, room locations, dining, spa treatments, or resort experiences, I would be delighted to help. Having stayed at Amanjena myself, I can provide honest recommendations based on my own experience and help you choose the option best suited to your trip.

Contact Clements Travel for a complimentary, no-obligation quote for Amanjena, including the latest special offers and exclusive Virtuoso amenities.