On the city’s edge with the Atlas foothills as a dramatic background, Selman Marrakech showcases Jacques Garcia’s Arabo-Moorish design within six hectares of rose gardens, an 80-metre pool as well as grounds including stables and paddocks. At the heart of the resort’s dining scene is La Terrasse by Jean-François Piège serving refined Mediterranean and Moroccan dishes.
Marrakech continues to boom, and over recent decades the city, especially it’s landscaped outskirts are unrecognisable, now home to ultraluxury resorts, residential developments, and golf courses.
Selman Marrakech resort
Selman Marrakech opened in 2012 as a family project from Saida and Abdeslam Bennani Smires, shaped by Jacques Garcia design and alive with an equestrian spirit. Rose gardens scent the air, and twisted olive trees cast quiet pockets of shade. Two handsome stables and five paddocks hold a private collection of purebred Arabian horses, while the Chenot Spa completes this distinctive resort.
La Terrasse
Arriving for lunch we pass through the decadently furnished entrance salon and step out onto the elevated terrace. There’s a fountain at the centre, while the shaded tables are dressed in white linen with elegant ceramics. Beyond the terrace balustrade the long pool draws a cool line through the gardens towards the Andalusian Pavilion. The suited headwaiter greets us and takes us to our table.
La Terrasse is the first milestone in the hotel’s collaboration with Jean-François Piège, who began working with Selman Marrakech in 2024. The brief is simple to describe and satisfying to taste. Marry Moroccan produce with Mediterranean ease, while the team deliver it with grace.
Lunch here begins with a cocktail. The Cos’Moroccan brings marjoram-infused vodka, green lemon, and cranberry into a refreshing sip. Next time I’d like to try the aromatic sage margarita.
Menu by Chef Jean-François Piège
Our first plates include dill-marinated gravlax sea bream, lifted by cucumber vinegar, exquisitely presented on a green ceramic dish, The Mimosa eggs are topped with salmon roe and a little dill, and the creative Wild squid carbonara replaces pasta with thin ribbons of squid, tangled through a light carbonara that takes a subtle hint of smoked beef. A golden egg yoke rests on top, ready to be stirred in, coating each strand. The sommelier suggests a Moroccan white, Grande Cuvée Vin Blanc AOG Zaër.
Later came long dishes of skewered salmon with a gentle sweet-and-sour glaze that catches the heat so the edges char lightly while the centre stays tender. The mixed lamb skewers are a hit too.
The vanilla bean crème brûlée cracks with a clean snap, revealing a delicious creamy custard. The pure origin chocolate soufflé delivers depth and richness; these puddings are definitely for sharing. For a fresher finish, a plate of pineapple with pomegranate and mint is a light choice.
The setting for this memorable lunch is magical, with its view of the 80-metre pool, said to the longest in the city, if not Morocco. I can understand why La Terrasse is sought after for outdoor lunches, unhurried afternoon teas and intimate dinners under the stars.
The partnership with Piège also stretches to the Pool Bar and room service with light, refreshing plates, and a fine dining room, SABO by Jean-François Piège.
Accommodation
Selman Marrakech offers luxury accommodation across thirty rooms, twenty Junior Suites, and five Suites as well as five Private Villas, each with designer Garcia’s signature style of rich textures and colour. Many open to terraces or private gardens. Privacy comes easily, not through gimmicks but through space and planning.
Wellbeing
The Chenot Spa is worth a visit. Unique in Morocco, it covers 1,200 square metres with seven treatment rooms, four hydrotherapy rooms, a hydro-massage pool, two heated outdoor pools, two hammams and a gym. The mood nods to the heated baths of old Istanbul while applying the Chenot method to restore rhythm and balance.
Before one goes, explore the gardens too, strolling past the paddocks to the stables.
Contact Details
Website: www.selman-marrakech.com
Address: HXFH+5QC، Km5 Route d’Amizmiz, Marrakesh 40160, Morocco
