117-Room Ritz-Carlton Rabat Now Open In Morocco’s Capital

The luxury hotel scene in Morocco keeps improving, as we see all kinds of new openings, from the Park Hyatt Marrakech, to the St. Regis Tamuda Bay, to the Four Seasons Rabat. Well, we can now add yet another hotel to the list…

Basics of the Ritz-Carlton Rabat

The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam, has opened in Morocco as of September 2024. For those not familiar, Rabat is Morocco’s capital city, and it’s located on the Atlantic Ocean. The city holds a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, and is known for its historic landmarks reflecting its past French and longstanding Islamic influences.

The Ritz-Carlton Rabat is described as “a palatial oasis of contemporary majesty,” and it’s located within 440 hectares of forest and lush gardens.

The property features a total of 117 keys, including 100 rooms and 17 suites, each with a private terrace facing the pool and garden.

As you’d expect, this resort features a huge number of amenities. Among these are an outdoor and indoor pool, a full-service spa, and a gym (interestingly the property doesn’t feature a club lounge, which Ritz-Carlton is often known for).

As far as dining goes, the property boasts several venues, including:

• Mediterranean Brasserie, the all-day dining restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• The Lobby Lounge, open throughout the day, serving drinks and light snacks
• Palapa, the poolside restaurant open from late morning until early evening, serving a Pan-American menu
• Blind Tiger, the signature bar, open in the evening

I kind of love the entire press release about this hotel opening, and can’t decide whether this is AI word salad, or whether Marriott just has a really artsy person writing these property descriptions. For example:

The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam offers a collection of outdoor spaces in an oasis of lushness and tranquility. The Andalusian-style gardens are a masterpiece of landscaping. Perfectly arranged, the whispering fountains and geometric mosaic patterns offer a restful spectacle in a lavish setting, where the fragrance of flowers and the coolness of water invite contemplation and relaxation. The monumental pool unfolds with resplendent grandeur. Its grand dimensions and refined design are enhanced by sparkling mosaic borders, reflecting the sunlight and creating a shimmering effect that magnifies the entire garden. Surrounded by sunbeds and shaded cabanas, it constitutes a haven of peace where every moment is imbued with tranquility.

Ritz-Carlton Rabat rates & points requirements

How much will a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Rabat cost you? Currently nightly cash rates start at 3,540 MAD (~$365). While not cheap by Moroccan standards, it is one of the more attractively priced Ritz-Carlton properties out there.

If you are going to book a cash stay, I’d highly recommend doing so through the Marriott STARS program. This will score you perks like complimentary breakfast, a $100 food & beverage credit, a room upgrade subject to availability, and more.

Meanwhile if you’re looking to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points, nightly rates start at 70,000 points. Keep in mind that it’s possible to get a fifth night free on award redemptions, so you can potentially pay as little as 56,000 points per night. Since pricing is dynamic, this is all subject to change. Based on my valuation of 0.7 cents per Bonvoy point, paying cash is typically going to be a better value.

Bottom line

The Ritz-Carlton Rabat has just opened, and is an exciting new luxury Marriott property in Morocco. I can’t say that Rabat was ever on my radar, but the city’s luxury hotel scene is certainly improving, between this and the Four Seasons. It’s nice to see increasingly good hotel options in Morocco, outside of Marrakech.

What do you make of the Ritz-Carlton Rabat? If any OMAAT readers have been to Rabat, is it worth a visit?