Two whole pages in the Sunday People on maison mk. Great review - the journalists were with us for a week and had a fantastic time. Its always funny having journalists staying at the riad because you constantly wonder what they are thinking about everything. Thankfully, they all seem to love what we are doing & they have a great time.
Great coverage from OK Magazine in May. Thought we might have a photo of Jallel & Pauline (the managers) standing by the fireplace dressed in pearls & black tie, but it seems OK! has happily moved on from that sort of photoshoot!
And this was the other article in the same magazine...
Cream of the Crop
Maison MK
Opened in February, this avant-garde riad is
the brainchild of a pair of fashion photographers
who came to Marrakesh on a shoot and fell
in love with the place.
There are six bespoke suites, which come with cool extras like a dedicated iPod stereo system and a complimentary mobile phone to call the staff on if you get lost. The terrace has views of the medina skyline and Koutoubia mosque, and is laden with soft, stylish cushions. Then there are the massages enjoyed in two dedicated courtyard treatment rooms, as well as first-class dining options. The only downside is that you might feel like you don’t want to bother going anywhere else during your stay. DOUBLES FROM 3,445 DIRHAMS (€300) A NIGHT, INCLUDING BREAKFAST. TEL: +212 (0)24 376 173, WWW.MAISONMK.COM.
Double article in this month's in-flight magazine from Ryanair...firstly on Jallel, our manager...
MARRAKESH
JALLEL TABET, HOTEL MANAGER
Soak up the exotic sights of Morocco’s second-largest city, and don’t be afraid to mingle with the locals
“I’M from Algeria originally, so have
always had a special connection
with North Africa. I’ve travelled all over the
world, but there is nowhere else quite like
Marrakesh. It’s the most thrilling and intriguing
place, and I cannot see myself leaving in a hurry.
“After growing up in Africa, I moved to the UK and learned English while working in the hotel and catering trade. When I was offered a job here last year, they didn’t need to ask me twice to move back. Marrakesh is the perfect combination of all the best bits of Europe, Africa and the Middle East – a desert oasis that you cannot really pin down.
“Sometimes new arrivals think Marrakesh is dangerous, but I totally disagree. It’s much safer than London or Paris. Yes, people will approach you trying to be your ‘guide’, or sell you something, but they normally take no for an answer when you insist, and the tourist police keep a watchful eye on things in the medina.
“My advice for first-timers is come with an open mind and don’t be afraid. Lose yourself in the rhythm and breathe in the exotic sights and sounds. The people here are some of the most open and friendly anywhere in the world. Learning even a few simple words of Arabic will enrich your time in the city and help open up new experiences, as it sets you aside from most visitors.
“Another great thing here is the food. Don’t be afraid to eat at the smoking stalls in Djemaa el-Fna. They use hot oil and grills, so hygiene is good. Also try one of the classy Moroccan restaurants for a real all-evening feast. There are also many international restaurants, with everything from great pizza to a quality steak.
“Some people worry things in Marrakesh are changing. There are a lot of big international brand hotels opening outside the medina, but Marrakesh has absorbed travellers from all over for centuries, so I think it will cope with the round of new arrivals without losing any of its magic.”
USP Maison MK is a six-bedroom riad, modernly appointed, unlike most of its peers who try to evoke Morocco of antiquity. Set in the crooked streets of Marrakech’s lively old medina, inside it meshes Islamic and 21st-century architecture.
The interior design is the work of Paul Hopkins, a fashion photographer, and the place reflects his stylish eye: seamless organic lines, tranquil nooks and a flowing spaciousness.
AMBIENCE The spa is on the ground floor and features just two treatment rooms; one “dark” for calming massage therapy, and one “light” for beauty treatments. They abut the spacious courtyard and are shuttered with elegant wood panels.
After your treatment you can take a dip in the small pool at the centre of the riad's open-air courtyard, though at certain times of the year it might be too chilly.
At dusk, it’s particularly picturesque: the gracious and good-looking staff strews the illuminated pool with rose petals and tea lights flicker around the circumference. A dip and a glass of the house Moroccan rose are just the thing after your body gets a walloping from head masseuse, Sylvie Delpy’s strong thumbs.
EXPERIENCE During my treatment there was construction going on outside. The rat-a-tat-tat of hammers seriously impeded my ability to de-stress and enjoy my Thai massage, despite the valiant efforts of the practitioner.
Though street noise is endemic in Marrakech, fortunately every chamber in Maison MK – including the treatment rooms – is equipped with a sound system to which you can hook your own ipod or one of the pre-loaded minis the hotel provides (chilled out Corrine Bailey Rae is on the playlist, as is the decidedly less chill Eminem). Ms Delpy, a California-trained yoga aficionado, turned up the juice and drowned out the clanging with Charlotte Church.
Treatments, like the hotel itself, fuse old and new age. The exfoliation treatments use sand and argan oil, an artisanal specialty produced by Moroccan women that’s increasingly being incorporated into western mainstream beauty products. It’s rich in wrinkle-fighting vitamin E. Their signature manicure incorporates “black soap” the emollient used by locals in their weekly visits to their hammam, and a dash of rosewater, one of the country’s major exports.
FOOD Maison MK offers a seven-course French-Moroccan fusion tasting menu with oddball twists like a Mojito sorbet palate cleanser. If staying at the hotel you can opt to accompany the chef to market to help pick out that evening’s cuisine.
IN CROWD It’s too early to name-drop as it’s only been open a month, but because of the owner’s fashion-credentials and the nouveau-boutique feel, Maison MK already has a bit of a buzz going among the magazine editor set. Expect high-profile media types on romantic weekends and style-savvy loved-up couples.
WALLET WATCH The spa’s price-point is rather modest: Facials start at €30 (£22), and an hour-long massage will set you back just €35, going up to €50 if you book an appointment with the head masseuse. Their signature luxury manicure lasts an hour and is €25, though you can get a quickie polish-job for €15. Yoga is also available privately (€50) or in a group up to 6 (€90). Stays begin at £115pp per night.
Morocco's glamorous party capital, Marrakech, is known for its busy souks and the bustling Djemma el-Fna marketplace, where fire-eaters, snake charmers and orange sellers gather each night. However, the streets of the pink medina hide other treasures, including beautiful madrassas and charming riads. Sought after for their cool, tiled courtyards, fashion photographers Paul and Aoibheann Hopkins have recently transformed one of these traditional houses into a boutique hotel. Maison MK offers a sophisticated haven of serenity, with curved walls, clean lines and high-tech gadgets, yet it manages to retain plenty of Moroccan charm.
The six suites are decked out with handmade beds, silk chiffon artwork and deep cast iron roll-top baths. There's also a state-of-the-art screening room, luxurious spa and a fantastic rooftop patio, perfect for surveying the view whilst enjoying breakfast or dinner. The cuisine is a fusion of French and Moroccan influences, with traditional tagines and pancakes on the menu. Enjoy mint tea and a slice of freshly baked cake in the patio's tented area, or treat yourself to a barbeque whilst admiring Marrakech's pink square roofs and the stunning Atlas Mountains stretching along the horizon. (www.maisonmk.com)
Maison MK riad in Marrakech
The name may suggest it's a patisserie in Milton Keynes, but in fact, Maison MK is the latest opulent riad hotel to open in Marrakech. Slouching on piles of silk cushions on a roof terrace overlooking the steamy city square may feel like a bit of a travel cliche, but this sophisticated conversion, completed with the help of interior designers and lighting consultants, does the sultry, decadent look to perfection. There's an Arabic tent area, banquette seating encircles the pool, and the six suites feature organza draped beds on raised plinths.
· From £115pp per night, 01428 682 262, maisonmk.com
Feb 2008 Issue of Condé Nast Traveller we had two pictures & the following review...
"New-wave hoteliers are mixing the traditional and the modern in Morocco.
There's a new breed of hotelier in Morocco, among them Paul Hopkins, owner of maison mk, an old riad in Marrakech's medina. 'We've created something cool and interesting' he says. "maison mk is 80 per cent Western yet curvy & sensual, so its still exotic and romantic - like Marrakech'. The perfectionist former fashion photographer focused on details. 'We had designer tebags before we had walls, the toiletries are from a niche supplier in Paris and the hangers from Marseille.' Guests in each of the six suites are allocated a mobile phone full of useful local numbers. "
And again...this one i found whilst flicking through the magazine at the hairdressers! Nice surprise...
"Sex up your city break
If you'd rather cure urban fatigue by retreating to your room, there's good news from Barcelona & Marrakech.
In the latter, curved walls & specially commissioned paintings make for a super-sophicticated place to hole up at maison mk (with the bonus of the North African climate). Make the most of it with a dip in the round pool, hemmed by slinky banquettes or cosy up round the fire at night on the roof terrace. "
Neofile section - sunday travel magazine
"Marrakech's sensory overload can make anyone feel disorientated, but there'll be no let up in the weirdness at maison mk (www.maisonmk.com), a riad opening on Jan 1. It's owner, photographer Paul Hopkins, has gone for an 'organic' design - walls curve into floors and ceilings, and the pool grows out of the ground. If it gets a bit much, retreat to the spa for its signature massage...in complete darkness. Come to think of it, that might make things worse."
Bit of a strange one this, but they say all publicity is good publicity...so lets just put it down to a slightly strange journalistic style of writing...
