The Royal Treatment: Why a trip to Morocco should be on your birthday list

Some people like their birthday to be a low-key affair, but not me. A birthday wish came true when we left for the enchanting city of Marrakesh.

A nearly four-hour flight from London takes you to Morocco’s ‘Red City’, and I was glad to have swapped the gray English skies for blue.

In the heart of the old city lies the bustling Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by ancient city walls. Within these walls, our airport pick-up took us to IZZA, a cozy yet opulent complex of seven interconnected riads.

It was my first time in a riad – traditional Moroccan houses arranged around a courtyard – which has become popular with travelers looking for an immersive yet intimate experience. As you enter IZZA, the sounds of the city are muffled by the bubbling fountains in the tranquil courtyards.

Eight years in the making, this North African gem is an ode to designer Bill Willis, best known for creating the fictional “Rick’s Bar” from the movie Casablanca.

Bill spent four decades in Marrakech, where he designed many iconic homes in the red city, including those of French designer Yves Saint Laurent, and is widely regarded as the founder of Moroccan-style interior design.

IZZA’s “Bill Willis Bar” even features the same floor design as in the movie, an attention to detail that I really appreciate as a Casablanca fan.

No two rooms are the same in this stylish property, with each of the 14 rooms designed to reflect the famous Moroccan personality after which they are named.

There is the enormous Yves Saint Laurent room, which exudes style in every corner and features selected illustrated books for inspiration.

However, I stayed in the Jack Kerouac room, also known as the “green room” because of the beautiful jade green tiles on the floors and bathroom walls – perfect for a traveler.

One of my favorite rooms in the building was the library with an eclectic collection of books that matched the theme. Not to mention, they’ll definitely save you when you forget to pack a book by the pool.

I spent most of my stay cool in the property’s three pools, where it was 40 degrees in the afternoon.

Nothing makes my Leo heart happier than being pampered, and the staff at IZZA excels at making every interaction feel like royalty.

From breakfast on the terrace to lunches by the pool to lavish dinners on the roof, meals at IZZA are exquisitely prepared from a menu featuring local, seasonal produce.

The octopus hot dog and watermelon salad became instant favorites, and the slow-cooked lamb from my birthday dinner earned me an effusive compliment from the chef.

We also got to try traditional Moroccan dishes such as seafood tagine, an aromatic stew slow-cooked in a conical clay pot that I am now desperately trying to find in London.

No visit to Morocco is complete without a traditional hammam, and I planned it perfectly for the afternoon of my birthday.

As the steam enveloped me in a cocoon of warmth and the kessala (women who practice scrubbing in the hammams) covered my skin with the Moroccan black soap, I couldn’t help but think that there was no better way to end another year . live my life. to start. late twenties.

Finally, I am literally shedding my old skin.

A stay at the IZZA is also a feast for the eyes, because you are, as it were, living in an art gallery. The property is home to more than 300 works of art, from contemporary Moroccan works to NFTs on digital displays.

There’s something special about being surrounded by a multi-million dollar art collection that exudes refined luxury – something any birthday girl can appreciate.

To top it all off, every angle provides an Insta-worthy photo to go with that all-important birthday post.

Marrakech also had a lot to offer elsewhere: with its lively bazaars, cats on every corner and the opportunity to stock up on the best spices or tea blends.

I especially enjoyed visiting the Jardin Majorelle, the most interesting botanical garden I have ever seen. The strikingly intense blue of the museum building, known as Majorelle Blue, has become my favorite color when someone asks for it. You can even purchase paint samples in the gift shop.

As the sun sank below the horizon on my last evening at IZZA, casting a warm, golden hue over the labyrinthine streets of Marrakech, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for being in such a beautiful place on my special day.

I’d experienced getting lost in the streets of Marrakech, riding a tuk-tuk, finding bargains in the souks and even visiting my first hammam.

It was also the first time that “Happy Birthday” was sung to me in three different languages ​​– Arabic, French and English – thanks to the IZZA staff.

Marrakech was never on my bucket list, but after spending just four days in the city, I can imagine returning with a group of friends to relax in IZZA’s warm hospitality, admire the art and explore the city.

Staying in a luxurious riad is the closest you can get to feeling like royalty. For anyone suffering from Main Character Syndrome – or just enjoying their birthday – this is the perfect place to celebrate yourself.