| El Fenn | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| General information | |
| Location | Derb Moulay Abdullah Ben Hezzian, 2, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco |
| Owner | Vanessa Branson, Howell James, Madeline Weinrib and Graham Head |
El Fenn is a boutique hotel in Marrakech, Morocco opposite the Koutoubia Mosque.[1] El Fenn has often been listed as one of the best hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler being included on their Gold List in 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2024.[2][3][4][5][6] "El Fenn" means art in the Arabic language. El Fenn has 42 rooms, a roof top bar and restaurant, courtyard cafe and bar and several private swimming pools. The El Fenn shop[7][8]stocks clothes and artifacts designed by people living and working in and around the city including a collaboration with a non-profit co-operative AlNour.[9][10]
History
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Originally built around 1830, El Fenn was a historic Caïd's palace in the Medina, a World Heritage Unesco site.[11] Vanessa Branson and Howell James bought the site in 2002 that had been divided and different parts owned by different families. They reunited the space and restored it over the next 2 years. The restoration of the ancient historic building was with great sensitivity retaining many of the Riad's huge traditional rooms and original features including Zelig tile work, tadelakht, and intricate plaster work. El Fenn opened in 2004 with 6 rooms and over the coming years it gradually expanded into nearby riads.[12][13][14] In 2018 Madeline Weinrib[15][16] and Graham Head became partners.
El Fenn has had a cultural role to play in Marrakech, most notably as the hub for the Marrakech Biennale (venue) between 2005-20016.[17][18][19] Marrakech Biennale participants included Antony Gormley, Alan Yentob, Julian Schnabel, Eric Van Hove, Zadie Smith, Isaac Julien, Faouzi Bensaidi, and Hicham Benohoud.[20] El Fenn was also the venue for TedXMarrakech[21][22]in 2012 with Hans Ulrich Obrist,[23] Jon Ronson[24]and Clive Stafford Smith.[25] In 2016, El Fenn hosted key events during Cop22 Marrakech.[26][27]
Notable guests have included Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Gwyneth Paltrow, Katy Perry, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman, Carey Mulligan, Antony Gormley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Annie Lennox, Richard E Grant, Julian Schnabel, David Chipperfield, Richard Branson and Kim Cattrall.[28][29][30][31][32][33][34]