Connected since the 1970s by the fabled hippy trail, the links between Marrakech and Ibiza run deep. Here's a guide to where to go, what to do and and who to see in the Moroccan capital this winter, by one of the city's chicest residents.&nbsp;

The hotelier, brand consultant and style setter Philomena Schurer Merckoll has been visiting Marrakech since 2005. She opened her first property, the much-imitated Riad Mena, in 2014 and has become a cult figure in the city thanks to her creativity, warmth and ability to connect likeminded souls. The Moroccan capital has changed much in Philomena&rsquo;s tenure but retains the visceral and inspirational energy that first captivated her. Here, she spills the secrets of her Marrakech address book to reveal a mix of her favourite places, from timeworn classics to the here and now.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/psc_marrakech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Petanque Social Club&nbsp;</a>
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 Crafted by Ibiza design duo <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/people-of-ibiza/people-of-ibiza-diego-alonso-and-alexeja-pozzoni" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alexeja and Diego</a>, PSC is the new offering from Kamal Laftimi, the Marrakech restaurauteur behind some of my other favourite places such as NOMAD and Cafe des Epices. Housed in a 1930&rsquo;s former Petanque Club, you enter a vast, magical garden in the middle of the new town of Gueliz. From breakfast to after dinner drinks, this is the place we are all meeting&nbsp; these days, for its delicious Mediterranean Moroccan fresh food and je ne sais quoi atmosphere. The Sahara Spritz - a Moroccan take on the classic Campari Spritz with a hint of saffron - is my go-to drink.
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sanabenzaitar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sana Benzaitar</a>
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 Sana Benzaitar is one of the few female entrepreneurs selling <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/design/rugs-interior-design-trends-2024-darkyn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rugs</a> in a traditionally male dominated world. Her studio is in a fabulously airy former contemporary art gallery, but it&rsquo;s her collection that keeps me coming back. I often order bespoke rugs that she makes with weavers in the Beni Mririt region of the Atlas - the quality is above and beyond!
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Au Fil d'Or
<blockquote>
 Around since <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/fashion/ibiza-style-the-history-of-espadrilles-from-fishermen-to-yves-saint-laurent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yves Saint Laurent</a>'s days, this tiny little shop behind a glass facade is nestled in the heart of the souk. It&rsquo;s the place I go to for all things classic Moroccan, from the softest suede babouches in a myriad of colours to simple cotton shirts and kaftans in the classic style. My favourites are the cashmere capes that work just as well in cool Marrakech winter evenings or over my shoulders in London in spring.
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<a href="https://www.grandcafedelaposte.restaurant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caf&eacute; de la Poste</a>&nbsp;
<blockquote>
 A <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/design/marrakech-when-roche-bobois-magnifies-the-courtyard-of-a-riad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marrakech</a> institution, I&rsquo;ve been going to Caf&eacute; de la Poste since I first arrived in the city. One of the first projects designed by Studio KO (the architects behind the equally great YSL Museum), it has all the atmosphere of a bygone era. Going there in the evening makes you feel like you have entered the move set of Casablanca. The French brasserie-style food with Moroccan influences &ndash; such as oysters fresh from Dakhla - and always bumping into friends in a cosy atmosphere makes you understand why this became a Marrakech classic.&nbsp;
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<a href="https://moromarrakech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MORO</a>
<blockquote>
 In contrast, the brilliant MORO hotel, cafe and boutique is a sharp representation of the new Marrakech. Using all the crafts and artisanry on offer in the city but creating a totally new aesthetic, this is a world of its own. The cafe serves delicious juices to rehydrate after a morning spent at the Majorelle Gardens and YSL Museum, just a short walk down the road.
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<a href="http://riadmenaandbeyond.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Riad Mena</a>
<blockquote>
 And of course, there is my beloved riad, Riad Mena. To stay in a riad is the only way to discover Marrakech and its winding, ancient medina. The feeling of stepping oout of the bustling streets into our traditional Moroccan house built around a central courtyard is like entering another very peaceful and tranquil world. It&rsquo;s this mix of energies that makes Marrakech so inspiring.
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<a href="https://www.berberlodge.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Berber Lodge</a>
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 Last but not least, in the past years I have really fallen in love with the Moroccan countryside. Our sister property Berber Lodge is only forty minutes but a world away from the buzz of the city. Earth-built adobe style buildings set in a huge garden where you can have the most delicious lunch made with fresh produce from the garden, under the shade of a centenary <a href="https://www.lofficielibiza.com/travel/masseria-torre-maizza-an-enchanted-parenthesis-in-puglia-in-the-heart-of-olive-trees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">olive tree</a>. It&rsquo;s just the most restful spot after a whirlwind day in the energy of town.
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Marrakech: An Insider’s Guide by Philomena Schurer Merckoll

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