Royal Palaces, Riads & Restrained Luxury at The New Four Seasons Rabat

You find yourself at the Four Seasons in Rabat, but it's unlike any other Four Seasons you’ve been to. It’s something old and something new, a place that wears its history lightly, like a scarf thrown over the shoulder. The hotel, housed in the former Kasr Al Bahr—an 18th-century palace once meant for a Sultan—carries with it the weight of literal centuries on its structural shoulders. 

Here, there’s something restrained about the luxury. The palace, once a summer retreat for royalty, later a military hospital, has seen it all. Now, as a hotel, it houses eleven buildings—some old, some new, all scattered over five hectares of gardens, palm trees, and fountains. The lines between the old and the new blur, with six of the buildings kept in their original state, while the rest have been added to mirror the preserved historical structures. You can’t always tell what’s authentic and what’s not, and maybe that’s the point. 

Inside, the rooms are as modern as they come. Balconies and terraces are a standard feature, and the views either spill out to the ocean or into the lush, manicured gardens. The Sultan’s Riad, a two-floor residence tucked into one of the heritage buildings, is a much more secluded option. Its private infinity pool shimmers quietly, and the rooms, nearly a thousand square meters of them, are grand without being gaudy. 

When you walk into the entrance hall, there’s a sense of something momentous. The ceilings stretch high, the walls a muted nod to history, with just the right amount of modern detailing to make them feel like they belong to the present. 

Step outside, and it’s easy to lose yourself among the gardens. It’s an oceanfront oasis, but not in the over-the-top sense that so many resorts aim for. Here, it feels natural. Fountains bubble quietly. Palm, olive, and citrus trees throw dappled shadows over winding paths. The infinity pool glistens against the horizon. 

The spa at the Four Seasons Rabat takes this idea and elevates it. An indoor saltwater pool, a traditional Moroccan hammam, and a terrace for yoga classes, just to name a few of the offerings. The hammam, an ancient Moroccan tradition, fits naturally into the luxury of the hotel’s modern spa. It’s a reminder that everything new here is, in some way, connected to something old. 

When it’s time to eat, there are options, but not an overwhelming number. Brasserie Marie serves French cuisine, a nod to Rabat’s colonial past. Verdello brings Mediterranean fare to the table, ingredient-driven and fresh. Then there’s Flamme, more casual, offering freshly baked bread and pizzas by the outdoor pools. 

The Noora Lobby Lounge is where you might spend an afternoon, sipping tea and watching the day fade into evening. Bar Atlantique is where the night comes alive, with cocktails crafted by a team of creative mixologists, pulling from international trends without losing the Moroccan essence. If cigars and cognac are more your style, there’s a hidden Cigar Bar within the palace’s oldest building, a place that feels secret, almost forgotten by time. 

There’s a certain stillness at the Four Seasons Rabat. It’s a place where you could stay for a week and never feel hurried, where the days unfold as they wish, and you feel content to let them.