Magical Marrakech – Travel Guide : Part II

Hopefully I'm not driving you too potty with my many boastful travel posts spanning the past few weeks. Only two more to go I promise both of which are Morocco focussed.

I bought you part I of my Marrakech travel guide a few weeks ago, if you missed it check out here. Here goes part II...

La Pause

Remember in the SATC film when Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda all headed to the desert in fabulous flowing maxi dresses for a feast under the stars? Well La Pause, a rustic eco resort set amongst the landscape of the Agafay desert, offers you just that vibe and makes you feel like a real-life Carrie Bradshaw! I had read great reviews online from people saying it was 'the perfect oasis of calm' and 'a serene and tranquil heaven'. It just sounded too perfect to miss out on, so I contacted Eric, the charming manager of the resort who organised everything. 

As you can probably imagine, calm and tranquility isn't abundantly available in the heart of the city, so this little retreat is a good forty minute drive from central Marrakech, off the beaten track, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. With that in mind, make sure you take full advantage of the transport pick up and drop off service La Pause offers. For €90 it's totally worth it, as quite apart from the luxury of having a chauffeur ferry you from airport arrivals to the hotel reception, I have absolutely no idea how we would have found it otherwise!

As we drove at high speed through the sandy dunes I felt nervously excited about seeing the little slice of heaven I'd read such glowing things about. I was right to feel excited. La Pause in set down in a valley and from a distance looks like a perfectly formed little matchstick village. 

It was still light when we arrived and so we were invited to climb a nearby sand dune to watch the sunset with a g&t in hand, as you do! It was a gorgeous start to a spectacular night of pure and utter indulgence.

When the sun had disappeared we begrudgingly shuffled down the dunes and were led to our private Moroccan nomad tent glittering under the starlit sky stretched overhead. Flickering lanterns and sizeable fire pits led the way - pretty but actually bloomin' hot! The copious amounts of fire dotted around wasn't just there to create a charming atmosphere but to actually light the space. Unusually, La Pause doesn't use electricity and whilst we're on the subject there's no internet service and barely any mobile reception - three of the very reasons I love it so!

We settled down with enough time for a few group selfies followed by a moment of utter terror when a dessert toad shocked my friend Helen to her very core by jumping up her leg and sliding down it stripper pole style! 

We kept our feet safely tucked underneath us from that point onwards and devoured the delicious food laid before us in a flash. utterly lip-smacking and a snip in my opinion at €135 for the 3 of us excluding beverages. I'd go back every week if I could! 

Oh did I also mention the estate-grown olive oil they produce and sell - is this place heaven or what? 

A truly special night that I will never forget with two of my best friends. Next time I want to stay overnight in the candlelit Berber tents on-site to experience the full effect of this magical place. Next time...

La Pause

+212 5244-21576

Jardin Majorelle

Normal people declare their love with peonies, Charbonnel et Walker chocolates, breakfast in bed or a beautiful pair of Jimmy Choos. Not Yves Saint Laurent. He was in love with Marrakech and gifted the Jardin Majorelle to the city to prove his affection. Saint Laurent bought the garden and on-site Art Deco style villa back in 1980 after its original owner, Jacques Majorelle passed away. He wanted to preserve his memory and vision and above all keep it open so it could continue to be enjoyed every day by the public. Later in 2008 when YSL also passed, the gardens were donated to a foundation and a memorial to the fashion designer was constructed in the garden itself. 

I was lucky enough to experience the gardens whilst I was in Marrakech and let me say, this is like no other garden you will ever experience it your lifetime ... splashes of spectacular 'Majorelle Blue' everywhere and exotic rare plants span as far as the eye can see. We followed the winding paths snaking our way around stopping off at key points for photo opportunities...

After about half an hour we had seen all there was to be seen so we headed to the art gallery and gift shop on-site where I snapped up a few postcodes to take home for Mini and HK Mouse as keepsakes...

Jardin Majorelle

Rue Yves Saint Laurent

Marrakesh

+212 5243-13047

La Mamounia

The magic of La Mamounia is clear for anyone to see. A grand mosaic tiled arch is the first tell tale sign of the sheer decadence that awaits inside...

A hotel far beyond its 5 stars rating ... spectacular grounds in a league of their own that span 17-acres, a huge swimming pool that glitters back at you thanks to hundreds and thousands of iridescent tiles that line it's floor and hand painted ceilings from from cedar wood from the Atlas Mountains. There's many reasons behind why this hotel is a firm favourite with A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Mendes.

We headed to La Mamounia for the day to live like queens and see what all the hype was about. We paid for a day pass which was a bargain at just €40 which gave us access to the pool and spa. Hello hours of uninterrupted heaven stretching out in front of us!

A world away from the hustle and bustle of the souks that's for sure. After kicking back all morning in the uber comfy sun loungers, sipping on extortionately expensive champagne (£24 a glass - screammmm) but completely worth every penny and being waited on hand and foot by the super attentive poolside staff, we decided to head for some food.

The spa was also pretty spectacular too...

One piece of parting advice from me to you, check out the ice cream parlour on-site at the end of the main garden walkway - we got there too late in the day and it was closed. Biggest regret of our holiday - fact!

La Mamounia

Avenue Prince Moulay Rachid

Marrakech

+212 5243-88600

The House of Peroni heads East...

The House is back and that means one spectacular thing - it's Peroni o'clock every day for the next month people!!!

We've been lucky enough to frequent all past residencies but this one takes the biscuit for one standalone reason ... the house has thrown it's anchor down in East London, just a hop, skip and a jump from our Robbo Mousehold! Located on Brick Lane, in the Old Truman Brewery the doors will be open for just one month (until 10th June) enticing visitors to drop in and fill their Peroni boots up.

Last Wednesday we were cordially invited to the launch party where there were lashings of tasty bites, cocktails on tap, a magnificent floral wall masterpiece and fairground inspired installations lighting up the space. 

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Ohhhhhh....

 

It's Friiiiiiiday!

 

And, this time in three weeks, it'll be Boxing Day! Just how exciting is that?!?! Except of course, that does also mean that there's also that little matter of a whole sack of pressies to shop for and just under three weeks to do it in... And, is there anything less appealing than hitting the heaving shops armed with a long list of people to buy for when Christmas strikes? 

 

So, we suggest that this weekend you find a spare couple of hours, pop your well-watched copy of Elf in the DVD player, pull on your snuggest pyjamas and grab your laptop. Christmas e-tail is the only way forward at this time of year, and the sooner you log on and fill up your shopping trolley, the sooner you can breathe a huge sigh of relief and focus on getting merry at all those fabulous Christmas parties.

 

We'll be back next week with some suggestions if you're finding gift-spiration a little challenging right now. Until then, we're here to brighten your Friday with a quick whizz through what we've been up to over the last seven days, this week the Mice have mostly been...

 

Kicking off the week as we mean to go on by celebrating the greyest day of the week at Hong Kong's most brilliantly named Chinese restaurant, Ho Lee Fook (now open every Monday night!). How can anyone not have a good week after skipping past a whole staircase full of these lucky moggies on the way down to dinner?!

We nipped down there on Monday evening for a feast fit for a Friday. Think dish after dish of decadent deliciousness - Wagyu Steak Tartare, Kurobuta Pork Char-sui, Roasted Goose and Steamed Black Kingfish with pickled chillies and black bean sauce. Every last mouthful was scrum-tastic from the first nibble of the to-die-for dumplings...

... to the last cornflake of the Breakfast 2.0 (Horlicks ice-cream, cornflakes, oats, dried longans and cocoa coffee crumbs).

 

If you're in HK and haven't booked your Christmas Party yet - this might just be the answer to all your sake-soaked festive prayers. And if you're trying to come up with a truly delicious way to see out 2014 and welcome in the New Year, the NYE package looks pretty great too. We're talking a NYE banquet with free flow sake and non-stop tunes spun by an awesome DJ for a bargainous HK$888!

Leaping out of bed in the mornings to tear open our advent calendars like over-excited six year olds! But who can blame us when they're THIS awesome?!

HK Mouse's Lane Crawford Beauty Advent Calendar...

 

 

... and the London Mice's Liberty Beauty Advent Calendars!

 

What could be better at this time of year then a never-ending supply of beauty booty to get us looking sparkly enough to rock around the Christmas tree all night long?!

 

And on that note, we think it's about time you pack up for the week and take your sparkly, festive selves out for a small Christmas tipple...

 

Happy Weekend!

 

x

The Mice

Peckish Perfect Pub : Morgan Arms

You can't beat a really good boozer in my opinion but in London they're not so easy to come across. On the rare occasion you do hit the pub jackpot, hang on for dear life to the knowledge and be strictly strategic about who you tell, or you run the risk of it becoming the hot spot for every Tom, Dick & Harry! Seeing as you're part of my extended Mouse family, I'm going to share my latest pub love with you all...

Step forward, The Morgan Arms … tucked back from Bow station, nestled besides a gorgeous little square surrounded by row upon row of charming townhouses. It really is quite the picturesque spot which was a pleasant surprise as let's be honest, Bow isn't famous for it's beauty now is it? 

 

So a few Sundays ago I had arranged a girly catch-up with my very good and utterly gorgeous university pal, Lauren. I should probably draw your attention to the fact that I was appallingly hungover (Champagne brunch escapades the previous day to blame for that!). As a result, I was feeling incredibly sorry for myself - cue the ever so quiet violins, remember I have a Champagne head! I had given Lauren the heads up on the 'situation' so when I arrived I was greeted with an almighty bear hug! I immediately perked up - the prospect of a lazy afternoon of chatter and yummy food with one of my favourite people was just too good to waste by wallowing in hungover self-pity!

So first impressions - 10 out of 10. Pretty duck egg blue painted exterior, cute hanging baskets housing colourful happy petals and brass arched lights illuminated the drinking house. It helped that it was a miserable drizzly day outside, so as soon as I stepped through the doors I felt a rush of toasty warmth and was met with smiles all round! 

 

We headed straight to our table, nestled slap bang in the middle of the action offering up the perfect view of the glorious kitchen and head chef hard at work. We were immediately asked what we would like to drink. My answer, very quickly, was 'are you frickin' kidding me? Does this grey face look like it could handle any form of booze right now…??? I'll stick to cucumber infused water please' … our waiter nodded knowingly and scurried off, only to return 5 minutes later offering up Berroca - now if this doesn't award one brownie points, I don't know what will! Our food order was taken super quickly by our uber attentive waiter, there's no faffing around in this stellar establishment. Everything sounded uber-tasty but we generically went for the Sunday roast beef. I had heard huge hype about the tasty gravy and melt in your mouth fluffy yorkshire puds so I was pretty excited to taste-test these bad boys for myself… 

 

And....I'm happy to report that the roast was rip-roaringly superb! Beasting portions, vegetables cooked to perfection with that all important crunch, moreishly divine roasty potatoes, rare beef packed full of flavour and the gravy and yorkshires lived up to our sky high expectations. I was practically bursting at the seams when I took my last mouthful and whimped out of ordering dessert. Big mistake, HUGE! Lauren put her food sweats to one side and indulged in the passionfruit panna cotta. I had a cheeky mouthful when it arrived and regretted my rash decision immediately - light, creamy and stunningly sweet.

 

Will I be making a return visit? Damn straight I will! A weekly occurrence is most certainly on the cards in fact. Thumbs up, claps all round, gold star-worthy - Morgan Arms, two words … YOU. ROCK. 

The Morgan Arms

43 Morgan St 

Bow

London 

E3 5AAT

0208 980 6389

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Heavenly Heddon Street...

With so many swoon-worthy new restaurants and bars opening up in London every week, it's hard to keep track of the must versus the dust. So in true 3BM style we've been out and about taste-testing for you - major hardship!!! Today we present Heddon Street Kitchen...

Gordon Ramsay's latest addition to his ever expanding empire - soon he'll be ruling the restaurant kingdom single-handedly and if his Mac n Cheese side is anything to go by we'll be all the more merrier and happier for it! Brand spanking new, this little hot spot only opened last weekend, so I decided to get ahead of the crowds and check it out early doors. 

First impressions were glowing as Gordon R himself graced us with his presence, (for a mere five minutes, but still...) - gold star service or what! The all-day brasserie is set just off Regent Street, and takes the place of The Living Room, right next to Strawberry Moons but we won't dwell on that fact!!! Spanning two floors, boasting an impressive wine tasting and pairing counting, a raw bar, a terrace out front and an open kitchen so you can watch the masterchefs at work, always a nice touch! 

Moving onto the grub ... my pal and I opted for the warm Bang Bang chicken salad with bags of flavour and the California maki rolls with snow crab, avocado and tobiko to start. 

Swiftly followed by the HSK short rib beef burger with marrowbone, hickory smoked bacon ketchup and Monterey Jack and the slow-roasted Dingley Dell pork belly with spiced apple sauce. 

If that wasn't enough we also ordered up the the to-die-for macaroni cheese with garlic roasted crumbs - yum! But the pièce de résistance is the dedicated ice cream bar upstairs where you can create your own retro desserts and boozy cocktails!

#winning

Heddon Street Kitchen

3 - 9 Heddon Street 

London 

W1B 4BE