Arva at Amanjena

Overview

Arva is the Italian restaurant of Amanjena, the Aman resort on the outskirts of Marrakech, and it is Aman's signature restaurant, a brand the group runs at nine of its properties. The name comes from the Latin for cultivated, and the idea behind it is Italian harvest cooking: family style, seasonal, with menus designed to be shared at the table. The kitchen works with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from the hotel's organic garden and local suppliers. Italian and Moroccan flavours meet on the plate. Much of the pasta is homemade. The chef, Francesco Balloo, comes from Porto Santo Stefano and brings more than fifteen years in leading European kitchens. After the meal the list turns to grappa, amaro and limoncello, and Arva keeps a cocktail list of its own, alcohol free drinks included. The restaurant sits in a shaded spot surrounded by greenery. Outdoor tables overlook the resort's glassy central pool, while inside the room is handcrafted tiles, tadelakt walls and soft light. Restaurants at Amanjena are open to visitors as well as hotel guests, subject to availability.