5 of the best riads in Marrakech
Stay at Madonna’s 60th birthday bolt-hole or relax in a Jasper Conran haven
El Fenn
El Fenn’s sprawling complex of five interconnected riads delights with photogenic vistas of colonnaded balconies, sun-dappled patios and striking contemporary Moroccan art. Each courtyard is dedicated to a different function: one to the spa, another to the 12m unheated pool, a third acting as an open-air reception, a fourth enclosing a well-curated shop and a fifth deeply tranquil space shaded by orange trees. Rooms are decorated with tadelakt walls and contemporary artworks. The day starts with breakfast on the roof terrace, lunch offers salads sourced from Ourika Valley farms, and a modern Moroccan menu packs the place at dinner time. The property is popular with celebrities: Madonna recently celebrated her 60th birthday at the riad. From $465; el-fenn.com.
L’Hotel Marrakech
Jasper Conran’s 19th-century riad is a haven of effortless good taste. Conran’s hawkish design eye has conjured an atmosphere of old-school glamour with a pared-back contemporary sensibility. The harmonious proportions of this period palace — its double-height arches, rambling roof terraces and thickly planted patio — speak to a spirit of generosity and sophistication. All rooms have romantic, four-poster beds and are furnished with artworks from Conran’s collection. Take breakfast on linen-covered tables on your private terrace or beneath the pergola on the roof. From $505; l-hotelmarrakech.com.
Riad BE Hotel
Retro ceramic tiles cover the floor and the walls, zouak painted doors and turquoise window frames complement the deep turquoise plunge pool. The five rooms are typical of a riad — long and narrow. All have ornate ceramic floor tiles and are painted in bright colour washes. Furnishings are artful but simple: painted iron bedsteads with good mattresses, handira rugs, inlaid dressers or open closets for your clothes. A standout breakfast is served on the roof terrace or around the pool. From $170; be-marrakech.com.
Riad de Tarabel
Like a Delacroix painting, there’s a dramatic use of lighting, colour and romance in the decor that combines colonial and Second-Empire furnishings to opulent effect. The 10 large rooms and suites sport the same moody, romantic, turn-ofthe-century vibe with charcoal-grey shutters, black lacquered furniture and graphic floor tiles offset by sparkling chandeliers, Venetian mirrors, period silver bathroom fittings and cut crystal vases full of creamy roses. The pool patio is dotted with wicker loungers and features a charming orangery-cum-bar lined with a Zuber hand-printed mural. Dawdle over the continental breakfast in the main salon beneath huge heirloom paintings from the owner’s French estate.
From $365; riad-de-tarabel.com.
Riad Adore
The original courtyard columns and arches remain, but the house was finished with pale sandcoloured tadelakt and oyster-grey paintwork on the mashrabiya (hand-turned wooden screens) giving it a serene, almost beachy feel. It’s enhanced by added extras such as a fantastically cool courtyard plunge pool and a pint-size hammam. The sumptuous rooms are bright and immaculately appointed with embroidered bed linens and deep tubs in most of the bathrooms. Breakfast changes daily and it is magical sitting by the fire on the roof on cooler evenings. From $250; riadadore.com.