This bijou riad in the upmarket Mouassine neighbourhood stands out for its pared-back style, light, bright atmosphere, designer plunge pool and five peaceful, unfussy rooms.
Located down a winding derb (alley) just off Rue Sidi el Yamani in the Mouassine neighbourhood. From here it’s a few minutes’ walk from the souks and a seven-minute walk to the Djemaa el-Fna. There’s a taxi rank at nearby Bab La Ksour.
It’s hard to tell if it’s the effect of the whitewashed walls, the tall Islamic arches or the arrowslit windows, but the patio of Riad Snan13 seems to soar improbably upwards to frame a square of hot, blue sky. This has the magical effect of blocking out all the noise of the old city, creating an intimate cocoon. Admittedly the space is small, but it is smartly utilized. A pool occupies the width of the patio beneath the shady portico, while the rest of the space feels like an extension of the open-sided salon, with a carpet and sofa seating. Two staircases lead off to the bedrooms creating a good flow, while minimal planting adds a touch of eye-catching colour to the neutral palette.
This is a small house so facilities are minimal. But Spanish owners Stephan and Xavier have made the right decision not to try and cram too much in. After all you’re in Mouassine so you have good spas, shops and restaurants on your doorstep. The real highsubtles here are the large plunge pool (unheated), the casual, courteous service and the utter sense of quiet calm. Help is also on hand to arrange airport transfers, tours or day trips out of town.
There are five spacious bedrooms, all with their own character and style. What they share in common is their peaceful atmosphere thanks to the cream, mauve, taupe and dove grey colour schemes and pristine white bed linen. Each has a winning feature, so choosing one depends on your mood. The groundfloor Le Petit Patio has a secluded patio, best enjoyed in summer; Moucharabieh offers a delightful screened window seat; and, Le Hammam sports a romantic tadelakt bath set beneath a grilled window at one end of the bedroom. All of them have beautifully finished tadelakt plaster bathrooms, three of which have bathtubs.
Breakfast on the tiny roof terrace beneath the pergola is a typical selection of Moroccan pancakes and pastries accompanied by freshly squeezed orange juice. Dinner needs to be ordered a day in advance and is a three-course meal consisting of a variety of Moroccan salads and soups, followed by Marrakshi dishes like chicken Makfoul (a delicious unctuous spiced stew topped with caramelised onions and tomatoes) and a fruit-based dessert.
Not suitable.
Given the small, intimate nature of the house children under 14 years old are not accepted. For those above, extra beds cost 327 Moroccan Dirhams (£26) per night.
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