This super 17th-century riad has been restored by renowned the Belgian architect, Quentin Wilbeaux, who has faithfully preserved it’s large, lushly planted Islamic garden and five minimalist rooms, showcasing the period craftsmanship and design of the house.
Located in the original neighbourhood of Kâat Benahid in the north-east of the Medina, this riad is within easy walking distance of the Maison de la Photographie, the Ali Ben Youssef Medersa, the Marrakech Museum and the souqs. It’s a 20-minute walk to the Djemaa el-Fna. Taxis are available at Place Moqf.
Sobriety and originality are the watchwords of this riad. A wooden door opens from the noisy alley into a soaring, white courtyard filled with large banana palms and clipped citrus trees bearing golden oranges. The double-storey space lifts the spirits and eyes up to a lofty roof terrace where once Marrashi housewives would have gossiped over parapet walls and where now magical candlelit dinners and sunny breakfasts are served.
At the centre of the courtyard is a still, octagonal pool where you’ll often find the sphinx-like house cat curled up on a large cushion, while to one side, the impressive, double-height living room beckons inviting you to sink down onto low-level, Moroccan-style sofas and rich, red carpets to gaze up at the great hand-painted cedar wood ceiling. This restrained simplicity and respect for the architecture of the house is carried throughout, making for a truly tranquil retreat in a dense and atmospheric part of the old city.
Like the décor, service here is warmly original, low key and personal. Manager Ingrid is a mine of information and has an enviable address book filled with contacts for top hairdressers, yoga instructors and local musicians, while her team of seven on-the-ball staff ensure guests are well tended to while without being too obtrusive.
On the ground floor, there’s a secluded hammam and massage room, and manicures, henna tattoos and cooking lessons can all be booked on request. The house also occasionally hosts cultural or yoga retreats.
Just five rooms, three of them with balconies over the garden, run the length of the house, spoiling guests with space in this densely-populated city. All of them have low-level platform beds dressed with woollen Berber blankets, soaring ceilings, dressing rooms and tadelakt bathrooms with showers in an inviting butterscotch colour.
Two of the rooms are situated on the ground floor and are well-screened by the lush planting, while the other three are accessed via their own secluded staircases on the first floor and have their own balconies where breakfast can be served. Only rooms on the top floor have air-conditioning, while ground floor rooms are keep naturally cool by the architecture of the house and come with ceiling fans only.
Food here is classic, fresh and tasty. A Moroccan breakfast of fruit, pancakes, mountain honey and homemade jam is served on the roof terrace or on bedroom balconies, while subtle lunches of salad or skewered meat are usually taken in the shade of the banana trees downstairs.
Traditional Moroccan dinners, which should be booked ahead, are atmospheric events, and include platters of hand-rolled couscous or slow-cooked tagine or tangia, served on the roof terrace by candlesubtle and, if you wish it, accompanied by local musicians.
Not suitable.
Yes, the staff here are good with children. Those under two years of age stay for free, extra beds for older children are charged at €20 (£18) per night.
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