A grand courtyard house, newly built, with 12 well-equipped rooms, a spa and a large pool beneath an arched loggia, offering many of the services of a full-scale hotel.
Accessible by car, Dar Anika sits on the edge of the Mellah (the old Jewish quarter) its rooftop terrace overlooking the Badi Palace. In close proximity is the jewellery souk, the Kasbah quarter and the Bahia Palace, while the Djemaa el Fna is a 10-minute walk north. Taxis can be called to the door.
Lacking some of the quirks and character of a historic riad, Dar Anika has subtle, space and a well-proportioned pool instead. A contemporary structure, built in classic style, its grand two-storey patio is paved in Italian marble and ringed by Gothic arches draped with bougainvillea. Enclosed to one side is an air-conditioned lounge furnished in eclectic style with damask-covered Moroccan banquettes and European furnishings. Generous loggias around the first floor provide shady seating spots where guests take mint tea, while on the roof terrace an Arabian Nights-style tent provides a theatrical spot for cocktails before dining beneath the stars.
Run by British expatriate, Chris Gooding, Dar Anika offers hotel-style service with 24-hour room service and concierge, a heated pool, in-room massages, a hammam and contemporary amenities such as safes, fridges and telephones in all the rooms. All-day catering, a full bar, party and excursion planning are also on offer.
Of the 12 rooms there are two suites with four-poster beds and a seating area by a fireplace. At the other end of the scale are the riad rooms, which are a bit on the dark side and more suitable for solo travellers. All of them are individually decorated in an ‘exotic’ style with a rather hit-and-miss combination of Moroccan, Middle Eastern and African artefacts ranging from cowhide rugs to cutwork lanterns, leather lamps, crown canopies in sabra silks and pine, teak or mahogany tables. Like the rooms, bathrooms are spacious and contemporary, with contemporary fittings and walk-in showers.
Breakfast is a Moroccan buffet with pancakes, honey, fruit and pastries. It is served on the roof terrace, which overlooks the Imperial palace. Dinner (which must be pre-booked by 1pm) is also served here or down in the courtyard beside the lantern-lit pool. Food focuses on Moroccan specialities and is accompanied by a full wine list. A subtleer menu of BBQ, mezze and briouat (stuffed pastries) is served throughout the day.
No.
Not especially, although one child under five may stay for free. Babysitting is available on request.
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