This brilliant little six-bedroom riad is located in the characterful Mellah, the old Jewish quarter of Marrakech. It has a lovely intimate atmosphere, concierge service and offers health-focused retreats and detox programmes.
Dar One is located at the end of a gated alley in the Mellah, the historic Jewish quarter of the old city. It’s moments from the Bahia and Badi palaces and 10 to 15 minute walk to the Djemaa el-Fna. Pick up taxis at the Place des Ferblantiers.
Small and perfectly formed this dar (house) is typical of a old city home where, unlike a riad, the central patio is an extension of the house rather than a garden, and is furnished with deep-set taupe sofas and striped Missoni-style chairs centred around a trickling wall fountain. To one side is a snug salon recently refurbished in soothing green and natural tones to better match the focus on well-being that owner Jean is steadily cultivating. There’s also one bedroom downstairs, while all the others are arranged around the gallery, with the final room set on the rooftop, beside the sunny terrace with its sail-like awning and sunloungers.
Service is great, but facilities at this bijou bolthole are limited: there’s no pool, but a rooftop shower allows guests to cool down, and while there’s no hammam, in-room massages can be organised. Owner Jean, who visits each morning, also manages the La Vie en Rose resort outside Marrakech where guests can spend the day horse riding, indulging in a spa treatment and swimming. Cookery classes with chef Amina can also be arranged by request.
Dar One’s six small, but perfectly furnished rooms have a satisfyingly exotic ambiance. Dark polished tadelakt (plaster) walls in brown, grey and taupe are off-set by rich coloured furnishings in orange, red and turquoise blue. Leather headboards, suede upholstered chairs and wool coverlets suggest the gentle, padded snugness of a cocoon and bathrooms, while small, are fashionably finished with Starck-style fittings. Three of them (Oasis, Mirage and Duna) have bathtubs, while the other three have walk-in showers. Duna is the largest room while Sirocco, up on the rooftop, is a perfect love nest with its own secluded terrace.
Breakfast is taken on the roof terrace in the morning sunshine or around a communal table in the salon and consists of warm pastries, Moroccan pancakes and eggs on request. If you want to dine at the riad you’ll need to book ahead for the three-course menu, which features spicy Moroccan salads, fragrant tagines and desserts of apples baked in honey, cinnamon and orange with a shaving of chocolate, which is best enjoyed up on the roof terrace. With advance notice they’re happy to accommodate vegans and recently, the riad has teamed up with newly launched Yoo cold-press juices to offer a choice of interesting detox programmes combined with daily yoga and pilates.
Not suitable.
Younger children are welcome when the riad is booked exclusively. Otherwise children over eight years old can be accommodated with extra beds costing £22 per night.
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