This fun and funky four-room riad, situated in the fashionable Mouassine neighbourhood, is bursting with colour and character and offers superb personal service, stylish suites and a fabulous roof terrace artfully screened with exotic palms and cacti.
Situated in a nearly perfect location in buzzy Mouassine where you’re close to all the best shops and restaurants in the medina. The riad is also easy to find and access, and taxis can drop you at Place Riad Laarousse just minutes from the door. It’s a 10-minute walk to the Djemaa el-Fna.
Step through the door of this riad and you’ll be blown away by the riot of colour and pattern in the central patio. Sculptural plants shoot skywards out of huge planters tiled in exquisite detail with tiny blue, green and white zellij. Candy-striped chairs and tables spin around the jade coloured pool, while beneath the portico sits a cobalt blue velvet sofa set against a spectacular wall of multicoloured tatoui. It sounds like it might be too much, but it isn’t thanks to the eagle-eye of Milanese manager, Elena, who knows how to celebrate Morocco’s colourful artisanship in real style.
This is a modest-sized riad with a courtyard plunge pool and a truly spectacular roof terrace with double sun-loungers and a shaded dining area. The real treat here is the home-from-home vibe and the great service. Manager Elena is at the riad every day dispensing cool shopping tips, good ideas for excursions and brilliantly appropriate dining recommendations (as a solo female traveller she suggested a low-fuss local restaurant with live music, which was just perfect). She has a team of five, although her right-hand man is Rachid, who tends to guests with great care, waiting up for them to return from dinner and serving endless plates of cookies and tea. Guests are also given a pre-paid phone on arrival, which is handy.
The four rooms feature the same design magazine décor and huge two-metre-square beds dressed in vintage coverlets. The Zan and Abdel suites are the largest. Both have fabulous cedarwood ceilings, black marble floors and come with enormous bathrooms, the latter with a sunken tub with views of the stars. The Samir Suite and Kamal Room are smaller but no less creative or comfortable. In fact, Kamal, the smallest, is one of the most requested given its romantic stuccowork ceiling, which arcs over the room like an elaborate confection. All the rooms are stocked with candles, flowers and exotic-smelling incense. And, if you think it can’t get any better, check out the large, sleek bathrooms with their luxe contemporary fittings, walk-in showers and double sinks.
Eating here is a pleasure, either in the visually stunning patio or up on the swish roof terrace with its shady pergola and cacti sculptures. Breakfast brings different treats every day, alongside croissants and pancakes there’s cheese from Essaouira, omelettes or decadent fried pastries drenched in honey. A light lunch can be had on request, while Fatouma’s dinner menu is characterized by delicious slow-cooked tagines, an array of Moroccan salads and some Italian dishes. Don’t miss dining up on the roof terrace, it has fantastic 360-degree views over the medina.
Double rooms from €190 ($214) in low season; and from €210 ($236) in high. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.
There are no fully adapted rooms, but one of the suites is located on the ground floor and there is lift access to the roof terrace.
Given the modest size of the riad, its better if families rent the place exclusively. That said, three of the rooms can accommodate an extra bed and children of all ages are accepted (those under four years old stay free of charge, five to 12 year olds are charged at €30/£28 per night, and children over 12 years old are charged at €50/£43 per night).
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