Riad Le Désir

The busy, tangled streets of Marrakech are a perpetual flurry of colour, motion, smell and sound. The bustling market stalls sell everything under the sun, quite literally: fragrant, rich spices perfume the air, competing with actual perfumes and oils; the hot sun glints off bowls of gold and burnished bronze; intricately woven tapestries hang alongside butter-soft leather; and skewers of roasted barbeque and caramelised tagines whet your appetite.

The chaotic, cacophonous buzz is one of the primary reasons to visit Morocco, but it can easily become a little overwhelming. That’s why the Riad le Désir is so perfectly situated for a Marrakech stay. With one door opening inside the walls of the Medina, many of Marrakech’s top attractions are less than a 20 minutes’ walk away. Once inside the Riad, the tranquillity found is as restful and serene as you could wish for.

Had you no need of sleep, your entire stay at the Riad le Désir could be spent on its splendid rooftop terrace, looking out across the Marrakech skyline to the towering Atlas Mountains. Each morning, you’ll wake up to a breakfast of Moroccan delicacies and freshly squeezed juice on the terrace, and in the evening, you’ll also be served delicious traditional Moroccan cuisine here. In the hours in between, guests can soak up the sun in the brand new pool, or sip a drink whilst lying on one of the many sky-blue sun loungers.

Although the terrace is undoubtedly the highlight of the Riad, the floors below leave nothing to be desired. The Riad le Désir is decorated in that distinctive Moroccan style; intricate tiling and even more intricate architecture in cooling white, offset with plush, jewel-toned furnishings and wrought metals. Less traditionally, you’ll also find every modern comfort you need, from ensuite Takelakt bathrooms to air-conditioning and Wi-Fi.