Riad L'Orangeraie

Amongst the noise and bustle of the snake charmers, vendors, acrobats and labyrinthine alleys on the edge of the market (Souk) in the Medina, you might just notice an inconspicuous brass-studded wooden door. We very much advise dropping in, for you are entering the Riad L’Orangeraie, one of Marrakech’s best located and most charming Riads.

Well, you can’t get better situated than a 5 minute walk from Djemaa El Fna square, the very centre of the city, where everything seems to be happening – most likely all at once! As you walk in though, it feels like a tardis, with a sense of space and serenity and two delightful patios coming into view - one with trees, fountains and flowers, the other with a small cool swimming pool, onto which seven truly exceptional bedrooms are positioned.

Where does all this style come from? Having been bought and fully renovated by two brothers from France (Cyril and Laurent) the outcome, decoration wise could have been nothing if not sophisticated mixing Moroccan sensibilities with French chic. Large beds, bathrooms with hammam style rooms and all the warm elegance you could ask for.

Then, of course, there’s the terrace with fabulous vistas of the Atlas Mountains and beyond. If there’s a more romantic place to take breakfast (which by the way is excellent) or tea, we’d like to know.