Jean Noel Schoeffer became an early godfather of sorts to the bohemians that Marrakech so bewitched. The eclectic, lived-in style of his riad, Rbaa Laroub—known locally as Riad Jean Noel—had the allure of a rambling family home for those looking for a place to escape the ordinary. Each of the seven rooms brings richness to the experience—a claw-footed tub, a leather-lined window seat, zouaq ceilings (hand-painted ceilings and lintels)—while remaining one of the most affordable retreats in town.

Over the last two decades, El Fenn has grown from an intimate 5-room riad to one of the Red City’s most talked-about hotels, celebrated globally for its jewel-bright tadelakt walls and hand-stitched, camel leather floors meet mid-century modern furniture and a museum-worthy art collection. A major extension and revamp during the 2020 lock-down added a colonnaded garden and marble-tiled terrace, rooftop pool, and a plant-forward menu infused with local ingredients like rose water and Argan oil.

Riad Sakkan makes a statement in a crowded marketplace. The 12-room riad is reassuringly true to place, but not necessarily in expected ways. Theirs is a tribute to contemporary Moroccan craftsmanship that goes bold on modern homewares from natty, spice-hued striped blankets woven in Atlas wool by Anajam Home, to hydraulic concrete tiles by Popham Design, to organic toiletries by local brand Botanika, and they’re happy to share shopping lists.

When Claudia Amadeo and Mauro Violini began renovating their six-room riad, they wanted to inject a bit of Milano style into the experience (Claudia had spent years in fashion PR and came to Marrakech originally as a buyer). Clean, geometric lines, terrazzo floors, a plunge pool inlaid with brass tiles and sleek a fireside hangout in the courtyard are a bold move away from Morocco’s traditionally more-is-more approach to decor, but it works giving the space a refreshingly light and airy vibe.

It’s easy to tell when a hotelier loves hotels. It’s there in every carefully considered detail, from the themes of the rooms to the treasures that grace them. Serene and dreamy, Philomena Schurer Merckoll’s riad is her ode to Marrakech. From various artworks including textile and paint pieces by Laurence Leenart’s and a tapestry by Louis Barthélemy, to arrangements by local floral designer Yassab, it’s little wonder Mena has become the choice of the art and design set for a low-key weekend.

Cocooned within a 19th century Arab-Andalusian mansion owned by French aristocrat Leonard Degoy, these are among the city’s most elegant rooms. He was inspired by life at his family’s chateau and combines a French sensibility with Moroccan architectural detailing with seamless precision—mixing family heirlooms, antique furniture and colonial rattan loungers, with decadent touches like the twin tubs bathroom in the Junior Suite and orange tree lined patios. Note: strictly for the over 16s.

This 17th-century Saadian townhouse is as intimate as a riad can get, with just four rooms and lots of living space. It was conceived as textile designer Valerie Barkowski’s home—her trademark, hand-embroidered linens, adorn every bed—and it retains that air, complemented with personal touches like her gold-lined Bowler hat pendant lamps. A new spa, featuring Barkowski’s natural Moroccan beauty rituals, adds a welcome splash of at-home decadence.

It’s not unusual in Morocco to see houses that have evolved to mix traditional zellije (hand-cut, glazed tiles) with concrete and high-gloss porcelain tiles, that could easily fall on the wrong side of kitsch. But here at BE—a two-riad property, one flamboyant, the other understated—careful design and additional layers of traditional Moroccan textiles, pottery, basketware and raffia lanterns arranged around cooling courtyard pools make a blend that works to dazzling effect.

Once the central axis of a Caidal palace, Jasper Conran’s sexy little riad retains a stately air thanks to impeccable proportions, acres of white plaster and lavish styling. In it find Conran’s own collection of antiques and artworks, carefully combined with candy-striped Moroccan textiles, intricately carved moshrabia (cedar wood panels), and cut glass mirrors from Fez and traditional brass lanterns that come together in a sumptuous celebration of his trademark style.

There’s an otherworldliness to the Jardin Secret that drifts back to a bygone era when the best places had a barefoot, rustic charm and the beauty of imperfection was left to work its magic on a world-weary soul. There’s no AC, TV or plunge pool, no bar or restaurant luring folks from outside, but there is birdsong, breakfast served whenever, and a shady courtyard and dusky pink roof terrace—peaceful spots for idling around doing as the Parisian owners suggest: reading, sketching and dreaming.