L'Hôtel Marrakech

There’s often not much to distinguish one riad hotel from another — the basic form of an inside-out courtyard mansion was perfected a long time ago, and it’s often tough to put a finger on just what it is that separates the best from the next-best. L’Hôtel Marrakech, by contrast, has a memorable personality stamped all over it: that of Jasper Conran, favorite designer of Diana, Princess of Wales, and son of Sir Terence Conran, himself a designer who’s no stranger at all to the upper reaches of the hospitality world.

It’s a bit of a paradox, this kind of design — an enormous amount of work went into remodeling and redesigning this riad, and the result is a hotel that feels as though it’s been here for ever. In a way it’s more collected than designed — the unifying factor is Jasper Conran’s exquisite taste, and an unfailing eye for first-rate traditional craftsmanship. The five suites are beautiful, their white surfaces bathed in sunlight, and everywhere you look another impossibly ornate detail absorbs your attention.

Like the best riads it’s an unparalleled place to pass your time, hidden away from the noise of the city in the house’s countless nooks, in the gardens, by the pool, or on the terrace at sunset. The cuisine, naturally, is an experience unto itself. And when you’re properly restored and fortified for an expedition, you find yourself right in the heart of the medina, perfectly placed for a dizzying day browsing the city’s souks.