Riad No. 37

Though its anonymous name betrays none of its character, Riad No. 37 is one of the most unusual riad hotels in the Marrakech medina. Like its neighbors, it’s a typically Moroccan inside-out house, wrapping around inner courtyards that are invisible from the street. But unlike the vast majority of riad hotels, No. 37 is visibly Scandinavian in its design inspiration, constraining its color palette to cool neutrals and warm browns, providing a subdued background that maximally contrasts with the ornamental carving and woodwork.

Riad No. 37’s eight rooms hold a maximum of 16 guests, and it’s an adults-only hotel — these two facts combine to ensure that the atmosphere is always tranquil. The rooms share a color scheme, but they vary in their layouts; all are richly textured in tadelakt and furnished for maximum comfort.

Two pools, one in a courtyard and one on the roof terrace, keep guests cool; they’re balanced by fireplaces for cool desert nights. Meanwhile a kitchen staff trained by the Danish chef Klaus Meyer brings New Nordic concepts to bear on traditional Moroccan techniques and ingredients; dinners are served family-style at a communal table or, if you wish, privately elsewhere in the house.