The attractions of a riad hotel are obvious – converted from the original residences of wealthy town-dwellers; they are often quite grand, insulated from the bustle of the city by their high walls, with a cool, shady courtyard at their heart. Les Jardins de la Medina, however, goes further – once a princely dwelling, it is larger than the usual riad and is endowed with a garden filled with mature trees, at the heart of which lies a large and beautiful swimming pool. Here and there between the privet-lined pathways are small havens of privacy, perfect to retreat to with a good book or for a snooze in a hammock under the shade of palms, olives, citrus and jacaranda trees.
Inside, the truly palatial building, with high ceilings, long windows draped in fringed white curtains and graceful colonnades, has been subtly updated. This is not a monument to antique style – it is chic and modern, a boutique hotel. The bedrooms are of three types: all are air-conditioned, ground floor rooms open on to the small private garden, some rooms on the upper floors have private balcony or terrace. There is a rooftop Moroccan tented salon and a second-floor terrace with sweeping views of the medina and the Atlas Mountains. Dinner is served in the courtyard beneath candle lanterns hung in the trees, and the cuisine mingles dishes of Moroccan, Bedouin, Mediterranean and Thai provenance.
Facilities cover every possibility from include Internet access to fitness and massage rooms and beauty treatments. The hotel is situated in the Kasbah quarter of Marrakech, close to the Royal Palace and just a few minutes from the interminable activity of famed Jemma el Fnaa Square. Approached by a narrow road, it can be reached by car and has private parking, making it ideal for anyone hoping to venture outside the city during a holiday.