Riad Kheirredine

From a nondescript corner where two pedestrian lanes meet, the riad's door looks like a medieval bulkhead set into hand carved stone. Through the entryway, light pours into a small reception room with a ceiling clad in a dark wood. Halls stretch out and around the tree-lined courtyard, set with comfortable sofas and bowls of fresh fruit. Oil paintings in warm tones decorate the lounge, hung between mirrors in gilded wooden frames. Kids are welcome here, though most guests are couples on holiday. 

Within Marrakech's old walled city, Riad Kheirredine, surrounded by narrow pedestrian-only streets and alleys, is hard to find. The 11th century medina is a UNESCO world heritage site filled with historical sites and souks whose vendors sell traditional crafts. The nearest parking lot is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and the Royal Palace, Bahia Palace, Jamaa el Fna, and Dar Si Said Museum, are within a 20- to 25-minute walk, but there are several restaurants within closer reach. Marrakech Menara International Airport is a 15-minute drive, once outside of the pedestrian streets. 

Named after aromatic essences used in perfume, such as  jasmine, poivre (pepper), and rose, the 14 rooms are all individually designed and beautifully furnished with exotic materials. Color palettes vary, with exquisite, handcrafted wooden furniture adding depth to each of the heated and air-conditioned rooms. Silk and natural cotton mix with ornate Berber carpets and Kashmiri blankets. Wood-burning fireplaces are in most of the ground-floor rooms, while second-story rooms include small private balconies. All rooms have minibars and Bluetooth-capable music systems. Bathrooms vary in size, with ubiquitous tile work and walk-in showers. Some of the suites have separate soaking tubs. 

Water, fresh fruit juice, mint tea, and Moroccan pastries are on offer all day long. Bowls of fruit are left in every room, and staff is ready to hand out bottled water to anyone heading out into the hectic (and hot) medina. As in other riads, there aren't any coffeemakers in the rooms, but coffee and cappuccinos can be ordered anytime. The restaurant serves a full Moroccan breakfast and dinners veer from the norm with Italian cuisine in addition to authentic Moroccan tagines. There's a small hammam, which can be booked for couples, and there's a small courtyard plunge pool, which is at least on par with the competition and perhaps slightly bigger. The rooftop terrace spans multiple levels, with dining tables on a lower section. Up above, sun beds sit between large urns potted with flowers, and a thatched roof provides shelter for white linen loungers with commanding views of the red city. The riad also gives out Moroccan cell phones for easy communication with the staff, 24-hours a day. It can be a lifesaver for travelers who get easily turned around, or led astray by language barriers in the crowded souks.