Diwane Hotel & Spa Marrakech

The Diwane Hotel is beautiful on the outside, with elaborate wood-framed windows looking over the busy street. The interiors are designed and decorated in the riad style, with lots of ornate mosaic tile work. The large lobby is a great spot to connect with other travelers. There is an atrium, several stories high, with interior hallways overlooking the lobby, giving it the feeling of a town square. There are beautiful tiled pillars, hanging lanterns, panes of stained glass in the windows, and cool touches such as a pair of computer terminals housed in an elaborately carved and painted wood kiosk. Even the elevator doors are beautifully hand-painted. The long front desk feels like a throwback to the early 20th century, with a bank of international clocks hung above. The slightly faded furniture adds to the hotel’s worn charm. The buffet restaurant serves Moroccan specialties, and the menu varies each evening, but often includes barbecue and excellent tagines. The Diwane caters to guests on package tours, and the clientele consists largely of older couples. The bar shuts down early. Younger travelers looking for nightlife may want to book elsewhere.

The Diwane Hotel is located on a busy, noisy street in Gueliz, in the new city. The medina, the old city, is about a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel. The hotel is near the area’s main boulevard, Mohammed V, which has lots of shops and restaurants nearby, and a handy Starbucks. There is a Renaissance hotel across the street with a lively rooftop bar that has a spectacular view of the city. There is a hop-on-hop-off tourist bus stop close to the main entrance. Marrakech Menara International Airport is a 15- to 20-minute drive from the hotel.

Rooms at the Diwane Hotel are clean and spacious, with simple decor. The mouldings and baseboards are ornate; there are arched doorways, cool ceiling woodwork, and hanging lanterns. Furniture is pushed up against the walls, which gives rooms a plain look, but the pieces have character, although they are slightly care-worn. Bathrooms are roomy, with mosaic tiles and deep soaking tubs (with shower fixtures). Some rooms have balconies, and the windows are picturesquely framed with ornate woodwork. Rooms have flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges, but sheets and towels are less than luxe. Poolside rooms are far less noisy than those facing the street.

The centerpiece of the Diwane Hotel is its big outdoor pool, surrounded by sun beds and beach umbrellas, and a pretty terrace with a mosaic fountain. There are palm trees and a small green lawn where guests can relax. The spa is small and unexceptional in terms of decor, but massage, facials, and beauty treatments are available by reservation, as well as a hammam and large sauna. The fitness center has plenty of cardio and weight equipment but no windows. La Coupole, the buffet restaurant, has a lovely terrace, and serves local specialties. The hotel also has a gift shop selling Moroccan handicrafts.