Riad Al Rimal

Tucked away down a warren of alleyways, the brass plaque of the Riad Al Rimal -- or "House of Sands" -- marks a typically unassuming polished wooden doorway. As guests step inside, the property opens up into a spacious example of riad-style lodging. Opened in 2008 by a French couple, Marie-Annick and Christian, Riad Al Rimal is actually three interconnected riads. It includes a lovely central courtyard with a terra-cotta-tile bridge that spans a nicely designed shallow pool (heated in the winter) and a series of lounges. While chock-full of local handicrafts and traditional touches -- from "bejmat" tiled floors to plenty of colored hanging lanterns and Moroccan furnishings -- the riad offers a fresh and elegant contemporary take on traditional Moroccan styling throughout. The property also has plenty of snug nooks to hole up in, including a small lounge with a TV, books, and fireplace, as well as a lovely rooftop terrace complete with Berber-style daybeds and panoramic views of the surrounding medina. 

The hotel is situated in a particularly maze-like area of cobbled streets in Marrakech's sprawling medina -- though once shown the way it's easy to remember how to find it. It's a few turns to the medina's bustling souks, while the main square of Djemaa el Fna -- abuzz with snake-charmers, fortune-tellers, orange juice vendors, and nighttime food stalls -- is five to 10 minutes away on foot. As is the case with most properties in the medina, there's no direct car access, but taxis can be found on the south side of Djemaa el Fna. Marrakech Menara Airport is about a 15-minute drive from here. The hotel has an airport shuttle service for a fee, which is recommended when first arriving.

The hotel has 17 rooms and suites, each of which is named for a gemstone. Rooms are individually styled in a tasteful blend of traditional Moroccan touches, including polished "tadelakt" plaster, ornately carved wooden furnishings and plasterwork, and colorful hanging lamps. While there's no TV, telephone, or minibars in the rooms, each comes with a bowl of dates, free bottled water, and lovely scented rosemary soap and juniper shower gel, as well as air conditioning and hairdryers. Suites have corner living areas and dressing areas with mirrors. Some of the Standard Rooms are on the small side, and don't have a full partition between the sleeping area and bathroom, and the slight whiff of drains has been reported, but this is common in the 11th-century medina.

Breakfast is a nice spread of fresh fruit, warm homemade rolls, Moroccan pancakes, yogurt, and jams -- all included in the rate. In warmer weather, it can be taken on the rooftop terrace. There's also a dining room where guests can choose from a menu of typical Moroccan cooking (both lunch and dinner need to be ordered in advance), as well as a small bar with plush velvet seating. Guests can soak in the refreshing courtyard pool (which is heated in winter), or in the rooftop hot tub -- big enough for a handful of people. The hammam is beldi style, meaning it's dry heat, and massages, and various beauty treatments -- facials, manicures -- are also available. There's also a small gym, with a treadmill, stationary bike, and a weight-lifting machine, which is unusual for this sort of property. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, though it can be patchy in spots.