Riad Ben Tachfine

An 18th-century riad that has been beautifully renovated, Riad El Mansour is covered in ornate tile mosaics and rich fabrics. Great natural light pours into the central courtyard, with black-and-white floor tiles zigzagging between black columns etched with ribbons of carved scroll-work. Hand-crafted traditional, and antique furniture decorate the low-lit lounges and nooks, combined with art from the owner's private collection. 

Riad El Mansour is in Marrakech's old city, surrounded by narrow pedestrian streets. The medina, a UNESCO world heritage site, is a maze of 11th-century lanes and souks with vendors selling traditional crafts. The nearest parking is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and the Royal Palace, Bahia Palace, Jamaa el Fna, and Dar Si Said Museum are a 20- to 25-minute walk from the hotel. Marrakech Menara International Airport is a 15-minute drive, once outside the pedestrian streets.

The six rooms here have no TVs; they're quiet sanctuaries away from the hectic streets outside. As individually decorated spaces, they come alive with exotic details. Each is decorated in a traditional style with varying color palettes and rich wooden furniture -- some rooms have gorgeous thuya-style wooden chairs and tables, while others have ebony cabinets and tables inlaid with camel bone and silver. Local crafts, brightly patterned textiles, and ornate tile mosaics are illuminated by crystal chandeliers. Some bedspreads look a little cheap. Bathrooms are spacious and have large vanities and open walk-in rainfall showers. Wi-Fi is free. 

Service at Riad El Mansour begins with being met at the nearest parking lot and escorted to the hotel by staff through the labyrinthine streets of the medina. A welcome drink with local pastries follows, and guests can expect free water and fruit each day. For more substantial dining, there's a free traditional breakfast each morning, and the hotel sources all ingredients from a nearby local market. Traditional Moroccan dinners and lunches can be served anywhere -- lounge, courtyard, rooftop terrace, or in-room, but they must be arranged ahead of time so the staff can purchase the necessary ingredients. The full-service spa has a massage and treatment room as well as a traditional hammam steam bath. There's also a small fitness room on the rooftop with a pair of treadmills and weight-training machines (a rarity for a riad). A small plunge pool in the exquisitely tiled courtyard is great for cooling off in the typically hot afternoons, and there's a cozy fireplace lounge for cooler Moroccan nights. Wi-Fi is free throughout the riad.