Dar Seven

A small, serene and elegant hideaway at the heart of Marrakech’s medina, which is literally fit for royalty (4 rooms)

Bless the day Princess Letizia Ruspoli opened her Marrakech retreat to paying guests. She fell under the city’s spell several years back, and after chancing upon an old house close to the Sidi Benslimane mosque, gave top Marrakchi designer Gérome Vermelin free rein to renovate and decorate. His soothing choice of colours, textures and furnishings provides a perfect counterbalance to the sensual onslaught of the surrounding medina. Staying here you feel like a privileged guest of the Ruspoli family, even though they’re more likely to be in Rome or at their Chianti wine estate.

The coolly elegant ground-floor reception rooms and high-ceilinged bedrooms turn around an inner covered patio. All are exquisite. Vermelin made inspired use of striped walls in subtle shades of cream and beige as the backdrop for oriental prints, intricately carved desks, tables, mirrors and lanterns. Dar Seven numbers amongst the most photographed retreats in Marrakech and a stay here will be a treat you’ll neither forget nor regret.

Highs

• Bedrooms don’t come much better. Their subtle, finely orchestrated decoration is conducive to instant relaxation - and there are only 4
• Dar Seven has the feel of an elegant home and is the antithesis to the off-the-peg, chain hotel
• The roof terrace is a memorable spot for an early breakfast, sundowner, romantic supper or glass of mint tea
• Staff always seem to be around when you need them yet make themselves scarce when you don’t; a reflection of Moroccan sensitivity and hospitality

Lows

• Your bank balance will take a dip. Rooms have a high price tag, even for oh-so-hip Marrakech
• Dar Seven is often rented as a complete house by groups of friends and families. You may be out of luck if you want to book just one room
• Your arrival is by way of a series of dark and narrow alleyways. But this area is perfectly safe, and once you enter you leave the outside world behind