Riad Dar 'Rabia

A contemporary house to hire with friends or family, just outside the medina but only 10 minutes from Djemaa el Fna (sleeps 4-6)

The Djemaa el Fna square in Marrakech is an open-air theatre. By day it sports clusters of stalls selling fresh orange juice, plants, dried fruit and nuts. By night, it fills up with snake charmers, storytellers, belly dancers, musicians and crowds of onlookers. On one side are open air BBQs, which waft delectable meat scents across the square; on the other are rooftop cafes from which you can watch the night unfold. And all around are the souks: an overwhelming array of stalls which wind their way down narrow paths, selling a fabulous selection of leather slippers, ceramics, beautiful cowhide lamps, traditional rugs and wood carvings.

Opened in January 2008, Riad Dar 'Rabia is a short stroll from this magical arena, close enough to wander in for shopping or people-watching, yet just far enough to be away from the mayhem. You're outside the souks but within the old walled city, close to King Mohammed VI's palace; and, with the Mamounia Gardens just over the wall, you're more likely to be troubled by birdsong than by the call of the muezzin. Best of all, the contemporary design makes a refreshing change from the (literally) hundreds of traditional riad rentals. Overseen by French architect Jean-Bernard Doucet-Bon, it’s a bold blend of Oriental and western: an interior courtyard, tadelakt walls, mosaicked bathrooms and Moroccan silks combined with modern comforts like satellite TV, queensize beds and slick wicker sunbeds on the spacious roof terrace.

Highs

• A stylish bolthole for 6 friends or a large family, and a great way to dip in and out of hectic Marrakech life
• The privacy of a house mixed with the conveniences of a hotel - daily cleaning and an English-speaking manager on call
• Breakfasts are included but the rest of the time you're self-catering; perfect if you’re wary of spicy Moroccan food (although you shouldn’t be, it’s delicious)
• Extremely good value compared to those rising hotel rates
• If you're hiring a car for day trips, you can (carefully) drive to the front door, unlike most medina riads

Lows

• The bedrooms are small, and the ground floor ones a little dark
• You might feel you're missing out on the whole medina experience - wandering down a maze of pedestrian alleys, with neighbouring kids playing on your doorstep
• There's no pool, but to be honest most medina pools are more ornamental than functional
• If you're coming with friends, be aware that 2 of the bedrooms have double beds
• If you're coming with family, be aware that they only accept children over 5