Riad Kniza

Live like royalty with unstinting personal attention, in this magnificent 200-year-old mansion inside the ancient medina walls of Marrakech (11 rooms)

This Hotel de Charme has been in Haj Mohamed Bouskri’s family for two centuries, now enlarged and completely restored with traditional materials. Teams of Morocco's most highly skilled craftsmen recreated this gem of Moorish architecture, where guests can capture an authentic Moroccan experience from days gone by. Eleven sumptuously appointed guest rooms and suites are situated around three open-air courtyards and warm, inviting common areas such as a library, drawing room, courtyard pool and a rooftop solarium with views.

Here, you can truly live like a rock star; Riad Kniza has hosted celebrities from Bill Gates to Garry Kasparov, and Haj Mohamed Bouskri has acted as tour guide for VIPs including former U.S. Presidents (Nixon, Carter and Reagan), Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. The subtle, attentive service anticipates your every want, and the English-speaking staff makes you feel as if you are the only guests. The Riad is very easy to find just inside the walls of Marrakech's old medina, with an excellent location close to most of its top attractions. The way that your arrival is greeted sets the stage for your entire stay. We were ushered into an intimate salon and brought mint tea and cookies, while our bags were discreetly taken to our room.

Highs

• Unlike many accommodations in the maze-like medina, Riad Kniza is very easy to find
• Top-notch service that is discreet and respectful, yet very personal. They make you feel like family, but not in an intrusive way
• Absolutely lush, lavish surroundings, furniture and antiques
• The food is incredible; do not miss the multi-course authentic Moroccan gastronomy experiences
• Excellent personal tours and antique shopping expeditions; Haj Mohamed is a renowned antique dealer and professional guide for 34 years

Lows

• Riad Kniza is not for budget travellers, but is well worth a splurge
• If you like your hotels simple and unostentatious, you might find this over-the-top and cheesy
• The location right off a bustling thoroughfare may be off-putting to some; however, you enter into an oasis of calm and luxury
• Follow-up to small details may be a bit spotty; WiFi service was advertised, but not available when I was there. Also, the front desk said they would mail postcards for me, yet they were never received