Riad L'Orangeraie

Arty, friendly riad in the heart of the Medina – like most riads, you can rent one room or the whole house (7 rooms)

At first, it was a love of golf that made brothers Laurent and Cyril Bernard occasional visitors to Marrakech, but it wasn’t long before a love of Moroccan style made them permanent fixtures. So, fortified with a family inheritance (and funds from other relations) plus a sense of sophistication only hip young Frenchmen seem to possess, the Bernard brothers bought a neglected riad from Marrakech’s influential Tigani family and transformed it into the elegant Riad l’Orangeraie.

Situated in the Mouassine district of the old Medina, a 5-minute stroll from the vibrant Djemaa El Fna, the words ‘prime location’ and L’Orangeraie are inseparable. But it’s not just a pretty face in the right place. Inside, this harmonious 7-room townhouse wraps itself gracefully around two expansive patios – one with fountains and aromatic flowers, the other with a mosaic swimming pool and steamy hammam. And, literally topping it off, a dazzling roof terrace with views to the Atlas Mountains.

Highs

• Location, location, location – you can’t beat the l’Orangeraie’s position
• Perfect for nipping back to download your parcels and a post-shop swim
• And cars can stop at the front door, a real rarity in the old Medina
• The bedrooms are lovely

Lows

• There is the inevitable morning call to prayer by the muezzins, but it's not too overwhelming and the house remains relatively calm
• Tends to book up quickly