Moroccan Mood

Tucked away in the heart of the medina, L’Hotel Marrakech is a good example of how a hotel can feel like the home of an impossibly stylish friend. Owned and designed by Jasper Conran, the restored 19th-century riad has combined Moroccan tradition with an elegant European sensibility since it opened its imposing green door in 2016.

Originally a private residence, the riad retains much of its architectural integrity — lofty cedar wood doors, hand-cut zellige tiles, and carved plasterwork that accentuates the shifting light. The palette is restrained and calm: chalky whites, deep greens, and soft, sun-bleached neutrals, punctuated by bold textiles and ceramics, handwoven rugs and Conran’s expansive art collection. The effect is both timeless and gently modern.

Each of the original five suites opens onto a lush, colonnaded courtyard where a central pool sits beneath banana and citrus trees heaving with fruit – a soundtrack of Billie Holiday humming low in the background. The newest suite, opened in 2023, has its own secluded courtyard through glazed French doors. The rooms are generously sized, featuring antiques sourced from markets across Morocco, alongside British and French pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries. Four-poster beds dressed in linens, intricately carved headboards, and vintage lighting come together for a charming, understated glamour, while the bathrooms — cool, serene spaces finished in traditional tadelakt plaster — provide a counterpoint.

Meals are served where you fancy them: on a private terrace, in the softly lit dining room where an oversized painting of a Maharaja looms, or on the rooftop with panoramic views of the Atlas Mountains. One can expect classic Moroccan dishes made from local ingredients, and service is warm, discreet, and unhurried, reflecting the hotel’s overall philosophy of unpretentious luxury delivered by staff wearing crisp, white uniforms and converse high tops.

In effect, there are no fussy, chintzy details – though make no mistake, every detail is carefully considered. While the medina buzzes with the sounds of traders, mopeds, and the call to prayer, inside is a sanctuary, waiting for lucky guests to return after a day of exploring, mint tea, figs and pistachios at the ready.