The Best Design-Led Hotels & Hideaways in Marrakech

18 places where I'd love to stay in the Moroccan city - for any budget

Le Riad Yasmine, back in 2017 (my photography skills have improved somewhat since then)

I started writing this newsletter quite a while ago, initially intending it to be a huge list of all the design-led hotels and hideaways on my radar. Obviously, this was a daft idea, as at one point I had over 100 places on the list and it was still growing. No one wants to read a newsletter that long. So, I’ve decided to split this up into separate destinations, to make each list more digestible.

This first installment was initially going to focus on Italy, Spain and the south of France, but I’m currently planning a trip to Morocco which is consuming my brain. Rather than attempting to do two things at once, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and focus this first edit on Marrakech while I’m already researching accommodation there. This list contains some places that have been on my list for years, a few that I’ve previously stayed at, and some that I’ve literally just discovered as I’m writing this. I’m sure there will be many more of you planning a trip to Morocco over the winter, so hopefully this edit of design-led places to stay in its most well-known city will help you plan your own trip.

I’ve actually visited Marrakech before, back in 2017 when I immediately fell in love with the city. I’m not usually drawn to busy, hectic places, but there’s just something about Marrkaech that drew me in and has been tempting me back ever since. The colours, the light, the smells, the honking of car horns and the call to prayer. On that trip, I spent two nights at Riad BE, followed by one night at Scarabeo Camp and one night at Le Riad Yasmine — all of which I’ll include below. I was there with a friend, and we predominantly spent our time rushing around the souks. This time I’d like to take things slower and spend more time relaxing and soaking up my surroundings. Yes, I want to go shopping for a couple of pieces for my home (namely rugs and ceramics) but I also want to visit a hammam, dine in the many restaurants I have on my list, and just spend time relaxing in the riads I stay in. Part of the joy of staying in beautifully designed places is actually making the time to enjoy them. I want to linger over rooftop breakfasts and lounge on a comfy chair with my book, sipping mint tea; while gazing at beautiful decor.

I haven’t actually found a travel companion for this trip yet (its a holiday I want to take with a friend, rather than by myself or with my boyfriend) but I’m pretty determined that I will soon be booking flights for January. I always struggle with the winter months and find myself counting down until spring, so I’m hoping it will give me something to look forward to. It will be around 20 degrees in the daytime in January, which may not be as hot as I’d like but will be much needed warmth in the depths of winter (and more manageable temperatures than when I last visited, when it was in the low thirties).

The first three hotels and hideaways (which are mainly riads on this particular list) are free for everyone to read, and then the rest of this newsletter is behind a paywall for my paid subscribers only. I dedicate a lot of time to writing Postcards (probably too much time if you consider how little money I’m actually making through Substack) and it is only possible for me to continue writing on here with your support. To read this newsletter in full, you can upgrade your subscription here. There’s a discounted price if you pay annually, rather than monthly.

All images below are the hotel’s own.

Riad BE

This was my favourite place I stayed on my last trip, and I’d be very happy to spend a couple of nights here again. I’m hoping to split my time between a riad in the city and a few days somewhere more rural on this upcoming trip, and Riad BE really is an ideal base within the medina. When I last visited, this was just one riad, but they now have two connecting riads, a private riad, a desert camp and a restaurant. Personally, I prefer the rooms in ‘The Oasis’, their more colourful riad which is filled with patterned tiles. Each riad (I’m aware I’ve written that word 7 times just in this one paragraph) has a communal area with day beds positioned around plunge pools, plus beautiful roof terraces offering views over the city.

El Fenn

Last time I was in Marrakesh I visited El Fenn for cocktails on their rooftop and dinner in their restaurant, and was incredibly jealous of everyone that was staying there. Sadly, it’s significantly more expensive than most of the other places on this list, so I’ll probably just be popping by for a cocktail again. But I can dream! (And the smallest rooms aren’t too pricy if you fancy splashing out on somewhere really special). It’s not just about the beautiful bedrooms at El Fenn, however. Every inch of the hotel is begging to have its photograph taken — from hallways to lounge areas to the expansive rooftop. The more I scroll through pictures on their website, the more I’m convincing myself that I should book just one night there.

Rosemary

Rosemary, owned and designed by LRNCE (somewhere I’ll definitely be spending my money) is undoubtedly beautiful. The entire riad is basically a work of art, with every little detail carefully considered from the artwork itself to minuscule details such as the embroidery on the pillows. I’m particularly besotted with their tiles and stained glass. One thing I really love about riads is that every room is different, and each of the five bedrooms here is so wonderfully designed I don’t know how you’d pick just one. There’s a two-night minimum stay, but their smaller rooms are reasonably priced.