Dar Seven, Marrakech, Morocco

Dar Seven is one of the most elegant luxury riads in Marrakech and the second venture of the talented interior-designer-turned-hotelier Princess Letizia Ruspoli. In a dramatic departure from the 17th-century opulence of her first property, the Residenza Napoleone III in Rome, her foray into Moroccan hospitality is a muted symphony of beiges, browns and blacks. The overall effect is impossibly chic and the stuff of stylized interiors shoots. But unlike many luxury riads that simply photograph well, the detailing at Dar Seven (monogrammed sheets, crystal glasses, fresh mint for tea at every turn) is exquisite and the handsome houseboy is ever-attentive.

The facilities

The lounge and reading room at Dar Seven overlook the central courtyard and are furnished with elegant prints of pashas and turbaned statesmen. At night dinner is served alfresco and candlelight evokes a romantic 1001 Arabian Nights atmosphere. The graphic planting continues on the roof terrace where cushion-strewn sofas and sun loungers beckon and the views over Marrakech's medina can be soaked up in the sun or shade.

The rooms

Of the four rooms, The White Room is the largest at the luxury riad, but the Loggia Room is the most impressive as elegant papyrus plants offset its monochrome tones and it has its own separate seating area overlooking the courtyard. As it can accommodate an extra bed and connects to the Brown Room, it is also a plum choice for families.