Review of P'tit Habibi, by Jeroen Bergmans

P'tit Habibi is more of a funky pad than a traditional Marrakech luxury riad and better suited to the visitor with Austin Powers aspirations than one with the high expectations of a pasha. P'tit Habibi means 'little darling' but perhaps 'hey baby' would be a more appropriate translation.

Norwegian architect owner Knut Hovland revived the luxury riad from its ruined state, added simple, clean lines without destroying the original features and spruced up P'tit Habibi's interiors with a mixture of traditional textiles and woodwork from Morocco and groovy mid-century modern furnishings from Scandinavia.

The facilities

The central courtyard of P'tit Habibi is presided over by a cosy salon where retro bucket chairs upholstered with dayglow floral fabric are clustered around a round glass dining table and a cascading Verner Panton-style light. Sliding floor-to-ceiling doors and an open fire make for cosy winter nights and summer ones can be whiled away watching films from the fantastic DVD collection which are projected onto the huge, white courtyard wall. A stereo system complete with iPod dock means you can create your own soundtrack, the charming host Abdelouafi is ever attentive and the plunge pool on the roof terrace offers welcome respite from the fierce Moroccan sun.

The rooms

P'tit Habibi's four suites are all individually decorated. The Peruche room downstairs is pink with a bird motif, the Lovenest room sports a fabulous Venetian mirror in the bathroom and the White room is skinny but slinky with views over the courtyard. But by far the most 'shagtastic' of the luxury riad is the Wangarata Suite with its Americana pinball mirrors, Sixties Moroccan photographs and a pair of moose antlers above the bed. If it all sounds a tad too retro, fear not - Hovland's excellent eye means that P'tit Habibi is on the cool side of kitsch.