Riad Farnatchi is located in the oldest area of Marrakech's medina near the Ben Youssef Medersa and just around the corner from the hip restaurant Foundouk. Two years of total renovation have transformed three riads into a luxury riad of only nine suites, complemented by various salons, a dining room, a hammam, extensive roof terraces and an outdoor pool.

The facilities

The centrepiece at Riad Farnatchi is the pool: half sunken and half raised, it's a soothing emerald green presence with a fountain at one end, and powerful underwater jet streams. Alternatively, the white marble hammam is at the disposal of guests every afternoon, where traditional Moroccan spa treatments are used - with argan oil, argile and ghasoul.

A traditional breakfast is served either in your room, on your balcony, by the pool, in the b'hou, or by the majorelle blue walls of the roof terraces. Nearly everything is homemade, from the Berber bread to the orange-cinnamon jam. Riad Farnatchi's Berber cook can prepare Moroccan cuisine for lunch and dinner, but notice is needed in advance so that the fresh ingredients can be bought at the market.

The rooms

Beds in Riad Farnatchi's nine rooms are sizeable and very comfortable. There are no twin beds, making Riad Farnatchi more suited to couples. Every modern amenity - TV, DVD, CD, telephone, internet points, air conditioning and proper central heating - is carefully concealed. Most rooms have stylish fireplaces, each individually designed. Suites have a sumptuous ensuite bathroom with deep marble baths and dousing showers with Molton Brown products.