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At the end of a back street in the maze of the Medina, hidden behind a simple door, Dar Darma and its discreet staff provide an oasis of calm. This old imperial residence has just three suites; it’s surprisingly spacious with high ceilings. Décor is luxuriant, with a strong Italian influence, courtesy of the Italian owners. During the refurbishment, they were careful to leave traces of the residence’s Moroccan past, giving it a sense of personality and tradition. Dar Darma is ideally situated in the Medina, a few minutes’ walk from the souks and the Museum of Marrakech. The hotel will arrange for a guide to take you shopping in the souks; they will also arrange access to trendy Nikki Beach, the restaurant-bar-pool resort-club in the Palmeraie.

Dar Darma’s roof terrace is very comfortable and overlooks the red city; lazing around on the chaise longues or taking a cooling dip in the Jacuzzi is a delight. The library and Mirror Lounge offer a more relaxing space.

Breakfast, meals and drinks are usually served on the terrace, or, in inclement weather, in the dining room. Hammam and spa treatments are available – treatments must be arranged in advance and two hours’ warning is needed to heat the hammam. Dar Darma does allow children but the riad is not particularly suited to them, because of the layout and décor.

The rooms
The Red Suite has two bedrooms, is beautifully decorated with antiques and even has its own fireplace. A touch of decadence is provided in the mirrored shower in the large bathroom.

The Blue room is a two-bedroom suite, with high four-poster beds, bathrooms with large bathtubs and a sitting room between the two. It can sometimes feel a bit dark, often the way in the Medina where buildings are arranged for shade, cool and quiet.

The Orange Suite is a duplex, with the bedroom on the first floor and a private staircase leading to the sitting room on the ground floor. This opens out onto the patio and pool.

Each room is spacious and carefully decorated, with colour schemes that gently reflect their names.