Riad Meriem

There’s a simple reason why the riad hotels of Marrakech have been so much more popular among the French than the English, Americans, or other anglophones. It’s not the proximity, not in these days of budget air travel, but the language — the simple fact is that so many riad owners are French, and so are the managers, the staffers, and therefore the clients. So the simple fact that Riad Meriem is owned by a New York–based interior designer, and managed by a couple of expat Londoners, gives it an advantage, right out of the gate, in attracting English-speaking visitors to Marrakech.

Of course that’s hardly all that matters. If language were everything we’d recommend nothing but international chain hotels, where however dreary the surroundings, at least they speak basic business English. Here at Riad Meriem the particularities of the ownership influence the experience in other, more salient ways; most notably in the visual arena.

Here Thomas Hays’s design crosses over from simple Marrakech residential style into a full-blown Arabian fantasy. The word “opulent” comes to mind, and often. It’s a fairly catholic style, admitting influences from multiple periods and cultures — there’s an Asian cast to the furnishings, and a modern bent to the artworks, that you’d never find in a more authenticity-obsessed riad. And while the look might be eclectic, there’s a certain unity to the color schemes, with each room organized around colors inspired by the Moroccan landscape: red, ivory, aubergine, and a dash of green.

The look, of course, is only half the experience. This is a full-service riad hotel, offering not just the basics like airport transfers, a small hammam, and meals from a private chef, but further customizing the guest experience. They’ll arrange a treatment at one of Marrakech’s private spas, they’ll book tables at the city’s top restaurants, and they’ll get you out into the Atlas Mountains on an ATV, or onto the links if a golf cart’s more your speed — all that remains for you to do is ask.

Monday through Thursday, Riad Meriem has a 2-night minimum stay requirement. There is a 3-night minimum stay requirement for Friday through Sunday arrivals.

How to get there:

Riad Meriem is approximately 20 minutes away from Marrakech-Menara International Airport. Please contact CustomerService@TabletHotels.com for more information or assistance with transfers.

• 5 Rooms
• Style: Contemporary Classic
• Atmosphere: Lively
• 7 Guest Reviews

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