Riyad El Mezouar - Place 3.82

Riyad el Mezouar has been painstakingly and harmoniously restored and refurbished by the new British owner, Romaine Lancaster, using traditional Moroccan craftsmanship and materials.

The courtyard features zelliij - intricate enamelled hand-fired terracotta tiles from the ancient city of Fez, as well as fountains, an important feature of traditional Moroccan and Islamic architecture. The roof terrace and many of the bathrooms showcase the art of tadelakt - a version of stucco, polished with black soap to give a glossy, smooth finish - a speciality material of Marrakech.

The tranquil enclosed garden, the meaning of the word riad, features a beautiful, turquoise-coloured pool around which is planted an abundance of aromatic herbs, flowers and fruit trees providing a haven for turtle doves and a variety of butterflies.

Built in the late 17th and early 18th centuries as part of the royal palace complex, the imposing villa in the historic Marrakech media, was the residence of the mezouar, the name given to the head of royal protocol who was also responsible for drawing up the royal family tree and presumably guardian to royal secrets.

The riad remained part of the royal household until 1945 when it was bought as a private residence. It was subsequently owned by the descendants of Hammadi el Glaoui a member of an important tribe in the High Atlas region of Morocco. Hammadi’s brother Thami el Glaoui, was the infamous last Pasha of Marrakech a warlord known as the Lord of the High Atlas.

This historic riad has been running as a maison d’hôte since 1999, Guests to Riyad el Mezouar are taken by surprise by the peaceful ambience of the courtyard and terrace, where they can enjoy lantern-lit dinners and sun-filled breakfasts. This contrasts startlingly with the hustle and bustle of the nearby covered market and adjacent soukhs which fringe the historic landmarks of Marrakech. These include the Koutoubia mosque and the famous Jemaa el Fnaa square with its daily dose of snake-charmers, monkey grinders, story-tellers, false-teeth vendors and hypnotic north African musicians.