35 Riad Kniza Medina, Marrakech, Morocco Dating back to the 18th Century, Riad Kniza is an upscale small luxury“Hotel de Charme”completely restored by Mr. M. Bouskri, a renowned antique dealer, in the heart of the old Médina of Marrakech in the spirit of sharing an authentic Moroccan experience, and within walking distance fof the most important monuments and cultural treasures of the city. The house has been in the Bouskri family for nearly 200 years and has been restored by some of Morocco’s most highly skilled craftsmen and is set around three intricately stuccoed and tiled patios, one of which features a large pool. Bouskri’s beautiful antiques, Berber rugs, crushed velvet-silk sofas and embroidered curtains add depth and personality, creating the sumptuous look of a luxurious Marrakeshi home. Some home truths about Riads By its strictest definition, a ‘Riad’ is an enclosed garden or courtyard. However, the term has come to represent traditional Moroccan homes, built around such an enclosure and more specifically those homes that have been renovated and and opened as intimate boutique hotels and guesthouses. This type of construction, with both public and private rooms organized around a central open courtyard with a pool or fountain at the centre, is a key distinction of Islamic architecture and remains remarkably consistent throughout the Arab world, from private dwellings to places of worship through to the grandest palaces. Water is a potent symbol of life in desert lands and as such is valued as sacred. It represents the vital life force of the house. The inward facing scheme of the Riad is designed to maximize family privacy from the outside world. Such privacy is highly prized, conforming to Islamic cultural norms. Here are some of our favourite Riads: Riad El Fenn Medina, Marrakech, Morocco If Marrakech is a ‘Bohemian’ city then the Riad El Fenn is its ‘Boho Chic’ heart.with 31 uniquely styled rooms and suites, none of which are alike with a blend of mid-century European furniture with the iconic elements of Moroccan design. Add to this three swimming pools, a 1,300 square metre roof terrace, a spa, 2 cocktail bars and shop - plus a family of resident tortoises - El Fenn is the perfect boutique hotel from which to discover the beauty (and bohemian spirit) of Marrakech. Since the Riad hotel is located very close to Bab el Ksour, one of the gates into the car-free zone of the medina, you are never far from a taxi.
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