Demeures D’Orient Riad and Spa Marrakech

Demeures d'Orient Riad pool

The Demeures d’Orient Riad de Luxe and Spa is a beautiful boutique property close to the heart of Marrakech in Morocco.

The 12-suite riad is in the historic Medina district of the city, placing travellers who choose it as their base within walking distance of key attractions such as Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Jardin Majorelle.

A riad is a traditional Moroccan house that’s centred around a courtyard or garden. Many have been converted to provide accommodation in recent years. A relatively recent addition to Marrakech’s accommodation scene, the Demeures d’Orient Riad and Spa was built on the site of a school. It embraces the region’s architectural traditions to create a comfortable place to stay whose appearance is very much in keeping with the style of the Medina’s historic buildings.

As its name hints, the Demeures D’Orient Riad de Luxe and Spa has an upscale feel, yet it’s also relaxed. The onsite spa features a hammam, a type of traditional Moroccan bathhouse. Treatments, including massages, are offered in the spa from noon until 8.00pm. That means it’s possible to experience a treatment and the sense of rejuvenation that bathing in a hammam brings, after a day of sightseeing and before dinner.

Demeures d'Orient Riad room

The riad’s dinner menu includes examples of the region’s delectable Maghrebi cuisine, including pastry-wrapped chicken pastilla, succulent meats slowly cooked in tajines and dishes served with couscous. Lunches are also an option but it’s at night that dining in the courtyard is most romantic, thanks to the gentle trickling of the fountain and flickering of candles at tables, along the poolside and in the candelabra that’s hoisted above the pool.

Breakfast is served at tables arranged around the swimming pool. Brought to the table, it varies slightly day by day, featuring the likes of freshly squeezed juice, chopped fruit, pastries, bread, cake, eggs, traditional msemen flatbreads plus a choice of tea or coffee. This provides a hearty start to the day ideal for sightseeing and strolling between stalls in the souks of Marrakech.

The suites in this riad are individually designed to provide comfort, a sense of place and a hint of luxury. Staying in Blue Datcha, a junior suite on the first floor, I was impressed by how quiet the Demeures d’Orient Riad and Spa was at night, a factor in me sleeping deeply and being ready to enjoy full days of sightseeing.

Each evening, I returned to the riad and found rose petals strewn in the bathroom, adding to the sense of romance of staying at this upscale property in the Medina. The sizable bath was ideal for soaking in before bed or stepping into the shower.

Demeures d'Orient Riad bathroom

The riad’s rooftop area has sun loungers, meaning it’s ideal as a place to unwind on sunny days. Peeking over the walls presents views of Marrakech’s rooftops.

The staff at the Demeures d’Orient Riad and Spa were professional and helpful. They provided local tips on cafés and restaurants and booked a taxi when it was time to depart and head to the airport.

It was a pleasure to stay at the riad and its location in the Medina made it ideal for a short sightseeing break in Marrakech.

The Details

Demeures d’Orient Riad de Luxe and Spa, 10 Arset Ben Nasser, Marrakech 40000, Morocco.

Tel: +212 (0)524 38 12 00

Website: www.en.demeuresdorient.com

Email: reservation@demeuresdorient.com

Demeures d’Orient Riad and Spa is in the Marrakech’s historic Medina district, which UNESCO inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. Marrakech Menara Airport is approximately 6 km (4 miles) southwest of the Medina district of the city. Bus 19 runs between the airport and the Old Town.

The quickest and easiest way to get between the airport and the riad is by taxi. On a clear run, the journey takes approximately 25 minutes. Pre-paid taxis can be booked from a booth outside of the arrivals hall at Marrakech Menara Airport.

Type of Hotel: Boutique Riad

Number of Rooms: 12 Suites, including complimentary Wi-Fi.

Price Band: Medium to high.

Insider Tip: Book the Moroccan Ritual in the riad’s hammam to experience a full body scrub and a sense of what it’s like to spend time in a traditional bathhouse. And don’t plan too much during a stay in Marrakech, to allow plenty of downtime to enjoy the riad’s pool and rooftop.

Additional Information: The Visit Marrakech and Region tourist information website provides an overview of things to do and see in the Moroccan city.

I stayed at the Demeures d’Orient Riad de Luxe and Spa during a city break in Marrakech with Jet2holidays. Visit Go Eat Do to read my detailed blog post recommending things to do in Marrakech, which includes handy tips for first-time visitors to the Moroccan city.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9/10

Author Bio:

Stuart Forster is an award-winning freelance travel writer based in North East England.

Photographs by Stuart Forster

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