I would like to retire now and move to Riad Farnatchi in Morocco. This luxurious 5 star boutique hotel is unusually located right in the very heart of the busy Medina, and is perhaps the most memorable place I have ever stayed. We were picked up from the airport and whisked off through the energetic city, our car fighting its way through the vocal street sellers, stopping in the midst of the souks, not a hotel in sight. We were summoned to exit the car and there we continued our journey on foot, our heavy bags carried in front of us by a weary man on a bicycle. Five minutes walking down narrow side-alleys and we reached a large unpromising wooden door, little did we know of the oasis inside.
We were warmly greeted, offered cooling flannels and given glasses of a delicious sugary mint drink, not dissimilar to a mojito. Jonathan Wix, an English hotelier bought the property nine years ago as a family home but when it was not used as much as they’d intended, he turned the beautiful Riad into a magical hotel only moments away from the main square. The hotel is now managed by his son, James Wix. We met with the very welcoming and smiley Jonathan who took us on a tour of the hotel explaining the intention and purpose for each room. The interiors are stunning – all set out immaculately and thoughtfully with original meaningful Moroccan artefacts and intriguing artworks. In the centre of the hotel, a spectacular courtyard offers a small pool for cooling down in the summer heat while enjoying a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Our suite upstairs was spectacular, a heavenly place to rest your head and relax. Every amenity was in place and the décor royal and ravishing, so thoughtfully arranged, we couldn’t stop ooh-ing and aah-ing dashing round the room spotting new exciting details. On our bed we were given authentic Moroccan cloth outfits with traditional Fez hats, trying them on amused us for quite a while! Little jars contained sweet cakes and snacks, little delicacies to nibble on while we watched a film in the evening. Our spacious room was filled with locally sourced carpets, mirrors and lamps, all chosen to make visitors feel at home and to exhibit the splendour of Marrakech’s artisan creativity. Every room is different with a unique character and charm. Our room had the most luxurious en-suite bathroom, with a huge stone bath and epic rain shower filled with every variety of Molten Brown toiletry you could ever need.
We were treated to authentic Hammams, a typical Moroccan scrub to exfoliate and refresh your skin. Most hotels have a steam room for this treatment and we were enthralled by the experience. Lying in just bikinis in a steamy stone room a women scrubbed our bodies vigorously and drenched us in warm water… it was certainly an experience, and unlike anything I’ve tried before!
After a day exploring the stiflingly hot souks, we were exhausted and ready for a lazy evening meal. Farnatchi encourages you to dine wherever you like, be that in the comfort of your own room, in the opulent dining room, on the breezy roof terrace or anywhere else you desire. We chose to eat in the courtyard where ice cold mojitos were delivered and we ate listening to the sound of the birds. The food at Farnatchi is outstanding, with a menu of authentic Moroccan favourites prepared and cooked to the highest quality. We tried to choose the most typical and popular dishes recommended by the hotel. To start we ate very tasty briouates (crispy pastry triangles filled with minced beef) and Pastilla (pigeon, cinnamon and almonds wrapped in thin pastry). Both were sweet and scrumptious, with a lovely nutty texture. The food is presented simply with a real emphasis on flavour and taste. For main course we shared the Lamb Tangia and Beef and Eggplant Tagine served with a plate of cooked vegetables. The Beef Tagine was our favourite, tender intensely flavoured meat with soft and juicy aubergine in a carefully spiced sauce. The lamb was also divine, a high quality piece of meat slow cooked with spice and a hint of lemon. We had Medallion Moroccan white wine which perfectly accompanied the meal and to finish some mint tea and sweet pastries.
We retired upstairs taking out tea with us and slumped into the huge bed sleeping soundly in our air conditioned room till morning. Then once again it was time to decide where to eat. We headed up to the roof, opting to eat on the terrace overlooking the city. We received a wonderful spread of breakfast goodies: fresh orange juice and coffee, sweet yoghurt and fruit and homemade pancakes with butter and jam. It was nice to not have to choose breakfast, instead the food just arrived, fresh and healthy. Our pending departure was devastating, neither of us wanted to leave this heavenly Riad.
The Wix family’s attitude is ‘anything is possible, there is no no,’ a theory we truly understood after staying at the Riad Farnatchi. The hotel is luxurious but relaxed and the attentive and gracious staff ensure your stay is perfect. Our night here was unforgettable in every way, a very special Riad, a secret in the centre of the city.
Visit the Riad Farnatchi website here, and visit as soon as possible!