RIAD NOIR D’IVOIRE | MOROCCO

It seems that armies of tourists are Morocco bound these days, and you really don’t need to wonder why. This country is an eclectic mixture of ancient civilizations, Islamic culture, French colonial influence and African charm. If you ever get to Morocco, choose the town of Marrakech and a lovely boutique hotel called Noir D’Ivoire as your base. Located in a quiet street in the quarter of North Medina, this hotel is a wonderful example of a riad (the typical Moroccan house that is raised around a central courtyard).

Noir D’Ivoire has only nine rooms and seven suites named after animals like Panther, Camel, Desert Fox, Zebra, Cheetah and Chameleon. The rooms are equipped with all the amenities you need – a safe, a mini-bar, a flatscreen TV, luxury bath products, a DVD player… The suites are particularly opulently decorated. Amply sized, they have private terraces and balconies, huge bathrooms (with tadelakt bath), separate studies and dressing rooms, Jacuzzis, cozy lounge areas and draped four-poster beds.

You can also unwind and relax at Noir D’Ivoire’s swimming pool, a hammam, at a library, or by sipping a drink at a lounge bar while listening to some piano music. Don’t forget to pop over to the Coco Spa where you will be able to enjoy massages with the finest natural oils, and savon noir (a traditional cleanser, from the region of Essaouira, made from macerated olives, water and potash). If you don’t feel like leaving your room, and would love to have a relaxing bath at your suite, the staff will draw you one, surrounded with candles, scented with essential oils and decorated with rose petals.

Dining is as fine as it gets at Noir D’Ivoire. The hotel’s chef, affectionately called Mama by the staff, will prepare you the most delicious local dishes. The hotel also organizes trips, like a day trip to the Atlas Mountains and Berber villages, or an excursion to a lovely old coastal town of Essaouira. [via]