Villa des Orangers

Villa des Orangers works because it offers two versions of Marrakech at once. Step outside and the Koutoubia, Jemaa el-Fna and the medina are close at hand; return through the door and the city gives way to shaded patios, carved plaster, dark timber salons and the scent of orange trees. Built as a private residence in the 1930s and transformed by local craftspeople before joining Relais & Châteaux in 2001, the house retains a residential rhythm despite its 33 rooms and suites. Three pools spread quiet corners through the property, including a 16-metre pool and a rooftop pool with Koutoubia views. Rooms favour restraint over theatrical décor, while terrace suites and the self-contained Private Riad create meaningful options for longer stays and families. Meals can move with the day — breakfast in a courtyard, lunch by the pool, dinner beneath the trees or beside a salon fireplace — and the substantial hammam offers a natural pause between the medina and evening plans.