The flip side of the insular, sequestered charm of the typical Marrakech riad hotel is that, at times, they can feel a bit claustrophobic — one man’s cozy is another man’s cramped, and what to one designer looks like a classic Arabesque fantasia looks to another overstuffed and overdecorated. Of course, with so many excellent riad hotels, there’s room for all kinds, and the relatively expansive and uncluttered end of the scale is where you’ll find Zaouia 44.
Its courtyard feels wide open, airy, sunny, an impression that’s only helped along by the white walls. And the rooms carry on in a similar vein — though hardly minimalist, they are a bit spare, relying on contrast between white walls, dark wood and red carpets to create their strong visual impression. It’s a compromise between contemporary clean lines and traditional riad interiors, and it sacrifices no comfort in pursuit of optical impact.
Where Zaouia 44 is utterly traditional is in the areas where tradition is unambiguously best: the courtyard pool, the hammam, the rooftop terrace, and the location, right at the heart of the old medina. No one riad can be all things to all people, but there’s a sizable contingent for whom Zaouia 44 will be just right.
author watson@mouselink.net, source www.tablethotels.com