Riad Les Yeux Bleus

Located in the Bab Doukkala quarter — one of the medina’s most picturesque and lived-in districts — Riad Les Yeux Bleus is a poised argument for what a contemporary riad can be. Recently renovated by a team of Marrakech artisans under the direction of interior designer Willem Smit, the house balances traditional architecture with a pop-art sensibility, reflecting the dual nature of the city itself: ancient ways and vibrant urban life coexisting in easy symbiosis. Eleven bedrooms, each decorated in its own distinct style, are distributed across two charming patios, while two pools, a library, a rooftop bar, and a full spa with hammam and massages using organic argan oil and traditional Moroccan techniques round out the offering. 

The kitchen runs 24 hours a day, turning out tajines, couscous, and the local speciality tanjia from fresh organic ingredients whenever the appetite calls. For those who want to push beyond the medina walls, the team is on hand to arrange day trips into the High Atlas for lunch at the Kasbah du Toubkal, or further out to the Atlantic coast and the pre-Saharan regions beyond. Ten minutes on foot from Jemaa el-Fna, and precisely the right amount of distance from the noise: near enough to feel the city’s pulse, far enough to sleep through the night.