Riad Lotus Ambre

Marrakesh

The Marrakesh medina, the old city and the historical center, is a UNESCO world heritage and undoubtedly the liveliest part of town. It’s here that craftsmen come to sell their work to passing tourists and to local inhabitants as well. Walking through the medina’s different souks is one of the best ways to get to know the life of the people who live here and to come into contact with them. They are very hospitable and are used to seeing tourists all year long. Of course, you have to be careful not to get lost in the labyrinth of narrow winding streets that are constantly crisscrossing one another.

Worth seeing as well are Marrakesh’s monuments which to some extent, retrace the history of the city. The Bahia Palace, the Palais de la Belle, one of the most beautiful in Marrakesh dates back to the 19^th century and contains hundreds of rooms, patios, mosaic fountains and magnificent gardens. The Dar Si Said museum is a palace which is now devoted to Moroccan art, enabling visitors to learn a bit more about the history and the way of life in Morocco. Finally, to end the day, stopping at a café terrace on the Jemaa el Fna square is a welcome and just reward.

An oasis of peace

Behind a totally traditional façade in one of the oldest parts of Marrakesh’s medina, we find the Riad Lotus Ambre. The firstborn of the Riads Lotus hotel group, which has since extended its presence beyond the red city, offers luxury, calm and sensuality in the heart of the city’s historical center.

To assure its guests of total privacy, the riad has only four rooms and one suite with surfaces ranging from 19 to 30 square meters. They each bear a name that hints at the atmosphere to expect in each room. The Marilyn and the Kennedy rooms are therefore simply decorated with touches of pop colors and reproductions of the two American icons in Andy Warhol style, hanging above the bed. The Mao room is in jade green and the Goethe room has an open fireplace which is particularly pleasant, like the Arabie room with its purely oriental decorations.

A hammam has been installed adjacent to the patio and its lovely fountain. The roof terrace is ideal for enjoying the sunshine while relaxing on a deck chair. Meals can be taken there while enjoying the view of the city and its minarets or in a small dining room. Lovers of fine food can even attend cooking classes in order to retain some of the charm of Marrakesh when they arrive home.