Marrakech: Where to Stay: Hip: Riad El Fenn

Riad El Fenn

Seriously hip and fun, this riad in the medina is owned by Richard Branson’s sister Vanessa. It’s filled with contemporary art from her sensational collection, including works by Bridget Riley and Fred Pollock, and sits a mere five-minute walk from the Jemme El Fna. The artistic touch continues in interior details—silver buckets bursting with yellow roses, tables covered in swaths of silk and walls painted in cherry, pomegranate and sage. The overall effect is impeccably tasteful yet full of character. You can email wirelessly by the pool, while tortoises munch in the garden; or enjoy the hammam, the screening room or the library. The food is fresh and local, and the bedrooms are glorious giants with big beds, deep baths and wood fires. The Douiria split-level suite has a leather floor and its own roof terrace with a plunge pool.