Despite being situated just off the bustling Riad Zitoun el-Qedim, Dar Limoun is as quiet as a church. It is also one of the tiniest riads (town houses) imaginable, but it is neat and clean with a pretty lemon-yellow patio.

What a find, right in the middle of the sorcerer's souq. Dar Tha Tha is a slice of '70s Marrakesh that has resisted renovation to preserve its mismatched tiles and quirky French colonial interior. Add the laid-back atmosphere and communal kitchen and this is a real home away...

One of a number of new budget riads (town houses) offering cheap and cheerful accommodation in the once-exclusive areas of the medina, Riad Julia rubs shoulders with some fine neighbours, but manages to hold its own with its colourful decor, welcome plunge pool and pretty roof...

Villa el-Arsa has a simple Spanish aesthetic with warm brick floors, huge terracotta pots and wrought-iron balustrades. There is also an original oriental bath framed by pointy arches. David and Susie Scott, who renovated the riad (town house), can help you arrange reliable...

It's bold, it's bright, it's thoroughly Moroccan and it's pretty cheap for the medina. The Sagaya opened in 2002 and is essentially a Moroccan home open to the public. As such it has none of the European decorative pretensions, just big, cool rooms and lots of well-made mint tea.

A traditional riad (town house) lovingly restored to retain all its quirky features, not least the tiny doors and narrow winding staircases. Beautifully whitewashed with a lilac trim, Dar Soukaina is a peaceful and tranquil haven in a hectic city.

Just off the asphalt jungle that is the Djemaa el-Fna and down the rugby scrum of Derb Debachi, one of the busiest streets of the medina, you'll find this old fortification ('borj' means tower). Built to keep a careful eye on the neighbourhood, it has the highest views over...

Brothers Eric and Olivier have achieved what others have failed to: an affordable, fun place to stay in the medina. This is a fantastic place for couples. It's bright, breezy, colourful and the riad (town house) is stuffed full of info about things to do in and around Marrakesh.

Riyad el Cadi is one of the grand dames of the Marrakchi riad scene. Made up of no less than seven interconnected houses, it offers handsome suites and bedrooms which showcase a museum-standard collection of Islamic and ethnic art in a coolly contemporary setting.

A fabulously grand riad (town house) with four vast rooms and two suites set around a palm-filled courtyard. Dar Doukkala has a faultless 1930s look combining stylish Art-Deco furniture and furnishings with grand Moroccan decorative features. The enormous patio with its...

Meryanne Loum-Martin undoubtedly has the Midas touch. A-list celebrities like Brad Pitt, Giorgio Armani and David Bowie flock to Jnane Tamsna like moths to a flame. It's grand yet low-key, uber-stylish yet down-to-earth, and tranquil without ever being boring. How does she do it?

Seeing Ksar Char-Bagh for the first time you think you've died and entered some perfect Islamic paradise. It is simply extraordinary - a wonderland of murmuring streams, glassy pools and extravagant architecture modelled on the aesthetics of the 14th-century Moorish court.

La Maison Arabe is part of Marrakesh history and was the first boutique hotel to open in the medina. It offers a sumptuous level of accommodation with some of the best service in town. Furnished with the handsome art collection of Prince Frederic Ruspoli, the atmosphere is...

What's left to say about the Mamounia, Marrakesh's most famous luxury hotel? It's a Moroccan Art Deco dream concocted back in 1922 when kings and colonials sashayed through its grand entrance. In 1986 a kitsch makeover transformed its Old World elegance into something a little...

The Sultana still looks like the palace it once was, and unlike other riads (town houses) it hasn't forsaken the razzle-dazzle of its Moroccan roots in favour of restrained glamour. No, here you get the whole nine yards: excessive decoration, animal-themed rooms and all the...

The latest and most stylish addition to Marrakesh's elite hotels is hotelier Jonathan Wix's Riad Farnatchi. Modern design and comfort have finally arrived in the medina. Originally intended as a bolt-hole for family and friends, it retains its private house feel while...

After a hot dusty day in the medina, what could be better than coming home to your very own spa? Essentially, that's what Riad Mehdi is, a spa complex with the addition of nine comfortable rooms where you can slouch off to collapse after your mint-and-orange-blossom milk massage.

The Beherecs' refined 'villa' is one of the few big hotels in the medina and is now the only Relais & Château establishment in Marrakesh. It's popular with pampered Europeans and diplomats as it manages to retain the character of a riad (town house) within the context of a...

Simple, stylish and elegant, at first sight Casa Lalla seems like a typical, top-class Marrakchi riad (town house), but with a Michelin-starred chef in the kitchen it also offers a unique gastronomic experience. This is certainly one place where you'll want to consider the...

With its frothy plasterwork, painted woodwork and zellij (ceramic) tiling, Dar al Kounouz has retained its traditional roots. Once the stable of the king's palace, it took two years to transform the structure into a decorative feast. The result is a riad (town house) that...

At Dar Attajmil, Lucrezia Mutti combines sleek Milanese style with warm natural materials and soft, simple design. She has also worked hard to nurture a cultural atmosphere at the riad (town house) where you can undertake cookery, calligraphy, embroidery and even yoga classes.

Dar Baraka Karam and Dar Baraka are two cleverly interconnected houses with a fabulous communal roof terrace. Both riads (town houses) are modest in size - each has five rooms - and have a charmingly intimate ambience fostered by the simple, stylish decor.

On entering Dar Sara, you emerge from the small entrance hall into an enchanting garden patio, ringed with eye-catching blue-and-white zellij (ceramic) tiling. In season, the oranges hang like golden globes from the trees while the big, flat leaves of the banana tree provide...

Jnane Mogador is excellent value for money. It's not surprising, then, that it is busy all year round and you will need to book at least two to four weeks in advance. Managed by the charming Isham, it maintains professional standards and enjoys a relaxed, well-cared-for...

Maison Mnabha is a quirky place to stay. It is concealed behind the royal palaces, but Peter can fill you in on all that - he has a PhD on the history of the Kasbah (the Royal citadel). Surprising details like this and the irrepressible character of Lawrence make this place...

The ultimate feel-good hideaway: British-French owners Michel and Michael redesigned this ancient riad to maximize comfort and sunlight, and minimize electrical and water use and eco-impact. Offers top-notch hammam, massages, cooking lessons, and eco-excursions - all while...

A dual-purpose restaurant and riad (town house), Bab Firdaus is unique among the smaller riads in being able to offer food at any time of the day without making a reservation first. The restaurant also makes for a busy, sociable atmosphere in what can sometimes be the...

Easy to reach by car and within walking distance of the Djemaa el-Fna and the souqs, it is hard to beat the location and accessibility of the Riad de l'Orangerie. What's more, owned by the youthful French brothers Laurent and Cyril Bernard, the l'Orangerie combines modern...

The pride in Abdellatif's collection of Marrakech riads is the fiendishly popular Riad el Jazira. With 15 rooms organised around three courtyards it is full of comings and goings, but the minimalist aesthetic and understated grey-against-white decor foster a cool and tranquil...

Located close to the Sidi Bel Abbes mosque, Riad el Ouarda's location is its strongest asset and its major weakness. It's in a thoroughly local area of the medina that remains largely untouched by renovation fever - that is with the exception of chic neighbours like Hermes and...