Riad Vanilla Sma & Spa

Inside the Dabachi quarter of Marrakech's medina, Riad Vanilla Spa occupies a traditional courtyard house on Derb Jdid, tucked among narrow alleys ten minutes' walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa. The riad's tiled patio and rooftop terrace stay shielded from the square's noise, suiting couples and travellers wanting a quiet base near the souks.

Rooms open onto the central courtyard rather than an exterior corridor, keeping temperatures noticeably cooler through summer afternoons. A small spa runs traditional hammam treatments on-site, and staff arrange guided walks through the surrounding derbs, useful given the medina's unmarked, winding lanes.