Riad Dar El Mesk

Forty paces off Avenue Mohammed V, Riad Dar El Mesk hides down Impasse El Kalkhe inside Rabat's walled medina, its facade unmarked in the local style so taxi drivers need the alley name, not the riad name, to find it.

Rooms circle a tiled courtyard with a working fountain; breakfast is served there each morning unless winter rain sends it to the salon upstairs. Thick riad walls keep rooms cool without relying much on air conditioning.

The Kasbah des Oudayas and the Bou Regreg river walk are both within ten minutes on foot, making the riad a practical base for travelers touring on foot rather than by car.