As the name suggests, Riyad Al Moussika is a feast for the senses. The luxury riad's large, tiled patios resonate with traditional Moroccan music
mixed with birdsong, the splash of ornamental fountains
and the atmospheric call to prayer of Marrakech
's muezzin.
The facilities
The tree-lined Andalusian pool
by the entrance to Riyad Al Moussika is a vestige of the opulence of its original owner, the brutal former pasha of Marrakech
, El Glaoui. Current owner Giovanni Robazza is a far more erudite and affable host and has devoted years to restoring the luxury riad's palatial interiors
and adding the polished service expected by today's pampered traveller plus all the amenities expected from a five-star hotel.
The Riyad Al Moussika's large hammam
has a masseur
(and a masseuse for the ladies) on call, the music room
sports an art deco Pleyel grand piano and there are two roof-terraces
for sun-bathing and candle-lit alfresco dining. Lunch and dinner consists of fine Italian, French and Moroccan dishes
washed down with imported chianti wines
and savoured in the shade of fragrant orange trees
.
The rooms
All six rooms
, which are named after the colour of their interiors, are furnished with tasteful artwork, Egyptian cotton sheets, English lambswool blankets
and satellite TVs. The Green room
is by far the most spectacular as it has its own private terrace
.