Hotel Dar Baraka & Karam (Marrakech)

This striking pair of riads (courtyard mansions) is cleverly connected with a fabulous communal roof terrace. Both offer intimate ambience and simple, stylish whitewashed decor to focus attention on original carved-wood details and stuccowork archways. Great value on a spare yet stylish little bolt hole, ideal for couples or groups of friends since the jigsaw-like roof terrace sets an intimate mood for parties and romantic evenings snuggled up under the stars. Though the Baraka is more striking and the Karam is swankier, both of these fraternal-twin riads feature shady patios draped with ivory bougainvillea, and all nine guestrooms are simple, comfortable and snazzy - white linen is offset by plush, lipstick-red Berber rugs, and there are plenty of cushions to soften up rather stiff beds.