LODGE K - MARRAKECH - Carlie Tasker

Lodge K – the small boutique hotel in the Palmerie – a short 10 minute drive from the main square – is a remarkable 8-suite secret oasis. The buildings are decorated like luxury tents from the outside, whilst the interiors vary with decors evoking Africa, Asia and the Art Deco era. It’s a mish- mash of influences where every corner feels richly textured, from the intricate detailing of the ceiling, Moroccan moorish tiles to the shelves lined with Zulu figurines.

We’re staying in the Africain suite, its beautiful bathroom the focal point of the lodgings with a huge deep set bath tub. Although after catching a glimpse of the Balinese suite with its own private pool and a bedroom which opens up onto a private garden, it’s this one we recommend.

The menu changes daily at Lodge K, based on what the chef has bought from the market, and you can pretty much request anything so long as they have the ingredients. We try the club sandwich to tide us over until dinner and are impressed with the food quality. There is also a wellness centre and a Hamman, we try the latter which isn’t for the faint hearted, it’s a complete experience involving the bare minimum in terms of clothing. (We’re talking paper thong and nothing up top) whilst your contorted into all kinds of positions. We emerge stretched and scrubbed and strangely satisfied with the oddness of it all.

Don’t come here for exceptional service, because you won’t find it. But what you will find is that you won’t so much care. Lodge K is incredibly quiet, we encounter one other couple during our 3 days here, evidently on a romantic break away – they emerge dishevelled in the late afternoon when the weather is starting to cool, which is just about the time when we retire our sun-baked skin to our room for showers to prepare for an evening’s fun in the Medina. By the time we return lanterns are lit along the pathways to help guide us back to bed.

Despite the lack of service our stay is deeply restful. Just reading on day beds, by far the comfiest I’ve ever laid on, dipping in and out of the pool and sipping rosé to the soundtrack of the bird chirps.