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New York Times

A Riad With a Rooftop Pool in Marrakesh

Stay Here In Morocco, a New 10-Room Hotel Nestled in a Historic Quarter For decades, the small hotels in Marrakesh's medina — the city's fortified historic center — were mostly owned and run by European expats, but lately, Moroccans have been buying them back. This week, the Moroccan entrepreneur Simohamed Azzouz opened the Mellah, a 10-room hotel with a rooftop pool. Inside, it's decorated with photographs and paintings by Moroccan artists including Bouchra Boudoua, who often paints on ceramic surfaces, and the muralist Mourad Aboulahna, along with midcentury-inspired furniture made by local artisans. All the rooms look out on a tiled courtyard with a fragrant orange tree in its center. The Mellah (named after the historic Jewish quarter in which it's located) was a personal project for Azzouz, who was born in Casablanca but lived for years in France. 'Returning to Morocco and creating Mellah was also a journey back to myself,' he says. The kitchen serves homey Moroccan favorites such as slow-cooked tagines and just-baked flatbreads. From $300 a night, — Gisela Williams Wear This A New Line of Irreverent Knitwear From the Belgian Designer Meryll Rogge The Belgian designer Meryll Rogge is having a banner year. In June, she won the Andam Grand Prize — a 300,000-euro (about $350,000) grant that was founded in 1989 to promote young design talent — for her five-year-old namesake label. In July, she was named the creative director of the Italian brand Marni. And this month, she's launching a new knitwear line, B.B. Wallace, a collaboration with the British knitwear designer Sarah Allsopp (with whom she previously worked with at Marc Jacobs). While slouchy wool sweaters and oversize cardigans have always featured prominently in her line, Rogge says she wanted to make 'beautiful sweaters that could exist outside of a fashion show.' The brand's name was inspired by the names of her two children. Accordingly, the clothes have a playful, nostalgic air. There are Fair Isle crew neck sweaters, a delicate scallop-edged pointelle top and a fluffy neon pink fake-fur top-and-skirt set. Working with natural yarns in Shetland wool, soft merino wool and double face cashmere, Rogge has married artisanal details (such as buttons made from natural horn) with her offbeat design sensibilities to create a collection that is as versatile as it is luxurious. 'We wanted to make knitwear you bring on a weekend trip to the countryside or throw over your shoulder during your morning commute,' says Rogge. 'Clothes that serve as a comforting, protective layer when you're out in the world.' From about $530, — Kin Woo Neighborhood Guide Where to Find Inventive Seafood and a Floating Hotel in Edinburgh Want all of The Times? Subscribe.