Riad Hikaya is owned and operated by Englishman, John Pittaway. John studied Arabic at University and speaks French, Spanish, Arabic and the local Moroccan dialect, Darija. He has travelled widely and lived in many different parts of the Middle East such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates before settling down in Marrakech thirteen years ago. He is therefore uniquely well placed to ensure guests have an unforgettable holiday. He can offer insider guidance and advice on the best places to see, eat and visit and also advise guests on the best places to shop and how to negotiate the best prices. He can then arrange the shipping of any purchases which won't fit into your luggage.

Over a period of more than four years John meticulously restored the Riad into what it is today, working with local craftsmen and artisans in their own language. John's design vision for the Riad was to convey to guests the vibrancy, colour and excitement of Marrakech and to envelope them in the richness and warmth of local materials. He did not follow the current minimalist trend, choosing instead to allow the inherent warmth and sumptuousness of Marrakech to come through in the style of the décor. He has an amazing eye for detail and a slightly quirky style which naturally combines vintage Italian film posters with African dolls made from beads and with local handcrafted rugs, lamps and mirrors.