L'Iglesia Hotel, El Jadida, Morocco

A 16th-century converted church in the Unesco heritage city of El Jadida, this 13-suite jewel is the latest project from French-born Jean Dominique Leymarie, the man behind Marrakech's Beldi Country Club. Leymarie took on the interiors as well, which marry French-influenced Art Deco furniture (the Mathieu Matégot chairs are a pleasant surprise) with old radios, hats, bags, mirrors, chandeliers and rugs handpicked from the souks. Intricate decorative detailing and vaulted ceilings add to the drama - as does the rooftop terrace, overlooking the historic Portuguese ramparts and the Atlantic coast.