The best riads in Marrakech for a chic city break in one of North Africa’s most seductive spots
Our top boutique stays in the Moroccan city perfect for short-haul winter sun
A city of sensory overload at every turn, Marrakech is one of the very best places in the world for simply strolling around, inhaling its heady scents of jasmine flower and orange, ogling the mosques, the palaces and the lush gardens, and haggling in the medina. To help you on your way to winter sun bliss, we've selected the very best riads in Marrakech.
One of the most glamorous places for a city break, whether you're travelling for a short break in autumn or planning a November holiday before Christmas arrives, Marrakech has featured in the likes of Sex and the City 2, Inventing Anna and attracted A-list celebrity holidaymakers, from Leonardo DiCaprio to Madonna and the Beckhams.
Must-sees and -dos in Marrakech include touring the Jardin Majorelle – restored by Yves Saint-Laurent using a now-iconic bold cobalt blue for many of its pots, pillars, tiles and water features – drinking spiced tea in the vast Djemaa el Fnaa marketplace square in the evening, and feasting on sweet pastries in buzzing cafés surrounded by shisha-smokers.
The best Moroccan riads – boutique hotels in ancient mansions in the medina – range from ornate fantasy creations revelling in their history to airy contemporary incarnations showcasing Beldi chic (a local term for a mix of local crafts with modern decor). Most have lovely tea rooms or lounges in their courtyards (as well as small pools), restaurants serving local and sometimes global dishes (top eats here include b’stilla pigeon pie and méchoui smoke-roasted leg of lamb) and hammams for a spot of pampering.
Marrakech’s popular as a city-break destination is aided and abetted by the shortish flight from the UK, the fact that the airport is just a few minutes’ transfer from the centre, and the sunshine. And in Marrrakech you’re also on hand for desert adventures such as camel riding, hot-air ballooning and quad-biking – not in the Sahara, but close at hand in the Agafay Desert just south of the city. Riad concierges or owners will point the way.
Here are the most luxurious riads in Marrakech for an exotic city break...
Riad Goloboy
The courtyard of the Goloboy dazzles with its vibrant blue echoing the main colour on display in the nearby Majorelle Garden. But this complex of two 19th-century aristocratic houses – lovingly restored by an art collector and interior designer – has a whole array of eye-catching hues inspired by the works of Matisse and Serge Poliakoff. There are also original artworks on display, rubbing shoulders with costly antiques and contemporary touches.
The spa with its hammam dispenses intoxicating scented argan oil massages and Berber body scrubs for a dreamy afternoon retreat. And, there’s an inviting restaurant for traditional Moroccan breakfasts and other meals, all made using organic ingredients where possible.
Dar Darma
Oozing glamour with a dose of mystery thanks to its seductively moody hues, this all-suite riad was built in the 17th century and restored by local artisans, keeping its original architecture intact. Pride of place goes to the rooftop pool and sun terrace with its medina and Atlas Mountains views, and there’s also a hammam.
You can dine on the rooftop, beneath the stars, in the dining room, or in your suite, where local babouche slippers will encourage you to get cosy and feel at home. There are also cookery classes for those keen to be initiated into the secrets of local cuisine.
Riad Al Rimal
Where some riads can suffer from a dearth of light, Al Rimal is a bright breath of fresh air. This white-painted oasis of calm has an airy pool courtyard with cream armchairs, along with restful rooms and suites in neutral hues with rattan accessories – some with feature headboards crafted from reclaimed wooden doors.
Other draws include a roof terrace with a hot tub, a hammam and a massage space, plus a restaurant serving copious breakfasts and Moroccan specialities.
Riad Laz Mimoun & Spa
From the low-lit basement wellbeing centre to the roof terrace with its relaxation pool, sofas in gentle hues and alfresco summer kitchen serving Moroccan and European favourites, Laz Mimoun cossets guests in cosy Beldi chic.
This riad has just six lovely rooms and Junior Suites, all different and all blending tasteful furnishings sourced from local artisans with vintage objects, art-gallery finds and spun-dyed fabrics.
Riad Palais Sebban
One for lovers of the opulent, Riad Palais Sebban occupies the one-time home of Caïd Sebban and combines Moroccan and Andalusian elements throughout, including gorgeous tiles everywhere – from the pool and the courtyard to the rooms and suites themselves. You'll leave with plenty of home reno inspo.
There’s also a roof terrace, a hammam and a treatment space, plus Moroccan and global dining alfresco amidst exuberant foliage and glimmering lanterns.
Riad Janate & SPA
A charming little palace, the Janate is particularly seductive by night, when its lovely patio is candlelit and scented by local oils. You’ll love the hammam, where Moroccan lavender and eucalyptus black soaps, clay masks and rose water are put to liberal use.
Rooms are also fragrant oases, thanks to the organic argan and Indian fig oil toiletries. They’re all different: the best suites are by the pool and have gorgeous carved wooden bedheads. The chef uses mainly organic produce in her light takes on Moroccan cuisine classics.
Riad Sashema
The seven gorgeous, light-filled rooms at the boutique Sashema include such features as elaborate cornicing and carved wooden doors juxtaposed with contemporary rattan and brass accessories.
Breakfasts and dinners of couscous, tagines, brochettes, pastilla and the like are served on the patio or shaded terrace, or in the dining room, while the courtyard pool surrounded by lush plants and designer seating is a lovely spot to while away a few hours. What's more there’s also a massage space. You'll never want to leave!
Riad Melhoun & Spa
The spa at the Melhoun might but small, but its treatments go large, using the likes of local cucumber, honey and chocolate for facials and other natural products in exfoliations and massages – carried out while you relax with a mint tea. Atmospheric rooms and suites here are all different but come with the likes of wrought-iron four-poster beds or colourful padded or carved-wood headboards.
Dining can take place on the roof terrace with its medina and Atlas Mountains views and its sun terrace, while the courtyard is home to an inviting pool inspired by the one in the Medersa Ben Youssef – an ancient Islamic school in the medina, well worth a visit.
Riad Tahyra
Formerly home to a carpet merchant, the seven-room Riad Tahyra is a tranquil urban oasis of Moorish architecture and mosaic tilework, with rooms clustered around a courtyard with a bubbling fountain and soaring palm trees – a great place for savouring a Moroccan meal.
Rooms and suites are simply enchanting, for those who love the dramatic and the romantic, with the likes of swag-curtained sleeping nooks behind corniced archways, and intricately painted wooden doors and furniture.
Riad Dar El Souk
Unlike other riads, the colourful traditional Dar El Souk has private seating areas outside every room – some beside the refreshing mosaic-clad plunge pool that sits at the centre of the clay-tiled courtyard with its handmade Moroccan decor. Most rooms also have a a small indoor salon, and some have hand-painted doors.
The riad’s smiling chef prepares three-course Moroccan dinners that can be served anywhere you choose: beneath the caidal tent on the roof terrace, in the courtyard under the stars, or in the the salon with its hand-carved ceiling. The same goes for the breakfasts of fresh orange juice, Moroccan crêpes and homemade cakes.
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