Where to Stay in Marrakech
When thinking of where to stay in Marrakech, a riad has to be the only option. Riads are very traditional to Morocco. If one wants to experience an authentic Moroccan trip, then your search has to start with finding the perfect riad. I am sure staying in a hotel is cute and all that but with Marrakech, we had to go proper traditional. A riad will give you everything a hotel will (and even more) so this is not a question of “hotel or riad?” but “which riad?”.
We stayed in 2 riads, which turned out to be the best thing. We had a taste of a really traditional, Instagram famous one and a more luxurious, super high-end artsy one. Both riads were incredibly baby friendly. Baby friendly? Yes this is quite an important point because most are adult only.
Related Post: Travel Guide to Marrakech, Morocco
What is a Riad?
Before we deep dive into the question of where to stay in Marrakech and a review of the riads we stayed in, let me give a brief explanation of what a riad is. They are traditional Moroccan houses usually built around a courtyard or garden. Some riads have pools and some have fountains; a few have neither. They’re usually in the Medina and depending on where exactly it is situated, it does get tricky trying to locate some. From outside, they’re unassuming but once you get through the door, it’s literally a whole new world. This is in line with the Islamic religion of not showing off wealth and keeping things modest on the outside.
Riads were typically built and owned by rich men who had multiple wives and kids. They served as accommodations for their large families. They would entertain in the courtyards while still having their privacy from the outside world. A riad would usually have at least 2 floors with a garden at its center. Most have a roof terrace as well all within high walls; blocked from the peering eyes of the world outside.
Tips for booking a Riad in Marrakech
- Even if your dates aren’t available on their website, contact them to double check. In fact, one of the riads just advised me to email once I put my dates in.
- Travelling with kids? Contact to confirm this is ok. Only a few allow kids so message them and specify the age. I contacted about 7 riads and went with the 2 that allowed kids.
- Riads are in the Medina. Therefore access from the main road is cut off and you might have to walk through the souks to get to yours.
- They are small – usually less than 10 rooms which makes them quite intimate. Each room is unique so that’s something to bear in mind if booking for a group.
- In some riads, non-hotel guests can come in for a fee with a day pass especially if they use the restaurant/bar. Some don’t allow outside guests.
Where to stay in Marrakech - Riad Sakkan
Riad Sakkan was the 1st Riad we stayed in and it was really lovely. The staff was so friendly and the location is perfect. It is only 2 mins walk to the souks, has a heated pool and its aesthetic is so stunning. Walking into Riad Sakkan, we kept saying wow! It is an art lover’s dream especially for those into the bohemian chic vibe.
The Room
Our room was the junior suite which was perfect to fit a cot and for Adanna (our baby) to crawl around. Although the Riad was very child-friendly, the dark colours in the room gave it a strong romantic vibe. The huge copper bath was just the icing on the cake. It opened into a courtyard and we low-key acted like it was our private courtyard.
Courtyard and Pool
The courtyard just outside our room was the prettiest green space ever; home to a tortoise family and parrots. One of my favourite features in the hotel was its heated pool. Thankfully, we were in Marrakech in March, which meant that the mornings and evenings were cool; while the afternoons were hot. Having said that, the heated pool was a good idea for slow mornings, lounging around the hotel until we figured out what to do for the day.
The Rooftop
The rooftop was just stunning for chilling and viewing sunsets. Riad Sakkan’s rooftop was one of my favourite spots to chill. It was where we had breakfast every morning, next to the open plan kitchen. It was where we had the most wonderful chats with Halim, the bar man/receptionist and got drinks from the bar. There were 2 spots on each far side, which we nicknamed “sun trapzz”. We would sit there during lazy afternoons. I’d read my book, Mr E would catch up on sports news while our baby slept on the soft cushions. As Riad Sakkan is situated just before you walk into the souks, the rooftop was also a great spot to watch Marrakech go by. People walking into the souks excitedly and others, leaving with shopping bags.
The Food
Breakfast was really a yummy spread or fruits, eggs, yoghurts, tea and whatever else you wanted in addition. We even had some traditional merguez sausage, which is from lamb. Moroccan food is flavourful so we felt right at home with all the spices that the foods had been cooked with.
Riad Sakkan is a more luxurious riad than the typical riads in Marrakech. It is a bit more expensive but it is worth every extra penny. Riad Sakkan is also a design or art lover’s dream. You can tell it has been built with so much intricate details that will catch your curious eyes. Dotted around the riad are provocative shots that resemble ones you’d see in Parisian boutique hotels or even art galleries. The service is one thing that tipped this one over to favourite for me. They had hot water every morning for our baby’s milk and at breakfast, they always asked if we wanted them to make something special for her. From extra fruit platters to little pancakes, they made sure our baby was comfortable.
Places that go above and beyond to make ones stay memorable will always have a soft spot with me.
Where to stay in Marrakech - Riad BE
This is the one that makes you feel like you’re in Aladdin. Riad BE felt very traditional. I had seen Riad BE on Instagram, thought it was cute and saved it. As an insta-famous riad, I was not sure it would be as lush as in photos but we were pleasantly surprised. Infact, Mr E preferred Riad BE to Sakkan as he felt it was much more traditional and felt like it was very Moroccan.
The Room
We stayed in the Salmia – a double deluxe room that was so lovely. Our room had a small Moroccan style lounge and the bathroom was made from Moroccan tadelakt.
The Pool(s)
Riad BE has 2 gorgeous pools and a rooftop bar/restaurant, which is set up traditionally. The “green” pool might be the winner for Riad BE. It has the most stunning green tiles and is surrounded by foliage – literally feels like you have stepped into the jungle but in a controlled environment. I found it so pretty and although the pool is quite tiny, its aesthetics make you forgive that. A reminder that it is for lounging around instead of doing laps. The 2nd pool, which I nicknamed the “earthy one” because it had warm brown and beige tiles, was less busy. Luckily, this is where our room was located which I was thankful for. It’s beautiful and was more traditional – thanks to the colours. It also had these huge bean bags where you could relax and read your book without being disturbed.
The Food
We stayed at Riad BE only for 2 nights, had breakfast once and dinner once. Breakfast was a bountiful spread as I had expected, seeing what Moroccans already did with breakfast. On our 1st night, we did not realise that the kitchen was closed so ended up ordering take out. The 2nd night, we were early to dinner and this time, ordered the chicken wraps to eat in bed. As expected, it was so yummy and flavourful.
The Rooftop
Maybe it was the colours or how it was decorated, Riad BE’s rooftop made us feel like we were in a Disney production lol. There were plush cushions scattered across the top floor; there was a bar to the side that had a sit down terrace as well. Colourful carpets littered the terrace and I could have sworn there were magic lamps dotted around. Ok, maybe not magic lamps but just really pretty lanterns. I absolutely loved the colours of Riad BE’s rooftop. To the far end, there was a booth style seating where food was served. My favourite thing was the hanging chair, which swung slowly from side to side when you sat in it. For where to stay in Marrakech, especially on a budget, Riad BE is the one.
Riad BE is almost always sold out because of how popular it is on the gram. To be fair, it’s actually worth its hype. Since it allows non-residents to visit its rooftop restaurant, it gives many more people a chance to have a taste of it.
Infact on the day we arrived, a photo shoot was in process by the more popular pool. My guess is that if you are visiting the restaurant, you can walk around the property and even take photos. The staff at Riad BE was A+ and they helped organise all the extras we asked for. They really always went out of their way to make sure we were ok especially our baby.
Are Riads child friendly?
I would actually say no. The fact that it took me a few calls to get 2 riads that were family friendly tells you all you need to know. Riads are small, there is usually a pool in the courtyard which sits in front of a room, steps can be steep etc. They are fine for babies that are still in their “sitting still” phase or kids who already know right from wrong. I would not recommend for toddlers.
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My thoughts on Where to Stay in Marrakech
Both Riad Sakkan and Riad BE usually feature on most lists of the best riads in Marrakech. Even when searching for the list of the most beautiful riads in Marrakech, these 2 always come up. They are both aesthetically beautiful and they give you the all round vibes you would expect from Marrakech. The most important for us was the fact that they are both kids-friendly riads, which is not something you find in most riads in Marrakech.
When thinking of where to stay in Marrakech, Riad BE and Riad Sakkan are top choices. I cannot think of any way to fault either of them and have now been recommending both to anyone who cares to listen. Maybe next time I’m in Marrakech, I’ll try a hotel to have a different feel but a riad will always trump a hotel in Morocco for me.
Bisous, Bugo x
One Comment
Marrakech agafay desert
Best riad