There is nothing, and nowhere, quite like a Moroccan riad. Meaning garden in Arabic, to be true to its name it should have citrus trees and a cooling pool, or fountain, at its heart. A dar tends to be on a smaller scale and is a traditional courtyard house, often with a bhou (recessed area) for lolling in the shade in the sizzling heat of a Marrakech afternoon. Nearly all feature highly intricate architectural features such as filigreed plaster, smooth tadelakt walls, carved cedar wood beams and gigantic doors, and most are located within the dusky pink walls of the ancient medina. Increasingly, many are opening their doors, roof-terraces and courtyards as hubs for eating and drinking, but also as intimate centers for arts and cultural exchange, which has turned the Red City from bohemian outpost to serious player on the curious traveler’s wish list.
Riad Rbaa Laroub
Way before the medina’s boutique riads became a must-do on the world’s travel bucket list, Jean Noel Schoeffer became a godfather of sorts to the early bohemians that Marrakech so bewitched. The eclectic, lived-in style of his riad, Rbaa Laroub—better known locally simply as Riad Jean Noel—had the allure of a rambling family home for those looking for a place to escape the ordinary. Some stayed for years. With jungly courtyards and a natural flair for interiors, each of the seven rooms brings richness to the experience—a claw-footed tub, a leather-lined window seat, zouaq ceilings (traditional hand-painted ceilings and lintels, often inlaid with gold leaf)—while remaining one of the most affordable retreats in town with single rooms from just €70 per night.
El Fenn
In 2022 El Fenn celebrates its 20-year birthday, having grown from an intimate 5-room riad to one of the Red City’s most talked-about hotels. Celebrated globally for a design concept where jewel-bright tadelakt walls and hand-stitched, camel leather floors meet mid-century modern furniture and a museum-worthy art collection, these are the rooms that launched a thousand photo shoots. Now, following a major extension and revamp during the 2020 lock-down that added a colonnaded garden and marble-tiled terrace, rooftop pool, seasonally inspired craft cocktails—think beetroot bourbon sour—and a plant-forward menu infused with local ingredients like rose water, Argan oil and preserved lemons, there’s much to love about its latest incarnation.
Riad Sakkan
Opened just before the Covid-19 pandemic shuttered the doors on most of Marrakech’s small riads, Riad Sakkan makes a statement in a crowded marketplace. The 12-room riad is reassuringly true to place, but not necessarily in expected ways. Theirs is a tribute to contemporary Moroccan craftsmanship that goes bold on modern homewares from natty, spice-hued striped blankets woven in 100% Atlas wool by Anajam Home, to hydraulic concrete tiles by Popham Design, to organic toiletries by local brand Botanika, and they’re happy to share shopping lists. While wallowing in their inky blue plunge pool or admiring a starlit sky from a romantically intimate dinner, guests get to ponder the new wave.
Riad Numa
When Claudia Amadeo and Mauro Violini began renovating their six-room riad, they wanted to inject a bit of Milano style into the experience (Claudia had spent years in fashion PR and came to Marrakech originally as a buyer). Clean, geometric lines, terrazzo floors, a plunge pool inlaid with brass tiles and sleek a fireside hangout in the courtyard are a bold move away from Morocco’s traditionally more-is-more approach to decor, but it works giving the space a refreshingly light and airy vibe. And unexpected extras like Mauro’s private Italian suppers (by reservation only) are a welcome treat after one too many tagines.
Riad Mena & Beyond
It’s easy to tell when a hotelier loves hotels. It’s there in every carefully considered detail, from the themes of the rooms to the lovingly collected treasures that grace them. Serene and dreamy, Philomena Schurer Merckoll’s riad is her ode to Marrakech and the people, past and present, who love it. From various artworks including textile and paint pieces by Laurence Leenart’s and a tapestry by Louis Barthélemy, to arrangements by local floral designer Yassab, playlists by local DJs and her signature clementine martini, it’s little wonder Mena has become the darling of the art and design set for a low-key weekend spent mixing with the city’s creative wunderkinds.
Tarabel
Cocooned within a 19th century Arab-Andalusian mansion owned by French aristocrat Leonard Degoy, these are among the city’s most elegant and sophisticated rooms. He was inspired by life at his family’s chateau and combines a French sensibility with Moroccan architectural detailing with seamless precision—mixing family photos and heirlooms, antique furniture and colonial rattan loungers, with decadent touches like the twin tubs bathroom in the Junior Suite, artfully manicured lawns and orange tree lined patios. Adored by out of towners for serious relaxation, it’s also beloved by well-heeled Marrakech expat residents for a glamorous staycation. Note: strictly for the over 16s.
Dar Kawa
This 17th-century Saadian townhouse is about as intimate as a riad can get, with just four rooms and lots of living space. It was originally conceived as textile designer Valerie Barkowski’s home—her trademark, hand-embroidered linens adorn every bed—and it retains that air, complemented with personal touches like her gold-lined Bowler hat pendant lamps and charpai day beds imported from India for a snooze, or a massage, on the roof terrace. Meanwhile, her cook dreams up seasonal, organic Moroccan dishes like sardines stuffed with mint that aren’t on restaurant menus. The arrival of a new spa, featuring Barkowski’s natural Moroccan beauty rituals, adds a welcome splash of at-home decadence.
