227 Derb Jdid, Bab Doukkala, Medina, Marrakech, Morocco | (888) 551-4925
Located in the historic Medina
Full-service spa and hammam
Free breakfast and free Wi-Fi throughout
Palatial courtyard with small plunge pool
Comfortable rooms with iPod docks
Restaurant with rooftop terrace seating
Small fitness room on-site
Free water and fruit daily
Far from parking
Ground-floor rooms can be noisy
As in most riads, lunches and dinners must be prearranged, and there are no coffeemakers or TVs in rooms
Some bedspreads look tacky
This brilliantly designed three-and-a-half pearl riad adds upscale amenities to a thoroughly traditional Moroccan experience. Travelers who want to explore Marrakech on their own terms will appreciate the medina location, and the restored 18th-century building is an attraction in itself. The characteristic riad courtyard and rooftop terrace have an elegant ambience, and the Riad El Mansour adds a full-service spa and small fitness room. The rooms are equally impressive, though light sleepers may want to avoid the ground floor, especially if other guests are using the pool late at night.
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Scene
Traditional mansion bedecked in colorful tiles
An 18th-century riad that has been beautifully renovated, Riad El Mansour is covered in ornate tile mosaics and rich fabrics. Great natural light pours into the central courtyard, with black-and-white floor tiles zigzagging between black columns etched with ribbons of carved scroll-work. Hand-crafted traditional, and antique furniture decorate the low-lit lounges and nooks, combined with art from the owner's private collection.
Location
In the historic, old city
Riad El Mansour is in Marrakech's old city, surrounded by narrow pedestrian streets. The medina, a UNESCO world heritage site, is a maze of 11th-century lanes and souks with vendors selling traditional crafts. The nearest parking is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and the Royal Palace, Bahia Palace, Jamaa el Fna, and Dar Si Said Museum are a 20- to 25-minute walk from the hotel. Marrakech Menara International Airport is a 15-minute drive, once outside the pedestrian streets.
Rooms
Luxurious hand-crafted furnishings and iPod docks
The six rooms here have no TVs; they're quiet sanctuaries away from the hectic streets outside. As individually decorated spaces, they come alive with exotic details. Each is decorated in a traditional style with varying color palettes and rich wooden furniture -- some rooms have gorgeous thuya-style wooden chairs and tables, while others have ebony cabinets and tables inlaid with camel bone and silver. Local crafts, brightly patterned textiles, and ornate tile mosaics are illuminated by crystal chandeliers. Some bedspreads look a little cheap. Bathrooms are spacious and have large vanities and open walk-in rainfall showers. Wi-Fi is free.
Features
Moroccan restaurant, spa and hammam, rooftop terrace, small pool, fireplace lounge
Service at Riad El Mansour begins with being met at the nearest parking lot and escorted to the hotel by staff through the labyrinthine streets of the medina. A welcome drink with local pastries follows, and guests can expect free water and fruit each day. For more substantial dining, there's a free traditional breakfast each morning, and the hotel sources all ingredients from a nearby local market. Traditional Moroccan dinners and lunches can be served anywhere -- lounge, courtyard, rooftop terrace, or in-room, but they must be arranged ahead of time so the staff can purchase the necessary ingredients. The full-service spa has a massage and treatment room as well as a traditional hammam steam bath. There's also a small fitness room on the rooftop with a pair of treadmills and weight-training machines (a rarity for a riad). A small plunge pool in the exquisitely tiled courtyard is great for cooling off in the typically hot afternoons, and there's a cozy fireplace lounge for cooler Moroccan nights. Wi-Fi is free throughout the riad.
