34 derb El Arsa, Sidi Ayoub, Marrakech, Morocco | (618) 248-8274
Central location within walking distance to most major sights
Rich historical ambiance both in and around hotel
Rooftop terrace has views of the old city
Colorful guest rooms with traditional decor
Some units have private terraces
Small but pretty courtyard with a spa
On-site restaurants and lounge
Well-reviewed free breakfast
Dry cleaning and laundry service (fee)
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Extremely limited public transportation nearby
Guest rooms lack TVs, kettles, and coffeemakers; some are small
No alcohol allowed or served on-site
Cash deposit required
No on-site parking
Get a full dose of old Marrakech at this three-and-a-half-pearl hotel, a former riad to the southeast of the city’s main square. Despite its small size—just five bedrooms—Riad Menzeh impresses with its lineup of amenities, including a restaurant, interior courtyard, rooftop terrace, and tiny spa doling out massages, scrubs, and wraps. There's traditional decor throughout the property, with patterned tiles, carved wood, and bright textiles. The colorful guest rooms have AC and hold plenty of charm and romance, but there are no TVs, coffeemakers, or kettles. For a more modern taste of Marrakech, check into the Hotel Le Caspian in the upscale Guéliz district, just west of the old city.
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Scene
Traditional riad with rich decor and an intimate atmosphere
Like many riads in Marrakech, the entrance to Riad Menzeh is little more than a simple door in a tiny alley. Similarly, once inside, a lush, colorful world unfolds in almost fairy tale-like fashion around a central open-air courtyard paved with tiles and greened by palms and plants. The protruding white lattice window just above is a menzeh, through which women could see visitors unobserved. Should the sun blaze or night air chill, an indoor lounge with sofas and a fireplace is adjacent, and there's also a rooftop terrace with views of medina and mountains beyond. A small spa turns the temperature up on the romance, too, particularly for the many couples who stay here.
Location
In the medina, within walking distance to sights and cafes
In the southeast section of Marrakech’s famous medina, this former riad puts guests in intimate proximity to the swirl of bazaars, fruit stalls, food vendors, snake charmers, and acrobats that make the old city so memorable, not to mention the majority of the sights. It also means a good pair of walking shoes makes the most effective transportation, as public transit—outside of the green horse-drawn calèches—within the center is scarce and unreliable. Otherwise, make use of the beige grand and the petit taxis, which are also the most convenient way to get into the city from Menara Airport and Marrakech train station, both about a 20-minute drive from Riad Menzeh.- 11-minute walk to Ben Youssef Medersa and Bab Debbagh tanneries
Rooms
Historical charm with colorful decor, but no TVs, coffeemakers, or kettles
In traditional riad fashion, the five guest rooms at Riad Menzeh sit around a central courtyard and boast the usual traditional Moroccan decor, including plastered archways; carved doors and mirrors; bright orange, purple, and red textiles; wrought iron bed frames, and tile work. Owing to the historical context, configurations change in each room and space can be limited, with the king, double, and twin beds sometimes bookended by walls. All rooms also come with air-conditioning, safes, and free Wi-Fi, but there are no TVs, kettles, or coffeemakers. Bathrooms are done in a similar traditional style with pretty tiling around vanities. All come with open showers with removable showerheads, bidets, toiletries, and hairdryers. Upgrading adds additional space, beds, sofa beds, and private terraces or balconies.
Features
Rooftop terrace, courtyard, and spa, plus free breakfast and Wi-Fi
Although small, Riad Menzeh offers amenities akin to more upscale hotels. The hotel's restaurant serves traditional Moroccan dishes including tagines and couscous, which you can learn to cook yourself in lessons on-site. Meals are served in the central courtyard or on the rooftop terrace, though no alcohol is allowed on-site. At the spa, which is attached to the courtyard, there's a hammam and treatments such as body scrubs, ghassoul mud wraps, and argan oil massages for an additional fee. Also for an extra charge, guests can make use of laundry service, babysitting, valet parking, and shuttle service to the airport, train station, casino, and shopping center. The property requires a cash deposit, and there's no on-site parking, but Wi-Fi is free throughout.
