The 18-room Kasbah Caracalla is a mid-range, Moroccan fortress-style property set in a walled garden in a remote location. Marrakech's medina is a good 40-minute drive away (free shuttle service is available), but the property offers fine scenery, a relaxing outdoor pool, and proximity to Toubkal National Park. Views of the Atlas Mountains are indeed impressive and are visible from most parts of the property (on a clear day). Rooms are clean, colorful, and full of Moroccan character, though in-room amenities are a bit sparse -- there is no Wi-Fi available. Those also hoping to stay in the heart of the medina after visiting the Atlas Mountains might consider the similarly priced Riad les Orangers d'Alilia Marrakech.
The 18-room Kasbah Caracalla is a mid-range, Moroccan fortress-style property set in a walled garden in a remote location. Marrakech's medina is a good 40-minute drive away (free shuttle service is available), but the property offers fine scenery, a relaxing outdoor pool, and proximity to Toubkal National Park. Views of the Atlas Mountains are indeed impressive and are visible from most parts of the property (on a clear day). Rooms are clean, colorful, and full of Moroccan character, though in-room amenities are a bit sparse -- there is no Wi-Fi available. Those also hoping to stay in the heart of the medina after visiting the Atlas Mountains might consider the similarly priced Riad les Orangers d'Alilia Marrakech.
Riad Noos Noos is a beautiful family-run mid-range riad (traditional Moroccan house that's been converted into a hotel). The riad itself is a masterpiece of colonial architecture and is crammed full of interesting art, trinkets, and pictures on the wall depicting desert life and Bedouin people. Located right in the middle of the spice market nearby the Bahia Palace, it's a 10-minute walk from Jamaa el Fna Square and the souks. Nine air-conditioned rooms are all decorated in a traditional Moroccan style. Outside the door, the city is bustling with life, but the riad is a calm despite being among all the action. Added perks include a cosy in-house hammam (Turkish Bath), free breakfast, and a library full of books.
Riad Noos Noos is a beautiful family-run mid-range riad (traditional Moroccan house that's been converted into a hotel). The riad itself is a masterpiece of colonial architecture and is crammed full of interesting art, trinkets, and pictures on the wall depicting desert life and Bedouin people. Located right in the middle of the spice market nearby the Bahia Palace, it's a 10-minute walk from Jamaa el Fna Square and the souks. Nine air-conditioned rooms are all decorated in a traditional Moroccan style. Outside the door, the city is bustling with life, but the riad is a calm despite being among all the action. Added perks include a cosy in-house hammam (Turkish Bath), free breakfast, and a library full of books.
Set within the palm groves of the ritzy Palmeraie district, the 36-room, luxurious Deux Tours is a great place to indulge in poolside lounging and traditional hammam treatments outside the often chaotic bustle of the Medina. The immediate surrounding area has little to offer, but it's a free 15-minute ride on the hotel shuttle to the Medina. Peaceful grounds filled with gardens, fountains, and animals are somewhat kid-friendly, though the traditionally designed rooms and elegant private riads have a decidedly romantic appeal better suited to couples. Guests who want to stay directly in the Medina could try the Riad Ambre et Epices, a luxury property with free breakfast.
Set within the palm groves of the ritzy Palmeraie district, the 36-room, luxurious Deux Tours is a great place to indulge in poolside lounging and traditional hammam treatments outside the often chaotic bustle of the Medina. The immediate surrounding area has little to offer, but it's a free 15-minute ride on the hotel shuttle to the Medina. Peaceful grounds filled with gardens, fountains, and animals are somewhat kid-friendly, though the traditionally designed rooms and elegant private riads have a decidedly romantic appeal better suited to couples. Guests who want to stay directly in the Medina could try the Riad Ambre et Epices, a luxury property with free breakfast.
MonRiad is a small, mid-range guesthouse located in the southern end of Marrakech's ancient medina, about a 20-minute walk to the bustling Djemaa el Fna square, and a five-minute walk to the Bahia Palace. Retaining the style and design of a typical Moroccan house, the white-walled MonRiad is charming but not overly lavish. As in most riads, which are designed around an interior courtyard, rooms are narrow, and decor is colorful but simple. A hearty breakfast is served daily, and a lovely rooftop terrace offers panoramic views.
MonRiad is a small, mid-range guesthouse located in the southern end of Marrakech's ancient medina, about a 20-minute walk to the bustling Djemaa el Fna square, and a five-minute walk to the Bahia Palace. Retaining the style and design of a typical Moroccan house, the white-walled MonRiad is charming but not overly lavish. As in most riads, which are designed around an interior courtyard, rooms are narrow, and decor is colorful but simple. A hearty breakfast is served daily, and a lovely rooftop terrace offers panoramic views.
Riad Aguerzame is a four-room, mid-range riad located in the ancient medina, about a 15-minute walk to Djemaa el Fna square. While it is a perfectly pleasant, traditionally styled guesthouse furnished with lots of local handcrafts and mosaics, it's not overly lavish -- there's no hammam or plunge pool. Rooms are long and narrow with terra-cotta tile floors, but have distinctive Moroccan touches. An excellent breakfast comes with the room, and the riad serves a Moroccan dinner, which needs to be arranged in advance. The terrace offers superb rooftop views, but the standout feature here is the attentive, personalized service provided by the owner and his staff.
Riad Aguerzame is a four-room, mid-range riad located in the ancient medina, about a 15-minute walk to Djemaa el Fna square. While it is a perfectly pleasant, traditionally styled guesthouse furnished with lots of local handcrafts and mosaics, it's not overly lavish -- there's no hammam or plunge pool. Rooms are long and narrow with terra-cotta tile floors, but have distinctive Moroccan touches. An excellent breakfast comes with the room, and the riad serves a Moroccan dinner, which needs to be arranged in advance. The terrace offers superb rooftop views, but the standout feature here is the attentive, personalized service provided by the owner and his staff.
Residence Dar Lamia is an upscale property with 38 rooms located in a quiet setting amidst the palm groves outside the city center. The highlight here are Villas with private plunge pools, but there are also typical rooms with their own little garden patios. The pool is gracefully curved and spacious, offering an ideal spot for sunbathing, while the restaurant serves contemporary Moroccan-French cuisine in modern surrounds, and the spa has a traditional hammam. There are nice conveniences here, including free parking, but the drive into the city can take up to 20 minutes in traffic, and the restaurant closes too early for some guests' taste.
Residence Dar Lamia is an upscale property with 38 rooms located in a quiet setting amidst the palm groves outside the city center. The highlight here are Villas with private plunge pools, but there are also typical rooms with their own little garden patios. The pool is gracefully curved and spacious, offering an ideal spot for sunbathing, while the restaurant serves contemporary Moroccan-French cuisine in modern surrounds, and the spa has a traditional hammam. There are nice conveniences here, including free parking, but the drive into the city can take up to 20 minutes in traffic, and the restaurant closes too early for some guests' taste.
The upscale Hivernage Hotel & Spa is an 85-room, traditionally styled property located in the swanky area of the same name set within walking distance of the medina. Rooms are polished and modern, if lacking the same level of Moroccan charm found in the Marrakech's other upscale properties; some have balconies and private hammams but the free Wi-Fi can be patchy. While excellent dining and a rooftop bar are huge pluses, the outdoor pool is a letdown with poor design meaning little sun and no views. All in all, it doesn't quite achieve the heights of luxury it seems to strive for, but makes for a decent upscale hotel in the attempt.
The upscale Hivernage Hotel & Spa is an 85-room, traditionally styled property located in the swanky area of the same name set within walking distance of the medina. Rooms are polished and modern, if lacking the same level of Moroccan charm found in the Marrakech's other upscale properties; some have balconies and private hammams but the free Wi-Fi can be patchy. While excellent dining and a rooftop bar are huge pluses, the outdoor pool is a letdown with poor design meaning little sun and no views. All in all, it doesn't quite achieve the heights of luxury it seems to strive for, but makes for a decent upscale hotel in the attempt.
The Kech Boutique Hotel & Spa is an upper-middle-range, 72-room property with a large pool and a convenient location just 10 minutes' drive from the Medina. The spa has a beautiful hammam; the restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine; and the bar/lounge offers craft cocktails -- though they're pricey. Guest rooms are clean and spacious with elegant decor, and some have Atlas Mountain views. Breakfast is free, as is Wi-Fi, though the connection is shaky. This property draws a range of ages and types of guests, including solo travelers and couples, many of whom enjoy the modern decor and occasional DJ. Guests willing to pay a bit more could also try the architecturally stunning Sirayane Boutique Hotel & Spa, which has half-board options.
The Kech Boutique Hotel & Spa is an upper-middle-range, 72-room property with a large pool and a convenient location just 10 minutes' drive from the Medina. The spa has a beautiful hammam; the restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine; and the bar/lounge offers craft cocktails -- though they're pricey. Guest rooms are clean and spacious with elegant decor, and some have Atlas Mountain views. Breakfast is free, as is Wi-Fi, though the connection is shaky. This property draws a range of ages and types of guests, including solo travelers and couples, many of whom enjoy the modern decor and occasional DJ. Guests willing to pay a bit more could also try the architecturally stunning Sirayane Boutique Hotel & Spa, which has half-board options.
The three-pearl Riad Dar One is an intimate and attractive boutique hotel in the Jewish Quarter of the medina. It’s a bit of a hike to Jemaa el Fna square and to some other top sights, but the property offers value and it gets high marks across the board from past guests for comfortable stays and excellent service. Public spaces are charming and chic, and highlights among features include a traditional interior courtyard with a fountain, rooftop terrace with sunset views, and a full-service restaurant that offers a free breakfast with hot items like Moroccan pancakes. The hotel's six stylish guest rooms are done in contemporary Moroccan decor, and they come with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Travelers who want a slightly more upscale hotel with spa and wading pool might consider the nearby Riad Azoulay.
The three-pearl Riad Dar One is an intimate and attractive boutique hotel in the Jewish Quarter of the medina. It’s a bit of a hike to Jemaa el Fna square and to some other top sights, but the property offers value and it gets high marks across the board from past guests for comfortable stays and excellent service. Public spaces are charming and chic, and highlights among features include a traditional interior courtyard with a fountain, rooftop terrace with sunset views, and a full-service restaurant that offers a free breakfast with hot items like Moroccan pancakes. The hotel's six stylish guest rooms are done in contemporary Moroccan decor, and they come with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Travelers who want a slightly more upscale hotel with spa and wading pool might consider the nearby Riad Azoulay.
With the feel of an exquisite private house, but the facilities and service of a renowned luxury hotel, Riad Farnatchi stands out in the middle of the Medina. Its aura of refinement is surpassed only by its adherence to Moroccan traditions -- including tagines cooked-to-order -- within the ancient walls of the hotel, where stars like Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie have slumbered in style. The nine guest rooms are individually decorated with furnishings handmade in Marrakech, and come with Bose iPod docks and sitting areas. With its white marble hammam, quiet interior courtyard lounge, and decadent decor, this is a destination for couples rather than families, and the rates are as high as the beautiful rooftop terrace.
With the feel of an exquisite private house, but the facilities and service of a renowned luxury hotel, Riad Farnatchi stands out in the middle of the Medina. Its aura of refinement is surpassed only by its adherence to Moroccan traditions -- including tagines cooked-to-order -- within the ancient walls of the hotel, where stars like Scarlett Johansson and Angelina Jolie have slumbered in style. The nine guest rooms are individually decorated with furnishings handmade in Marrakech, and come with Bose iPod docks and sitting areas. With its white marble hammam, quiet interior courtyard lounge, and decadent decor, this is a destination for couples rather than families, and the rates are as high as the beautiful rooftop terrace.