Riad Noga

Rooms

Narrow stairs wind up to the 7 double or twin bedrooms, which are spread over 2 floors in the main house and the adjacent guest wing. Most feature silk drapes, plump cushions, snuggly rugs and warm colours; they’re not as lavish as some riads, but the overall effect is homely and very comfortable.

The newer rooms in the guest wing are generally brighter-coloured. We stayed in the Red Room when we last visited, and we loved the vibrant walls (painted to match the bougainvillea outside) and the open fireplace (which staff will light on request). Rooms in the main house are decorated in more subdued tones and are further from the pool, so they're a little quieter.

All rooms have ensuite bathrooms with showers (the Ground-Floor Room in the main house also has a tub). Ours had an impressive domed ceiling, while the Yellow Room's bathroom is covered in chequered mosaics which are surprisingly gentle on the eye (and handy for a monster game of chess). The tapering stone shower enclosures are ingeniously practical (if only one’s torso was equally V-shaped), and you’ll find pool towels, bathrobes, toiletries and even bathroom scales.

Other practicalities include wall-mounted heating/air-con units, satellite TVs, DVD players, Hi-Fi units (there are DVDs and CDs to borrow downstairs) and, in the main house rooms, free WiFi. You won’t get high-spec gadgetry such as flat-screen TVs or iPod docks, but somehow that only adds to the charm of the place. Baby cots can be added to most rooms, but those wanting an extra bed should book the Red Room or one of the First-Floor Rooms in the main house.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• WiFi

Eating

A good breakfast (all the standard continental fare plus muesli, eggs and cheese) is served either around a large cedar-wood table in the main house, by the open hearth of the guest-wing dining room, or under the sun on one of the roof terraces.

Other meals are available with advance notice, and the food is tasty stuff indeed. Beautifully prepared lunches normally consist of a choice of salads and hot dishes, served with fruit and orange juice - perhaps chicken with saffron rice and cumin, stuffed calamari, or tuna with preserved lemons and couscous. For dinner, chef Khadija can prepare either traditional Moroccan feasts or ‘international gourmet’ meals. We opted for the former, and tucked into delicious grilled artichokes, a lamb and sweet potato tagine and homemade ice cream, all washed down with a bottle of crisp white Moroccan wine.

If you fancy eating out, there are many good restaurants a short walk away and further afield in the newer part of town - Gaby and her staff can provide plenty of recommendations and book taxis if needed.

Features include:

• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Shopping is a national pastime, and the souks are only a short walk away (official guides can be arranged if you want any help with haggling)
  
• Engross yourself in the all-singing, all-dancing, fire-eating, snake-charming, food-vending madness of Djemaa el Fna, 10 minutes' walk away
  
• Visit some of the city's spectacular palaces, including El Bahia (where the Moroccan royal family stays when in town), vast El Badi, and pretty Dar Si Said, which houses a museum of Moroccan crafts
  
• See art exhibitions at the Musée de Marrakech in the northern medina, then head over to the Maison de la Photographie nearby
  
• Marvel at the tiled courtyards, mirror-still pools and ornate archways at Ben Youssef Medersa, a now-defunct Koranic school and one of the best examples of Islamic architecture in the city
  
• Play golf at one of many 18-hole courses in the Palmeraie, 10-30 minutes away by 'petit taxi'
  
• Visit a resident German painter and even buy some of his work (ask Gaby)
  
• Escape to the Atlas Mountains for a trek, some fresh air and perhaps even a hot-air balloon ride - day trips with guides and transport can be arranged through the riad
  
• Or head to the southern deserts for a camel trek or just a glimpse of the endless dunes
  
• Trips to the Atlantic Coast - for a swim, a surf and a lunch of fresh fish - can also be arranged
  
• In winter, the Oukaimeden ski centre (open December to March) is only an hour or so south of Marrakech

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing

Kids

Tranquillity being the riad’s trump card, children are expected to be well-behaved. That said, entertainments on offer include the pool, TV-surfing and the pet tortoises. There's a discount for under 12s in their own room; or they stay for free if sharing with parents (cots can be provided, and extra beds can be added to the Red Room and the First-Floor Rooms in the main house). Babysitting can also be arranged.

Best for:

Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Riad Noga is located on the southern edge of the medina in central Marrakech, Morocco. It's a short walk from Djemaa el Fna, the main square.

By Air:
Marrakech Menara is only 5km away and is served by many international and budget airlines - click on the links below for a list.

From the Airport
We recommend you arrange a transfer via the riad (see Rates) - it is tricky to find otherwise!

By Train/Bus:
Marrakech has good rail and bus connections to the rest of Morocco, including Casablanca and the Atlantic coast.

By Car:
We don't recommend having a car here, as vehicles are not allowed inside the medina and it's easy to explore on foot and by taxi. If you want to hire one to venture further afield, see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Morocco and getting around