If you sense a bright and breezy Med chic about this riad, it must have wafted across from Ibiza, where Dutch owners Yvonna and Alberto made their name restyling a handful of highly cool villas. Their designer touch - she's interiors, he's fashion - sparkles here too, from the bejewelled babouches and sleekly curved chairs to the chillout tunes drifting up to the sheltered rooftop lounge.
It's converted from a trio of riads, with shady courtyards featuring an ornately tiled fountain and a rose-petalled splash pool. The suites and rooms bristle with design details: copper lanterns, Balinese mirrors, egg-smooth tadelakt bathtubs. Up on the roof, under a loggia hung with gauzy textiles, staff know just when to offer cocktails or mint tea to guests lazing in the afternoon sunshine. Down below, the hammam is the perfect place for some restoration after exploring mad Marrakech. The laid back atmosphere - everyone is made to feel at home, nothing is too much trouble - will delight couples seeking both style and substance on a long weekend break or some post-trek pampering.
Highs
- Stunning, eclectic décor, which mixes modern and Moroccan pieces
- A calm and classy haven, set in a quiet part of the medina
- Pretty courtyards with palms and orange trees, a plunge pool and suspended lanterns
- The enormous, open-air roof lounge, where breakfast and drinks are served
- A tadelakt hammam with a steam room and hot tub
Lows
- Don't expect to swim in the splash pool - it's more for cooling toes
- If you want lunch or dinner, you'll need to order in advance
- It's a little further from the centre than some might like (a 15- to 20-minute walk from the hotel)
- As always in the medina, the nearest car park is a short walk away (about 5 minutes)
- We found ourselves being pestered by bees at breakfast time
Best time to go
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit; temperatures in high summer are scorching. Marrakech is a joy to visit during colder months, where days are fresh and bright and nights are spent around the fire.
Our top tips
A shawl for chilly evenings and cover-ups for the souks - although Marrakech is a very tolerant society, women will feel self-conscious in mini skirts and vests. Be inspired by Talitha Getty and wear a kaftan - there are hundreds on offer in the souks.
- Riad Hotel
- 10 rooms
- Breakfast (+ other meals on request)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Plunge Pool
- Spa
- Beach nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
Rooms
Each of the rooms and suites has genuine design panache, ranging from gleaming brass door details to Starck chairs and beautifully sculpted stone basins. The owners have sourced furniture from Bali and Italy as well as North Africa, and you can tell that real care has been taken.
We were lucky enough to stay in Arab Suite 1. Glass doors open onto a skylit hall; an archway leads into the sand coloured bathroom with an enormous bathtub; a blue wooden door slides sideways to hide the wardrobe space (clever!) and reveal the bedroom. But the trump card of this suite is the private roof terrace, with sun loungers and trailing roses.
The other rooms are no less stylish or unique, though they may lack the outside space. The Ennafora Suites have tadelakt fireplaces; the double-bedded Basha Suite has a stunning 300-year-old hand-painted ceiling, and can link with a double-bedded Berber Suite, via a shared lounge, to make a fantastic family apartment. The Sabba Suite has an additional sofabed and a split-level sitting area.
In a separate building across the street, there are 3 newer suites. On one side of the courtyard are the Nour Suites, which both have gorgeous bathrooms featuring gold showerheads, sinks and mirrors. Opposite them, the second Arab Suite is enormous, and has a lovely open-fronted sitting area overlooking the courtyard.
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
With advance warning, lunch and dinner can be served by the pool, in your room, in the courtyard... you pick. But we thought the nicest place to dine was on the roof, where rattan parasols shelter small metal tables from the sun; there's a sofa'd b’hou (loggia) for reclining with a mint tea afterwards. Lunch might be a salad caprese or nicoise, or a Moroccan salad of aubergine and tomato served with freshly baked bread. Dinner could be harira (a Berber soup), a lamb pastilla or a chicken tagine served with almonds and lemons.
Breakfast, also served on the roof or in the courtyard, consists of fresh fruit, yoghurt, honey, pancakes, bread, coffee or tea, and fresh orange juice. Room service can be arranged but is not 24 hours.
There are lots of restaurants within walking distance, and manager Jacques is full of suggestions. Le Jardin serves Morrocan favourites plus a few western classics (like hamburgers) in an atmospheric leafy courtyard. If you're really suffering tagine overdose, Jacques recommended a good colonial French restaurant, Grand Café de la Poste, in the modern quarter of Guéliz, though it’s less atmospheric than medina restaurants. Be aware that alcohol is only served in some restaurants; try Comptoir Darnas for chic cocktails and fabulous entertainment, or head to Kosybar for sundowners.
Features include:
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Explore the souks with a guide - they might take you to places on commission but it’s worth it for the fascinating historical detail they provide. They’re a great help when bartering too
- Enjoy the hammam - 2 therapists are on call most hours during the day for guests, though it’s best to give a couple of hours advance notice
- Have a sundowner in the rooftop loggia overlooking the courtyard, as candles flicker around the petal-strewn pool below
- Sunbathe around the tiny pool - you need some respite after the sensory assaults of the medina
- Staff can organise trips into the Atlas Mountains or desert for those staying more than a weekend, as well as camel rides, golf or tennis in the Palmeraie
- The rooms are so beautiful that you’ll want to spend some time simply reading on your private balcony, or luxuriating in the enormous baths, some of which are big enough for 2
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Shopping / markets
Kids
To preserve the peaceful atmosphere, Ryad Dyor is an adult-only retreat.
Family friendly accommodation:
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Ryad Dyor is in the medina (old centre) of Marrakech, in Sidi Ben Slimane, Morocco.
By Air:
Fly into Marrakech Menara (8km). Served by several airlines.
From the Airport:
The hotel can provide airport transfers, and if you're staying for more than 3 nights, the transfer is complimentary. Alternatively you can take a taxis (approx DH100). The journey time to the riad is about 20 minutes.
By Train:
The station is about 20 minutes away by taxi.
By Car
Having the use of a car makes exploring further afield easier although you really won't want to drive around Marrakech due to the narrow labyrinthine streets - far better to walk and get taxis. You can arrange your car hire before you go with Holiday Autos.
Detailed directions will be sent to you once your booking is confirmed through i-escape.
Airports:
- Marrakech, Menara 8.0 km RAK
Other:
- Beach 200.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km