44 Best Hotels in Marrakesh, Morocco

The jewel in the crown of the English-owned Pure Riads collection, Riad Adore is decorated in cool, pale shades of white, beige, and gray, with tadlak walls and subtle lighting—it's an elegant and sophisticated guesthouse close to the main medina action. The property extends over two courtyards joined by a zellij-tile dining room, in keeping with the original character of the house. Rooms are decorated with hand-embroidered cushions, fine white linen, and a scattering of antique rugs; en suite bathrooms are fitted out to a high quality. There's an on-site hammam for guests, and the roof terrace with Amazigh-tent lounging area is stunning.

Nestled into a residential area of the kasbah, the intimate Riad Baya has a lovely central courtyard and rooftop terrace. There's a living room and dining area on the ground floor and a tented alcove adorned with wall-to-wall couches, poufs, and vintage rugs. 

English entrepreneur Vanessa Branson created this riad "adventure" in 2002, and since then it has been reworked and extended into a palace of individually conceived rooms designed with a stylish modern aesthetic. The property appeals to fashionable sophisticates although families with children are equally welcome. The atmosphere is chic, relaxed, and trendy, but it's expensive compared to other properties in the same category. There are three pools, a hammam spa, restaurant, spacious bar with lounge, exclusive designer boutique, library, and shaded garden patios. The roof terrace is huge and attracts outside guests for evening cocktails, as does the restaurant. Hardly any wonder that most guests stay four to five days—some even two weeks. 

With easy access from Bab Laksour and just a five-minute walk to Djemâa el Fna, this luxurious riad is a great base for exploring the medina. The service is impeccable, rooms and suites are beautifully decorated, and the bejmat-tiled patio (local handmade tiling laid in a herringbone design) is a delightful place to sip mint tea while shaded by orange trees. A high wall protects the small patio swimming pool from the sun. Meals are served on the roof terrace, the patio, or in the cozy upstairs salon, which has a huge open fireplace and a library of books and games. For even more privacy, they also have a small, restored townhouse around the corner suitable for two- to four guests. 

The Italian owners Georgina and Massimo have blended Moroccan flavors and craftsmanship with European style to create a riad that oozes sophistication. Traditional wood-paneled doors lead to each thoughtfully decorated room. There's also a small on-site hammam and massage area.

The decor is modern Moroccan meets cool hideaway at this chic riad, with a bright and airy interior. There's a nice to terrace on which to sip mint tea while taking in the sunset or, during colder months, you can lounge by the downstairs fireplace. Five understated bedrooms are available for rent individually or you can book the full riad for a group trip or private escape. 

Tucked away in the Riad Laarouss neighborhood, Les Trois Mages is a delightful small riad with English-speaking staff and spacious, tastefully furnished rooms. It's also one of few riads in this price category that has a small pool on the roof terrace that's heated in winter months. On the ground floor there are two comfortable lounges around the central patio, one with a fireplace for chilly winter nights, the other with a piano for musical guests. Some rooms have four-poster beds; the ground-floor Gaspard room combined with the adjacent Melchior room works well for families. The in-house chef, Saida, offers a delicious lunch or dinner menu upon request.

A Scottish-owned riad with English-speaking staff, Riad Linda is an unpretentious and welcoming guesthouse that is an excellent value; it's decorated in contemporary Moroccan style, with individual touches such as vintage caftans displayed in bedrooms and enormous abstract modernist paintings by the owner. Rooms have wrought-iron beds and en suite bathrooms and are simply decorated with cool white walls, powder blue painted shutters, and a scattering of soft woolen carpets. The upstairs Douria Suite is split-level and ideal for a small family, with an open fireplace, huge walk-in bathroom, and private hammam. The Sahara Room is triple-bedded on the ground floor and suitable for friends or children, or those with limited mobility. The Bedouin tent on the roof terrace has great sunset views to the Koutoubia Mosque and a canopied lounging area perfect for daytime relaxation.

Full of eccentric charm, the rambling Riad Malika occupies three old houses and was one of the first riads to become a guesthouse in the 1990s. There's a lush garden patio and a small private pool, and the riad is easy to find in a quiet and safe part of the medina. The architect owner, Jean-Luc Lemée, and his English-speaking wife have created an exuberantly styled collection of travel mementos and Art Deco relics, mixed with 20th-century retro furniture. The winter lounge is one of the coziest in Marrakesh, and there are spacious two-room suites ideal for families, as well as a decent-size patio pool. Many rooms have a private terrace also. The whole effect is a lovingly curated, quirky collage of styles and eras—sculpted plaster cornices, marble walls, gold-leaf ceilings, and a terrace with tumbling bougainvillea.

Proof that staying in a beautiful riad with elegant rooms does not have to break the bank, this Moroccan-run guesthouse is a real treasure, with a delightful roof terrace. A tiled fountain occupies center stage in the first-floor patio and keeps you cool in summer; for winter evenings there are couches in the patio area and a Moroccan salon with a library and TV. The riad is very easy to access and ideally situated close to the Mellah and the main Place Djemâa el Fna. It works well for small groups and families as there are twin, triple, and quadruple-bedded rooms. Rooms are all tastefully furnished in modern Moroccan style and finished with tadlak walls, subtle lighting, and sculpted stucco details. Breakfast is served on the roof terrace (included in the rates); other meals can be arranged in advance.

Made up of two adjoining houses around separate courtyards, Riad Samsli has 10 charming rooms at very good prices. The property is in a well-lit, safe neighborhood within easy reach of taxis and is close to both Place Djemâa el Fna and the Mellah. Rooms are all on the first floor and are tastefully decorated and furnished in traditional Moroccan style with tadlak walls, carved wooden doors, wrought-iron trellised windows, and tile floors strewn with rugs. There are several indoor communal salons and cozy corners in addition to a rooftop terrace, a decent-size plunge pool with alcove seating, and a large restaurant with fireplace.

An extra bed can be added to suites and there is a twin room, so families with small children can be accommodated.

You'll get the best of both worlds at this unassuming riad that's close to all of the action of the medina but still secluded. Common spaces include a whitewashed courtyard, with a plunge pool and a roof terrace with panoramic views.

Built and owned by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the Royal Mansour opened in 2010 and is an ultraluxurious private medina within the medina, comprising 53 individual three-story riads complete with a private patio, sitting room, rooftop plunge pool, fireplace, and personal butler. Master artisans from across the Kingdom finished each with zellij tiles, hand-sculpted plaster details, and polished tadlak. It's here that visiting heads of state and the super-elite will be housed during state visits or celebrity events; the rest of the time it's open to anybody with pockets deep enough to pay the rates. From the riads, pathways lined with 100-year-old olive trees transplanted from the King's own Agdal Gardens lead to the reception and the various fine-dining restaurants, while there is a stunning garden with massive outdoor pool and the "Le Jardin'" restaurant pavilion, overseen by Michelin-starred chef, Yannick Alléno. The luxurious hotel spa, with white wrought-iron atrium, resembles a birdcage and reputedly has one of the best (and possibly most expensive) hammams in Marrakesh. While parents enjoy this surreal level of pampering, children can be entertained with on-site activities including a chocolate laboratory. Prices include return transfers to Marrakesh airport.

Formerly the private residence of a Marrakesh judge, this exquisite 1930s property has all the understated glamour and class you'd expect from a Relais & Chateaux hotel, with unobtrusive service, libraries to hide away in, and guest rooms with enormous bathrooms. The street outside is a busy thoroughfare, but when inside you are hardly aware of it. The best (and most expensive) option is a room on the first floor, which gives you access to a private terrace with a rooftop shower and lounge chairs. Dine in the excellent contemporary Mediterranean and Moroccan restaurant (nonguests welcome), or take your meals by the heated garden pool, terrace pool, or fireside on a private, orange-tree–filled patio. The price includes breakfast, lunch, soft drinks, and transfers from Marrakesh airport.