Hotel: Riad Dar Sbihi

Address: 25, Derb Taht El-Khochba, Zaouia El-Abbassia

Rating: ***

Riad Dar Sbihi sits to the north of Marrakech’s medina, away from the hustle and bustle of city life but just 15 minutes walk from the souks and main square.

Owners Sibylle and Saad Sbihi live in the riad full time, meaning they can always give advice and information to travellers and are more than happy to share their expert knowledge of Marrakech and surrounding area.

Dar Sbihi is a classically designed riad with four arcades giving access to all the rooms. Inside, the riad has been decorated by local craftsmen with Fes-style sculpted plaster, furniture carved from cedar wood and coloured glass windows surrounded by prettily patterned curtains.

This is a large riad, with five standard rooms, three mini suites and two large suites. One of the suites has its own private terrace.

The bathrooms are tiled in a traditional Moroccan style but are European in style. A real treat is contained within, as shower gels, soaps and other toiletries made locally using the famous Moroccan argan oil are on hand for guests to use.

Home made toiletries are also used in the marble hammam, where body scrubs and massages are on offer.

Breakfast is included in the price of your stay and there are also options for lunch and dinner, serving a range of traditional Moroccan cuisine. Mint tea and a selection of pastries are also available.

Indoors, there are two lounges in which to relax, also doubling up as a restaurant in the unlikely event that bad weather prevents eating in the courtyards.

The courtyard itself is beautiful and relaxing with a huge variety of fauna, including peach, banana and lime trees. A fountain filled with fresh flowers provides a central focal point.

Riad Dar Sbihi’s four terraces enable guests to view the Atlas Mountains and nearby sanctuary of Sidi Bel-Abbes. There’s a sun deck on one terrace to soak up the rays, and inside the Douiria (‘small house’) is a small swimming pool for guests to cool down in during the day.

If you’re planning an energetic holiday, there are bikes available for hire, and you can also explore the surrounding area on camel back or quad bike, go horse riding or take a flight in a hot air balloon. All in all, a hotel with something for everyone.

Morocco Gateway can offer special rates for guests at Riad Dar Sbihi. For more information, contact us via our booking enquiry page.

We also have many special offers on Morrocan hotels and riads, both in Marrakech and beyond.

Name: Riad Ksiba

Address: Derb Kbala No. 147, Marrakech Medina

Rating: ***

Ksiba opened its doors in 2004 after two years of extensive restoration work using traditional Moroccan craftsmen and skills. Najib Tabiai, the accomplished Moroccan architect, oversaw the restoration work  and the hotel has been given a First Class licence by Marrakech’s tourism board.

The literary theme is encapsulated in the naming of the six suites – each is called after a famous Moroccan writer. Many of the bedrooms have seating areas, while the Nizar Suite comes with its won private terrace on which to curl up with a book or write your own stories with notepad and pen.

There are plenty of communal relaxation areas, too. The roof terrace, for example, has an open shower to take the edge off on a hot day and has many parasol covered sun loungers to lie on.

On the ground floor you will find the plunge pool, which is surrounded by banana, orange and lemon trees that provide ample shade.

Internally, there are two salons – one summer, one winter – in which you can rest, read, play games and generally relax.

There is no real in-house restaurant at Ksiba, but the kitchen can serve three meals a day, and caters for vegetarian, vegan and other special dietary requirements.

Breakfast is included in the price of your stay and, so long as you request it at breakfast time, lunch and dinner can be cooked for a small charge. The riad’s staff will go to the market and purchase the ingredients fresh on the day, ensuring a delicious meal.

Riad Ksiba is located south of the main Marrakech medina, meaning it’s ideal for exploring the city on foot. Nadia, the riad’s owner, is happy to give advice on places to visit, while car and driver hire and personal shoppers and guides can also be arranged.

Morocco Gateway can offer special rates for guests at Riad Ksiba. For more information, contact us via our booking enquiry page.

We also have many special offers on Morrocan hotels and riads, both in Marrakech and beyond.

Generally, Morocco is very welcoming of children and a child friendly country to visit. Depending on your destination and the age of your children, there are a range of activities for all the family to enjoy.

Activities such as camel trekking are a great way of entertaining older children and teenagers, enabling them to get out and about and experience the richness of Moroccan countryside and stunning Atlas mountains.

If you have younger children, a family excursion in a jeep may be a better option, enabling the younger ones to have a sleep if the heat gets too much for them.

Visiting Marrakesh is an excellent family holiday because there’s lots to do within easy access of the central city. Oasiria Water Park is open throughout and a shuttle bus runs from the city to take you there. There is also an amusement park adjacent to the water park, with bouncy castles and other entertainment to keep the young (and young at heart) occupied.

In the Menara Gardens you can go on cycle rides, climb trees and enjoy a picnic, while at the Royal Equestrian Centre the whole family can have riding lessons and go for a pony trek.

If your children like to try new foods, you can usually ask for a smaller portion of food. In Marrakesh there are also familiar chains such as KFC and Macdonalds. You can also get pizza quite readily here.

Many of the Morocco hotels and riads that Morocco Gateway work with are family friendly, although it is always best to check before making a booking. In general, however, the noise and buzz that children create is welcome and expected in Moroccan destinations.

You can find Morocco Gateway’s family friendly riads and hotels here.

Image credits – CCA: Camel by Mr Angeloux; Marrakesh by Cafe du Monde.

Hotel: La Maison Arabe

Address: 1 Derb Assehbé, Bab Doukkala
, Médina Marrakech

Rating: ****

Food remains central to La Maison Arabe. The riad has two restaurants that are open to guests and visitors alike. Le Restaurant is highly decorated in a traditional Moroccan style, with a hand-painted zouaké ceiling and traditional Moroccan menu.

You will dine accompanied by the gentle tones of lute and guitar and can sample the specialities of the house with some dishes unique to the hotel.

For a less formal dining experience, La Maison Arabe’s second restaurant, Saveurs d’Ailleurs, offers a more modern fusion cuisine of several international dishes in a tapas style. Here, the musical accompaniment is provided by Andalusian pianists.

La Maison Arabe has a famous cookery school, so if the delicious dishes you taste in the two restaurants have whetted your appetite to learn the secrets of Moroccan cookery you can do it without leaving the hotel.

Moroccan chefs will teach you how to cook a variety of dishes, and English, Arabic and French interpreters are all available to help.

Step out of the kitchen and you’ll enter a world of relaxation. An on-site hammam offers traditional steam baths, massages, facials and mud baths, with many of the treatments using locally produced herbs and plants.

There is a private swimming pool, gardens and kasbah located just outside the city, accessible by the riad’s free, private shuttle service in just 15 minutes.

Here there are shaded areas in which you can relax and enjoy light refreshments from the snack bar.

At the main hotel there are two patios, one with an impressive water feature, the other shaded by olive trees and both full of flowers.

Staff at the hotel can arrange activities a little further afield. Golf, tennis and camel riding are among the activities available. Additionally, Maison Arabe is located just minutes from the heart of Marrakech medina.

Morocco Gateway can offer special rates on La Maison Arabe, as well as other riads in Marrakech and beyond.

Click to make a booking enquiry and find out more about this hotel.

Argan trees are very well adapted to arid, desert-like conditions, which means it grows well in drought prone areas such as south west Morocco.

The trees have been harvested since Berber times and they are also popular with the free-roaming goats, which like to climb them to feast upon the leaves. An entertaining sight for visitors to Morocco is that of the goats balanced precariously in

This, combined with an increasing demand for wood, means that the trees have become increasingly rare, and are now protected by UNESCO.

The oil itself is extracted from the kernels of argan nuts, and in certain areas of Morocco you can see Berber women bashing the kernels with stones to prepare them for oil extraction. These women’s co-operatives are vital to the economies of many parts of Morocco and help keep the villages alive.

Argan oil is such in vitamin E and fatty acids, and can be used in such products as soap, massage oil and anti-ageing cream, as well as for cookery.

You can pick up argan oil throughout Morocco at a fraction of the price you’d get it for in the UK. Therefore, it’s well worth stocking up before your trip home.

Image credit – CCA: Treegoats by Ryantron

Hotel: Tigmi

Address: Douar Tagadert el Kadi, Km 24 Route d’Amizmiz, Outside Marrakech

Rating: ***

Tagadert is a small village not far from central Marrakech, ideally located between the bustling city and the tranquil beauty of the Atlas Mountains. The main house of Tigmi has stood on this site since 1840 and was recently renovated by teams of local master artisans.

A second house, on the other side of the farm track, was built in 2008 and provides more modern accommodation that nevertheless retains its rustic roots.

There is one swimming pool in each house and relaxation is an important part of the Tigmi experience. It’s very peaceful and you can enjoy being pampered in the large hammam, which has rooms for each separate therapy for an intimate and private experience. Treatements include steam room, gym, massage and skin care.

Outside, you can chill in the shade of banana palms, citrus and olive trees or catch some sun on the stretch of lawn beside the pool. Some of the suites have their very own private plunge pool, others a private courtyard, and for groups of family and friends there are some rooms that are interconnected.

For a break from the sun there are lounges full of books – all written in English – where you can marvel at the high ceilings and authentic decoration as you read. The lounges benefit from a great deal of natural light thanks to courtyards connected to them.

Tigmi’s restaurant serves delicious food made from local ingredients where possible  – the olive oil used is produced just 500 yards from the riad! Vegetarian and other special diets can be catered for so long a you let the hotel know in advance.

The vast majority of the staff come from the village and can fill you in on what to do during your stay. Because of the remote location of this riad, sports including hiking, mountain biking and water sports are popular activities – you can even try microlight flying if you so desire!

Take a wander into the village and return with many authentic Moroccan goods. Tigmi even employs its own weaver, who will make you a piece to order.

Morocco Gateway can offer special rates on Tigmi, as well as other riads in Marrakech and beyond.

Click to make a booking enquiry and find out more about this hotel.

Hotel: Ryad Mabrouka

Address: 25 Derb El Mitter, Talaa Kbira, Fez Médina, 30200, Fez

Rating: ***

Ryad Mabrouka is a Fez hotel with romance at its heart.  Should you be there to celebrate a honeymoon or other romantic occasion, the hotel staff will provide flower and wine in your room. Fez itself is steeped in romance and is Morocco’s oldest Imperial city, packed with spiritual and cultural highlights and with a truly magical feel.

The riad was built in 1920, making it comparatively modern for Fez. It was transformed into a guesthouse in 2000 and comprises six suites and two rooms. As well as a perfect retreat for couples, Ryad Mabrouka is ideal for those wanting to explore the city or people keen to relax and recharge their batteries.

Mabrouka’s interiors are well furnished and decorated with a mixture of French and Moroccan art. The sculpted platerwork, cedar wood ceilings and mosaics have been preserved and the hotel’s owners have also added contemporary comforts including air conditionng and heating in the ground floor guest rooms and en-suite facilities for all rooms.

All of the riad’s rooms are arranged around a central courtyard, which contains a swimming pool accessible through the internal courtyard, which contains a fountain surrounded by seating.

On top of the riad is a roof terrace where you will experience stunning views of the historic city and surrounding countryside. Here you will find ample sun beds to relax on.

Dinner is serverd on the veranda and is a combination of French and Mediterranean cuisine. If you fancy eating out, there are myriad eateries for every taste in Fez’s main square.

There are souks aplenty and many small shops to browse off the main square, but  Fes is also surrounded by countryside and hiking, horse riding and cycling trips can easily be arranged.

Trips to the famous Roman ruins at Volubilis can be arranged, as can transfers to other cities in Morocco.

Morocco Gateway can offer special deals on your stay at Ryad Mabrouka. Click here to make an enquiry.

That’s why we’re pleased to welcome Dar Zemora, a Marrakech riad with a four star rating, to the Morocco Gateway family. Read on to discover this little bit of luxury just a short drive from the heart of the city.

Dar Zemora was bought by its English owners in 2001 and opened its doors as a hotel in 2003. It comprises the large main house and the smaller Pavilliion Suite, which has two bedrooms and a private pool – ideal for a small group or pair of couples.

The decoration of all the bedrooms maintains a traditional Moroccan style, each unique with painted zouak ceilings, moucharabieh woodwork and tadalkt walls. There are also a selection of reception rooms – the Casablanca Room is relaxed and informal, the Omar Room cosy and perfect for couples. There’s also the Fan Room, with traditional floor seating, where guests can order drinks.

For entertainment, there is a library with books and board games such as backgammon and chess available, along with playing cards. Although there are no televisions in the bedrooms to help maintain the riad’s peaceful atmosphere, there are portable DVD players and even iPods available to borrow.

Meals are a particular highlight at Dar Zemora; Ahmina, one of the chefs, hosts taste test nights four times a week, and as Dar Zemora has its own herb and vegetable gardens there are always plenty of fresh ingredients available.

For relaxation, guests can walk through the herb garden to the treatment room, where beauty treatments including manicure and hammam are available. There’s also a croquet lawn and large swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers.

Perfectly distanced from Marrakech to give a real sense of retreat but close enough for an easy visit, Dar Zemora is a haven of relaxation. If you feel like being adventurous, staff can also help arrange trips for such things as camel or horse riding, golf and tennis.

Click here for details of Morocco Gateway’s special deals on Dar Zemora.

Hotel: Riad el Mezouar

Address: 28 Derb el Hammam, Issebtinne, 40000 Marrakech

Rating: ***

Based in the North of Marrakech medina, Riad el Mezouar is an elegant town house dating back to the 18th Century. Once owned by Moroccan royalty, the name means “head of the family” and the riad has a classy feel. It’s owned by Michel Durand-Meyrier, an interior designer who has maintained the original architecture of the building and preserved its character while at the same time giving it a contemporary and comfortable feel.

When the riad was restored, Michel employed only local craftsmen and traditional materials to add to the authentic feel. Being environmentally conscious was also high on his priorities and touches such as ceiling fans in place of air conditioning are of note.

There are five rooms in this riad – three suites and two doubles, all en-suite and all uniquely decorated in different styles. Throughout the rooms and halls of this Marrakesh riad you will find an eclectic mix of art from Africa, Asia and Europe, while bespoke silk fabrics drape over the furniture. The eye is naturally drawn to these stunning furnishings thanks to the minimalist whitewashed walls.

Step outside to the courtyard garden and the first thing that hits you is the glorious scent – lavender, jasmine and myrtle create an olfactory delight. This garden borders an Arabian marble fountain and the swimming pool, where energetic guests can work out with aqua gym lessons.

Riad Mezouar also has a roof terrace with sunbeds and seating areas, all overlooking the Atlas Mountains. Indoors, communal salons are available for guests to use at any time, and there’s also a small library and gift shop to peruse.

Although there is no in house spa, you can enjoy spa treatments including massage with essential oils.

Meals are an exquisite mix of Oriental, Asian and French cooking, making use of herbs from the courtyard and fruit from the surrounding trees. The chef was previously employed by Lailla Aicha, sister of King Hassan the Second, so you’re always guaranteed a quality feed. You can also learn how to cook the meals yourself as the chef offers cookery lessons.

Private concerts of Arabo-Andalusian music can be arranged by the hotel staff and excursions can also be organised around the city and to the Atlas mountains.

Morocco Gateway can offer special rates for guests at Riad el Mezouar. For more information, contact us via our booking enquiry page.

We also have many special offers on Morrocan hotels and riads, both in Marrakech and beyond.

The spa and hammam tradition is centuries old and many of the staff who work in these spas have learned the ancient local skills passed down from generation to generation, meaning you can rest assured of being in experienced hands.

Many Moroccan riads and hotels have their own hammams to meet growing demand from visitors. Morocco Gateway has a full list of hotels and riads in Marrakech, Fes and Essaouira that have hammams, which you can find here. Even if your chosen riad does not have a hammam of its own, you will find that many other hotels in the area open their spas up to non-guests. It’s best to consult your riad’s staff about booking time in these hammams.

Alternatively, if you are feeling adventurous, there are numerous public hammams that visitors are welcome to use. Again, staff at your hotel can advise you where to find these and how to book.

All hammams are unique and the treatments available in each will vary slightly. However, broadly speaking you can expect to be pampered in warm rooms decked out in marble, steaming the impurities from your skin, various body massages using clays and essential oils, wraps with algae or other plants, foot and scalp massage and treatments with hot towels or stones.

The hammam experience is the perfect way to relax and unwind after a hard day’s exploring the city and you are guaranteed to leave feeling thoroughly refreshed.

If you’ve visited Morocco and have a favourite hammam or spa you think we should know about, leave us a comment. We’re always keen to discover new places of interest in Marrakesh, Fes and beyond.

Image credit – CCA: Rabat hassan 2nd mosque hammam by zongo69.