Hotel Details
Riad Dar One
| Region: | Marrakech and the Region |
| Location: | Marrakech |
| Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Type | Low | Mid | High | |
| Oasis/Mirage/St Ex/ Dune |
Ranging from 17-20m², double bed, ensuite large baths. Oasis opens out onto courtyard
|
100 € | 120 € | 150 € |
| Petit Prince |
13m², 140cm bed, ensuite shower
|
80 € | 100 € | 120 € |
| Sirocco |
16m², double bed, opens directly onto terrace, ensuite
|
115 € | 135 € | 165 € |
| Riad in exclusivity |
Rental of all rooms
|
530 € | 660 € | 820 € |
| Please note: All prices are per room per night | ||||
Check Availability
Facilities
Swimming pool
Air-conditioning
Spa on site
Sunbathing area
Internet connection
Disabled friendly
Vegetarian food
Smoking
Child-friendly
Bar and drinks
In-house restaurant
OtherA small shop selling Moroccan arts and crafts is located inside the riad.
Laundry service on request.
Secure parking is available 200m from the riad.
A television is available for some guestrooms.
Description
Bought as something of a neglected ruin in 2005, Riad Dar One has been carefully rebuilt by local workers and craftsmen under the careful eye of owner Jean Peres to open as a six-bedroom riad in 2006. Still employing the same reliable team of staff as before the renovation, Riad Dar One offers a place to stay in the culturally intriguing quarter of the Mellah or the old Jewish quarter.
The riad, although of modest dimensions, demonstrates a sophisticated interior design encompassing traditional elements. Old materials and techniques are delivered in the wooden structure framing the riad, whilst 1970-like elements are found in the leather, brocaded velvet and suede-like Alcantara florishes. The rooms of Riad Dar One are styled in muted, matt tones of aubergine, cocoa and natural beiges. The Oasis, Mirage, Saint Exupéry and Dune rooms are all similar in terms of space (and therefore in price) but quite different in design. The Oasis Room for instance is decorated in natural Tadelakt colours of honey and sand with an ensuite sink made of marble (the room also includes a chimney should the temperature drop in cooler seasons). On the other hand, in warmer weather, the room can open out onto the ground floor courtyard. The Mirage Room is a dramatic contrast. The cocoa-coloured plaster walls and baroque-influenced chandelier provides an elegant touch. Additionally thick curtains of dark golden silk cover a heavy iron door, which opens to the hallway on the first floor. An alternative is provided in the Saint Exupéry Room, dressed in refreshing blues and stripes, or the Dune Room with its high ceilings. The Sirocco Room is prized for its winding staircase to its own terrace while the Petit Prince Room is just that - the smallest room in the riad and decorated in royal aubergine tones with lilac screens.
Read MoreThe patio courtyard on the ground floor comprises a small swimming pool, fountain and various lounge-beds and chairs on which to relax. Drapes during the day and candle-lit lanterns at night make this space atmospheric. A spacious salon provided by Riad Dar One can be discovered off to one side of this patio. Offering a television and hi-fi as well as informally arranged seating, the salon is a comfortable and welcoming refuge for guests. On the top floor is Riad Dar One’s terrace, with long, white leather banquettes for sun-lounging and an open shower for a quick cool-down from the north African sun. However, a tented area and bar provide a shaded spot should guests wish to dine on the terrace. Although there are no such in-house spa facilities, massages are available on request, on a professional massage table that can be set up in guests' rooms.
As well as breakfast (which is included in the price), meals are available upon request (last request should be on the morning of the same day). Lunches and dinners can be discussed with the riad’s staff according to guests’ tastes, but as all the ingredients are fresh from local markets, meals are shaped by the ingredients that are seasonally available. Guests who want to know more about Moroccan cooking can request a cookery lesson within the riad. Additionally, guests interested in traditional Moroccan architecture and building can ask for a workshop in the famous Moroccan tadelakt plaster.
The Bahia palace and Marrakech's main square are the closest attractions to Riad Dar One. Should guests need help with arranging activities or transport around Marrakech (or indeed alternative Moroccan locations), Riad Dar One’s experienced staff is on hand to answer questions and to give advice. Excursions such as Atlas Mountain trips, horse-riding, desert expeditions and trips to the coast can all be arranged, as can booking within the city of restaurant, events and city-guides.
Where is it?
Riad Dar One is located in the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter of Marrakech, a short walk from the Badi Palace and Palace Bahia.
Travel Times
| Airport | 15 minute drive |
| City | 5 minute walk |
| Beach | 2.5 hour drive to Essaouira |
Other useful information
All transport needs can be arranged by Riad Dar One
Located at the end of a small road, the riad is particularly quiet.
Tadelakt (traditional Moroccan plaster) and cooking courses are available at the riad.
Local activities such as arranging city tour guides or activities such as excursions to the Atlas Mountains can be organised by the riad.
The owner's two friendly dogs are in residence.
The hotel scores are aggregated individual user scores which have been audited as authentic and accurate through due enquiry by Morocco Gateway.
Morocco Gateway reserves the right to exclude any reviews submitted by users which cannot be validated as authentic and accurate. Equally we will resist any request from any hotel to delist any negative review.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 7.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 7.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.5 | Value for money | 7.5 | |
| Quality of staff | 9.0 | Overall rating | 7.4 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
User Reviews on Riad Dar One
Below you'll find reviews written by our users, that have stayed in this hotel. The reviews are vetted and verified by us and may have been summarised by our editor to give you a meaningful summary.
The Editor's Summary
Riad Dar One has been complimented by recent reviewers who have been “stunned” by its “impressive” “continuity of design”, appearing to guests like “a film set!”. The “simple yet luxurious riad” has also been described as “incredibly clean”. Its location is of a mixed opinion as it is “not the most central at 5-10 minutes from the main square” yet this also allows guests “a sort of sanctuary away from the sensory overload of the city”. Riad Dar One’s staff have been praised for their “apparently limitless local knowledge of the area”, allowing guests to ask for advice on what to see and do in Marrakech. However, one review has noted that guests staying for a long stay or “in those hot summer months (where you cant do much more than hide away from the sun) may find themselves without much to do” as the riad’s facilities are not particularly extensive. 
We just got back from a fantastic stay here. We had booked quite last-minute so were a little concerned that we were clueless to what was offered in Marrakech, but the manager was great in helping us with his apparently limitless local knowledge of the area! Great staff and simple yet luxurious riad – perfect for a romantic weekend break.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 7.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 7.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 7.0 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 10.0 | Overall rating | 7.7 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
When we first arrived at Riad Dar One we were stunned: it really looks like a film set! Everything is kept incredibly clean and the continuity of the design is impressive and elegant. For what we received, we thought the riad very affordable, and its location – perhaps not the most central at 5-10 minutes from the main square does however allow it to be a sort of sanctuary away from the sensory overload of the city. Our only thought was that it might be best to book a short stay here as there isn’t a lot of things to do within the hotel. With no spa facilities, a very small pool and not much in the way of a library or entertainment, guests staying in those hot summer months (where you cant do much more than hide away from the sun) may find themselves without much to do…
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 7.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 7.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.0 | Value for money | 7.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 8.0 | Overall rating | 7.1 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
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