Hotel Details
Riad Dar Sbihi
| Region: | Marrakech and the Region |
| Location: | Marrakech |
| Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accomodation Type | Low | Mid | High | |
| Standard room (5) |
Twin or double bed
|
120 € | n/a | 140 € |
| Mini-suite | 150 € | n/a | 170 € | |
| Suites (2) |
One with private terrace
|
200 € | n/a | 250 € |
| Please note: All prices are per room per night | ||||
Check Availability
Special Offers
Free night until 1 Nov 2010
5 nights for the price of 4
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
OtherAn extra bed can be placed in the suites at an added cost.
Description
As recognised by The Guardian’s “20 Best Places to Stay in Marrakech” of 2006, Riad Dar Sbihi is located north of Marrakech’s medina, out of the hustle and bustle but with only a fifteen-minute walk to the shopping souks and main-square. The owners, Sibylle and Saad Sbihi, warmly welcome guests to their home - their “live-in” status meaning guests can be reassured with friendly, knowledgeable advice that is always on-hand (but without imposing in any way).
As Riad Dar Sbihi’s four arcades give access to all rooms, guests can expect a classically designed riad. The interiors have been completed and furnished by local craftsmen in a Fes style- sculpted plaster, carved cedar-wood furniture, hand-painted doors, patterned drapes and windows with coloured glass create a charming, visually exciting Moroccan environment. Riad Dar Sbihi offers five standard rooms, three mini-suites and two larger suites. Most of these rooms are located upon two floors of the riad although the mini-suites can be found in the riad’s Douiria or 'small house'. Whilst the suites have seating areas unlike the standard rooms, one suite has its own private terrace with seating. All rooms are air-conditioned, have an individual satellite television, mini-bar and safe and have en-suite facilities with European style toilet, bidet and bath or shower. However, the bathrooms are decorated traditionally in striking Moroccan tiling and traditional lime plaster. In these bathrooms guests are treated to shower gels, shampoos and other beauty treatments made locally from the famous argan oil. To go one step further, guests can enjoy Riad Dar Sbihi’s marble hammam offering body-scrubs and massage at various prices depending on budget.
Read MoreWhilst mint-tea and pastries welcome guests to the riad, Dar Sbihi also receives guests for main meals. Breakfast is included in the price of the stay and is a mix of continental and Moroccan specialities that change from day to day. Afternoon tea options cover fruit salads, milk-shakes and ice-cream. A menu awaits guests in each room detailing options for lunch and dinner such as cabbage stuffed with minced meat with tomato and lemon sauce or a simpler lasagna, moussaka or beef stew with pumpkin. Riad Dar Sbihi’s two lounges are substantial whilst also being comfortably cosy, seating up to thirty, and provide an inviting indoor restaurant if the weather does not allow dining on the roof-terrace or courtyard.
The courtyard is refreshingly dense with a variety of plants such as peach, lime and banana trees and a fountain full of fresh flowers. Exotic caged birds enhance the atmosphere with song throughout the day. However on the top floor, Riad Dar Sbihi’s four terraces allow guests to view the Atlas Mountains and nearby sanctuary of Sidi Bel-Abbes. One particular terrace arranged with deckchairs provides guests the opportunity to sunbathe, and the small swimming pool in the Douiria is available during the day for cooling down. Also within Dar Sbihi are home-trainers and bikes offering an energetic alternative. Outside of the riad guests can explore camel or quad-bike riding within the palm groves located four kilometres away. Tennis or golf facilities, horse-riding in the mountains and balloon rides are all other possibilities. However, as Dar Sbihi is only a fifteen-minute walk from Marrakech’s main attractions, some guests may prefer to explore the city first.
Where is it?
Riad Dar Sbihi is located 15 minute drive from Marrakesh airport and a 15 minute walk from the main square of Marrakesh.
Travel Times
| Airport | 15 minute drive to Marrakesh airport |
| City | 15 minute walk |
| Beach | 2.5 hour drive to Essaouira |
Other useful information
Rates include airport transfer (5 km) for guests who stay at least 2 nights.
Group rates are available on request.
An exercise bike is part of the small home-gym equipment located beside the pool.
Riad Dar Sbihi has its own friendly driver who can be used by guests at a charge.
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 | 8.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.7 | Relaxation | 8.7 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.7 | Value for money | 7.7 | |
| Quality of staff | 8.0 | Overall rating | 7.8 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
User Reviews on Riad Dar Sbihi
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 Sbihi has acquired pleasing reviews from recent guests. Not only have the owners been “very welcoming” but also have a “fluency in English”, which has created an “informal comfortable atmosphere” for travellers. The standard room has been described as “very comfortable” and the riad’s general “classic” style has been praised for its decoration and “splendid views”. As the riad is north of the city centre, location has been a slight issue for some guests, however many have enjoyed the subsequent quietude and opportunity to explore the city “by foot” . Guests who have sampled the riad’s cuisine have found it to be “reasonably priced” and have returned, or wish to return to stay at Riad Dar Sbihi. 
We have stayed at Riad Dar Sbihi twice in the past three years and both times have been greeted by the fantastic owners and the beautifully decorated house. We chose Sbihi because of its informal comfortable atmosphere, less noisy than the hotels in the heart of the city yet still affordable and with plenty of opportunity to explore the usual attractions or something more exotic like the Atlas mountains; which we arranged a visit to last time we stayed. It is a real treat to stay in a traditional riad and the building is blessed with splendid views. As our knowledge of French or Arabic is poor, we like Sbihi because most of the staff have a fluency of English which makes everyday issues like ordering food easy. Sbihi is a perfect choice for those wanting to take a leisurely break and go home relaxed and refreshed.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 9.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 8.0 | Relaxation | 9.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 7.0 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 9.0 | Overall rating | 8.3 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
I came here with friends for three days and we were all absolutely impressed by it. the owners were very welcoming and the mint tea and pastries were a wonderful refreshment when we arrived in the hot afternoon. We didn’t spend a huge amount of time in the hotel (though we probably should have – we missed the hammam etc), we were all excited by the city and Sbihi’s location was pretty good for us to explore by foot. The standard room I had was very comfortable and had a very Moroccan feel to it, if i ever come to marrakesh again I’ll definitely think of coming back here to stay.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 7.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 8.0 | Relaxation | 8.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 7.0 | Value for money | 7.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 8.0 | Overall rating | 7.6 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
My husband and I came here and enjoyed a stay of two nights. It has to be said that the location isn’t ideal, it is slightly far out and on our walk into town the first time we got lost. However, the house itself is gorgeous. It’s a classic example of a riad and its position north of the medina can be an advantage if guests simply want a relaxation break. I had a massage one afternoon and enjoyed it greatly. We also ate at the riad (breakfasts), both dinners and one lunch. The food here was reasonably priced (like everything – the room, massage etc) and apart from the getting lost, we would highly recommend Riad Sbihi.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 8.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 9.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.0 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 7.0 | Overall rating | 7.6 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
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