Hotel Details
Riyad el Mezouar
| Region: | Marrakech and the Region |
| Location: | Marrakech |
| Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Type | Low | Mid | High | |
| Kubba Room |
Double bed, en-suite facilities
|
100 € | 115 € | 130 € |
| Turkish Room |
Double bed, large en-suite facilities
|
120 € | 140 € | 160 € |
| Alaoui Deluxe Room |
Spacious double room, en-suite facilities
|
140 € | 160 € | 180 € |
| Ambassadeur or Mezouar Junior Suites |
Double bed, en-suite facilities and living area
|
180 € | 200 € | 220 € |
| Exclusive rental |
Rental of all rooms
|
650 € | 740 € | 820 € |
| Please note: All prices are per room per night | ||||
Check Availability
Special Offers
Free nights stay in 2010
- For stays of 4 nights or more, the final night is free
- For stays of 6 nights or more, the final 2 nights are free
- Free upgrade where available for Morocco Gateway users
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
OtherLaundry service available on request.
Secure parking lot nearby.
Description
Riyad el Mezouar is an elegant eighteenth century house, once belonging to Moroccan royalty, its name meaning "head of the family". The owner, Michel Durand-Meyrier an interior designer, has kept the riad's classic architecture whilst ensuring it is a modern, stylish and comfortable place to stay north in the city’s medina.
During Mezouar’s renovation the owners insisted on the use of local craftsmen and traditional materials, producing an authentic feel to the riad, which is also environmentally friendly (ceiling fans have been selected rather than air-conditioning). The bedrooms on the ground and first floor are accessed through the original columned galleries that frame all four sides of the riad. Mezouar offers five rooms (three suites and two standard doubles), all with spacious en-suite facilities and decorated in different styles. The rooms and halls showcase an eclectic variety of art objects from Africa, Europe and Asia, whilst silk fabrics drape over furniture specially designed or chosen for the riad. White washed walls throughout give the riad a minimalist touch and allow the furnishings to stand out.
Separated by original carved cedar-wood doors large communal salons, available to guests at any time, are comfortable spaces featuring open fires in colder seasons. Other communal facilities include a small library and gift shop. Outside, the focal-point of the riad is the courtyard garden planted with jasmine, lavender, myrtle and other shrubs. This aromatic garden borders the Arabian marble fountain, feeding into the swimming pool laid with green ceramic tiles. The pool allows guests to try aqua-gym lessons during their stay. Although there is no in-house spa as such, Mezouar offers spa treatments such as massage using essential oils produced locally and often employing the aromatic herbs of the garden. Mezouar also boasts a roof terrace complete with sun-beds and seating, which at 250 square metres is usually large for a central location. The terrance also provides views to the medina and Atlas Mountains.
Read MoreMeals can be served to guests on the roof terrace, the courtyard or in the grand salon on request. The chef at the riad was previously employed by Lalla Aïcha, sister of King Hassan the Second of Morocco, and produces cuisine that is a stylish mix of Oriental, Asian and French cooking, taking advantage of the plants in the courtyard such as herbs; basil, and the various fruit trees. The riad staff are happy to arrange private concerts of Arabo-Andalusian music whilst guests take dinner. For guests who develop a passion for the food, the hotel offers cookery lessons with the riad’s chef.
Other activities are easily booked through the hotel such as cycling excursions to the Atlas Mountains and tours of the city with a recommended guide. If guests prefer to wander Marrakech themselves then this riad is conveniently located for the Marrakech museum, the souks, golf courses as well as other attractions reachable by a fifteen-minute walk.
Where is it?
Riyad el Mezouar is a 30 minute drive from Marrakesh airport and a 15 minute walk to the main square and most popular attractions of Marrakesh.
Travel Times
| Airport | 30 minute drive |
| City | 15 minute walk |
| Beach | 2 hour drive to Essaouira |
Other useful information
Double beds in some rooms and suites can be made into twins.
Each room includes a safe deposit box, complimentary toiletries produced exclusively for Riyad El Mezouar by Nectarôme, hairdryer, incense and flowers, a bottle of water and a bowl of fruit and dried fruits.
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 | 7.7 | Food and drink | 8.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.3 | Relaxation | 8.3 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.7 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 7.7 | Overall rating | 7.7 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
User Reviews on Riyad el Mezouar
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
Recent guests have described Riad Mezouar as “a gem”. Its aromatic garden has proved popular, as has the rooftop terrace whether it is a romantic setting for dinner or simply a place to survey the city and its surroundings. Guests have enjoyed meals at the riad at a “good price” as well as the “helpful” staff who try to make each stay “comfortable”. 
Whether it’s the roof terrace, a huge plain you can view the main square and atlas mountains from, or the little garden on the ground floor with fruit trees and aromatic plants this little riad caters for those wanting a break by the pool and a good sleep in the comfy rooms or travellers with an appetite to see and do everything. For us, we were the latter and Mezouar was helpful in booking us a day trip to the mountains and pointing out a few local visits too. They offered their guide but we declined thinking we didn’t really have enough time, or money! But another time I would probably do this to get a better feel for the city. A gem of a place I would definitely think of coming back to.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 7.0 | Food and drink | 7.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 8.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 6.0 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 7.0 | Overall rating | 7.1 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
This was a really romantic riad north of the medina but still close to the action of the city. I stayed here with my boyfriend for two nights and has a wonderful time. the last night we had a meal for two on the terrace, musicians playing just for us, overlooking the city’s lights. The people at the riad seemed to enjoy serving us and made our stay very comfortable. Our room was on the ground floor and I loved the smell of the aromatic flowers drifting in to our room both mornings before enjoying a lovely spread for breakfast. The galleries that go round the riad make the place feel safe because it appears to close you in. There were no lows here, only highs! Great place – highly recommend it.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 8.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 8.0 | Relaxation | 9.0 | |
| Pool and facilities | 8.0 | Value for money | 8.0 | |
| Quality of staff | 9.0 | Overall rating | 8.3 | |
| out of 10 | out of 10 | |||
We splashed out on the first floor suite at Riyad Mezouar last year. It was just to our liking. The riad was a relief to get to in Mezouar’s private taxi from the airport. Its cool white walls and staff were welcoming. The suite was a real pleasure to stay in too, the bathroom was large and had a huge bath- something we really weren’t expecting. The meals were lovely, something id really recommend. We found the restaurants noisy and sometimes we felt intimidated by going out at night in the city so the fact Mezouar offered dinner (at a good price too) was an added extra. The menu seemed to mix different tastes so it wasn’t all Moroccan food. I think this was a good idea as not everyone is a fan of spicy food.
We had a great time here, the only disappointment was that we didn’t stay another night or two to take advantage of the massage treatments and swimming pool, albeit small, it looked inviting.
| Condition of rooms and the hotel | 8.0 | Food and drink | 9.0 | |
| Overall cleanliness | 7.0 | Relaxation | 8.0 | |
| 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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