Ben Youssef Mosque

I was unsure how many stars to give this riad. The service deserves 5 stars - huge thanks to AbdeSalam and Mohamed for being so helpful and welcoming. As for the riad itself, here are the pros and cons: Pros: • Excellent location near Jemaa el-Fnaa (behind Café de France) • Traditional Moroccan style • Friendly customer service • Daily breakfast included • AC and Wi-Fi available • Mint tea and pastries on arrival • Room cleaned and towels changed daily • Walking distance to souks and restaurants Cons: • Very old building • Noisy - thin walls and loud doors • Low doorways (watch your head!) • Outdated bathrooms with a moldy smell • Strong fragrance in the building • Saw cockroaches in the room and pool area There are two buildings: the main one (some rooms and for check-in and breakfast) and a second one called “Terraces” where we stayed. It’s a short, safe walk between them. Our room was basic but had essentials like a safe, shampoo, and tissues. Overall, great staff and location, but the building itself could use updates.

Inside the RIAD a beautiful sanctuary awaits where staff do their very best to make visitors comfortable and knowledgeable in order to make the most of their stay in Marrakesh. However, first impressions of the area are quite a shock because the RIAD is situated in quite a dark, narrow alley not far from the chaos of the Medina. But for visitors like me who want to experience the real Marrakesh I think this property has the right contrast between outside and inside. In January, breakfast outside was a little chilly but the warmth of the staff more than made up for it. This RIAD has a great team of people who clearly enjoy working together and who genuinely take a personal interest in their visitors and value tourism in general. The RIAD is decorated in authentic Moroccan style. An atmosphere of tranquility, relaxation and calm inside prepares the visitor for the startling sensations, sounds and smells that await outside. Be prepared to experience the real Marrakesh!

I don't know if the rooms in all riads are so sensitive to noise. I'm not sensitive, but the rooms are really very soundproof. Especially if you stay under the terrace, you can hear the chairs being pushed back and forth all the time. I can't understand why the riad managers don't do anything about this. The rooms are really very small and unfortunately musty due to humidity (we had to change rooms). The staff are really nice and make an effort. Unfortunately, they can't help the circumstances. The location is good. The breakfast has very little choice and is almost always the same. The riad managers can certainly make a big difference here with small changes. Otherwise you will continue to get a lower rating. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)