Best Hotels in Marrakech: Riad L’Atelier Review
Read on to find out what I thought of our stay at Riad L’Atelier and how it ranked as one of the best hotels in Marrakech…
What’s a Riad and should you stay in one in Marrakech?
In our 4 days visiting Marrakech, we were keen to experience the authentic side of Marrakech, choosing to stay in one of the traditional Moroccan Riads which in my opinion are some of the best hotels in Marrakech. If you haven’t stayed in a riad before, these are basically traditional Moroccan houses, normally two or more stories high and centred around an open-air courtyard and swimming pool. Quite often they’re planted with fruit trees like orange trees or lemon trees and very botanical in nature. The main difference between a Riad and a Hotel, however, is the size – a Riad is really like a small boutique hotel with 10 rooms or less and each room is normally quite uniquely furnished.
For that reason, the Riad L’Atelier was an obvious choice for us. So keep on reading and find out what I thought about our stay here at Riad L’Atelier and how it ranked as one of the best hotels in Marrakech.
Hotel Location:
Riad L’Atelier is situated in Kaat Benahid, the oldest district in Marrakech’s Medina. A very central location, it made for a good base to visit all the sites in Marrakech without having to walk further than 15 mins. In fact, it’s only a few steps away from Madrasa Ben Youseff and the souks.
Cars can’t actually go through the medina so if you’re taking a taxi (which I’d recommend), you’ll have to ask them to drop you off at Place du Moukef and then walk the rest of the way (approx. 2 mins). The best thing to do is arrange the transfer through the hotel and that way they’ll meet you at Place du Moukef and walk you to the hotel (plus you know you’ll get a good rate).
If safety is your concern, then don’t hesitate to contact the hotel and ask them about their security measures. Or check for official ratings.
Rooms & Suites:
There are just 5 rooms in this hotel (which is quite classic for a riad) and the intimate space means you get a really lovely personal experience when you stay there – there are always hotel staff on hand to make you feel welcome right from the moment you arrive to the moment you hand back your keys.
In terms of the make up of the rooms, the bedrooms are quite basic in nature – with the bare necessities you’d need to have a comfortable stay but with nice touches such as organic amenities and a rain shower. In other words, stay here for the traditional feel of it and to enjoy the courtyard, pool and food because you won’t be staying in the room that much!
Services & Facilities
How does it rank compared to the best Hotels in Marrakech?
If there’s one thing we took away from our stay at Riad L’Atelier, it had to be the service they provided. It seems clear to me that they take hospitality very seriously here in Morocco and this hotel certainly was no exception. Right from the moment we arrived (and were walked to the hotel), hotel staff were on hand to make sure we had the warmest welcome. When we arrived we were given complimentary peppermint tea and biscuits and one of the hotel staff sat with us to give us a map of the area, give us pointers of where to go and tips for how to make our trip as enjoyable as possible.
When it came to breakfast they were very perceptive – re-filling the dishes we liked most and helping me set up my breakfast photo shoot by the pool – giving me beautiful dishes and table cloths to make it as beautiful as possible – just a small thing but a really lovely touch!
In terms of facilities and services, there’s a currency exchange, swimming pool, room service and 24-hour front desk. There’s also a really delightful roof terrace with sun loungers and beautiful view of the city. If you want to make the most of your time here, make sure to have a tray of peppermint tea brought up to the rooftop terrace in the evening so you can see the sun set over the city!
Hotel Dining:
Although Riad L’Atelier doesn’t have a dining room per se, like many of the riads in Marrakech, it prides itself on its traditional home cooking. Throughout your stay you can request lunches or dinners, with a fairly wide array of meals available. Just make sure you book each meal one day in advance. (Don’t worry, if you’re planning to have a meal on your first night, you can book this in advance by contacting them via email).
Final Thoughts – where does it rank as one of the best hotels in Marrakech?
Although not one of the fanciest hotels in terms of amenities and facilities, this traditional Riad has to be one of the best hotels in Marrakech I’ve ever stayed in due to it’s impeccable hospitality, great location and wonderfully unique open-air courtyard complete with orange trees and singing birds! So if you’re looking for a traditional and authentic experience, I’d definitely recommend this! But if it’s a luxurious stay filled with massages, grand pools, fitness suites etc. you’re after, this might not be the one for you!
My one take away message: make sure you book a hotel transfer through the hotel! – even with a sat nav, the Medina is a complete maze and it’s really difficult to find where these hotels are situated! Just take the stress out of it – it’s so close to the airport that the fare is incredibly low.
If you have any questions about the hotel, feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email or message via social media – I’m always happy to help you out with any queries you might have!
Have you visited Marrakech before? What in your opinion are the best hotels in Marrakech? Let me know in the comments!
Hotel Information
Name: Riad L’Atelier
Address: 33 Rue Tachenbacht, Kaat Benahid. Marrakech 40000
Phone: +212(0)714819026
Email: contact@riadlatelier.com
Website: https://www.riadlatelier.com
Instagram: @riadlatelier
