15 Best Hotels in Marrakesh, Morocco

With easy access from Bab Laksour and just a five-minute walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa, this luxurious riad is a great base for exploring the medina. The service is impeccable, rooms and suites are beautifully decorated, and the bejmat-tiled patio (local handmade tiling laid in a herringbone design) is a delightful place to sip mint tea while shaded by orange trees. A high wall protects the small patio swimming pool from the sun. Meals are served on the roof terrace, the patio, or in the cozy upstairs salon, which has a huge open fireplace and a library of books and games. For even more privacy, they also have a small, restored townhouse around the corner suitable for two- to four guests. 

This renovated riad near the Badi Palace in the Mellah quarter has rooms arranged over two floors, looking inward to the central patio pool and terrace, which is shaded by jasmine, bougainvillea, and banana palms. Some suites are large enough to accommodate extra beds making this a convenient family base for exploring. Traditional features remain such as zellige tiled detailing and bathrooms finished in tadlak. Request meals on the secluded terrace, which has great views of Marrakesh and the High Atlas.

Originally built as a family home in 1982, Dar Ayniwen (House of Palms) is now a luxurious small hotel amid five acres of gardens, where guests are immediately made to feel at home by the warm and attentive staff. The house itself is filled with antique furnishings, rugs, lamps, paintings, and other objects collected from all over the world and over a lifetime by the owner's father. Several rooms, including the Rotunda Suite, can accommodate families and the hotel offers children's menus, babysitting services, and a library of books, DVDs, and games. Meals and snacks are available and are usually served on the garden terrace. A free shuttle to the medina and Marrakesh city center is available to guests on request.

This city-center hotel has a huge, riad-style atrium, giving it some Moroccan charm along with standard hotel amenities such as a restaurant, bar, gym, spa, and pool. Rooms are basic, but some have balconies with a pool view. There is an elevator and disabled access throughout, as well as a good-size pool in the garden and a small poolside café and pizzeria. The restaurant serves a tasty Moroccan buffet on alternate nights, but avoid the international buffet nights. Service is efficient, and the hotel is well placed just off the main Avenue Mohammed V. Interconnecting family rooms are available.

What started as Marrakesh's first casino has grown into a complex with two hotel properties as well as the Es Saadi casino and the Teatro nightclub. The original Es Saadi Hotel is rather dated and worn, but the luxury Es Saadi Palace is a whole class above its sister. In addition, there are 10 individually styled luxurious villas with one or two bedrooms and their own private garden terrace. For a slightly more rustic "'kasbah"' experience, there are eight ksars built in the style of desert kasbahs, each with two bedrooms, a private sun terrace, and direct access to the Palace pool. There are 19 acres of gardens blooming with orange trees and roses, and sun-loungers and hammocks scattered on luxurious lawns. There's a massive outdoor pool (free for Es Saadi Palace, Villa, and Ksar guests), as well as a smaller unheated pool at the Es Saadi Hotel. There are also loads of organized children’s activities as well as daily yoga sessions.

The Four Seasons is a luxurious mini-medina outside the walls of the old city; avenues of palm trees, arcades, and patios connect the low-rise pavilions, all surrounded by acres of exotic gardens, terraces, pools, and fountains. The facilities are second to none, with contemporary Moroccan decor throughout and impeccable service. All rooms have a private terrace or balcony with views to the lush grounds. One swimming pool is for families; the other is a tranquil delight for adults only. In addition, there is a kids' and teenagers' club, a spa, games room, tea salon, library, and a fine Moroccan restaurant. 

This outpost of a well-respected French luxury hotel chain is ideally situated on the edge of the medina but an easy walk from the main sights. Modernist in style, with Moroccan and Oriental touches, the rooms and suites all look out over the hotel's main attraction: the heated swimming pool. Loungers, parasols, poolside bar, pizzeria, and even a lifeguard in attendance make this ideal for families, as do the kids' club (for ages 4--12), babysitting service, and swimming lessons. Rooms in the main hotel are furnished simply in cream, beige, and brown hues, and some suites have twin bathrooms. For a family group or special event, the 26 contemporary-style private riads (from around 7,000 DH per night) can accommodate up to eight people with private patio, pool, fully equipped kitchen, and comfortable living rooms. The hotel also has an excellent spa and hydrotherapy facility.

A collection of garden and pool suites scattered through a 7-acre garden, Les Deux Tours is ideal for those who prefer a peaceful retreat over the city bustle. The main building houses the restaurant, communal lounges, a games room, and a cozy winter bar complete with open fire, but the overall feeling pervading throughout is one of faded charm. Room sizes vary enormously, and the standard "classic" rooms are cramped and stuffy—it's worth upgrading to a junior suite. The main pool is surrounded by lawns, a terrace, and plenty of loungers.

This 18th-century palace once belonging to the cousin of King Hassan II is now a luxurious boutique hotel with lush gardens hidden in the kasbah area of the medina. Accommodations are spacious and there's a decent-size pool, making this a great choice for families. Rooms with a garden view open onto a jungle of banana, palm, orange, olive, and jacaranda trees and are deliciously cool in summer. Other rooms open onto private patios, some have sun terraces, and all are decorated with traditional Moroccan finishes of tadlak and tiling, with ceiling fans and air-conditioning. The swimming pool sits at the edge of the gardens surrounded by terraces for sunbathing, and the hotel has a hammam and massage suite. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner and is open to the public.

Although it's part of an international chain, the Movenpick Mansour has a distinctively Moroccan vibe, as well as a heated pool for winter swimming under the Marrakesh sun. While the rooms themselves lack a bit of character the rest of the property makes up for it. There's also an onsite yoga studio (Om Yoga) and kids club. 

Tasteful it isn't, but this giant, gaudy, self-contained bubble in the middle of the Palmery offers every kind of distraction, and plenty to keep children amused. The biggest draw is the demanding championship golf course (par 72) on the doorstep and the kids' activities. Deluxe rooms are on the small side, but are also the cheapest and are comfortably furnished. A sense of space in the communal lounges and lobbies, a lively pool scene, and all the various amenities and restaurants are the biggest advantages to this resort. All-inclusive packages are available and there are free shuttles to/from the medina.

Nestled into a residential area of the kasbah, the intimate Riad Baya has a lovely central courtyard and rooftop terrace. There's a living room and dining area on the ground floor and a tented alcove adorned with wall-to-wall couches, poufs, and vintage rugs. 

Tucked away in the Riad Laarouss neighborhood, Les Trois Mages is a delightful small riad with English-speaking staff and spacious, tastefully furnished rooms. It's also one of few riads in this price category that has a small pool on the roof terrace that's heated in winter months. On the ground floor there are two comfortable lounges around the central patio, one with a fireplace for chilly winter nights, the other with a piano for musical guests. Some rooms have four-poster beds; the ground-floor Gaspard room combined with the adjacent Melchior room works well for families. The in-house chef offers a delicious lunch or dinner menu upon request.

Proof that staying in a beautiful riad with elegant rooms does not have to break the bank, this Moroccan-run guesthouse is a real treasure, with a delightful roof terrace. A tiled fountain occupies center stage in the first-floor patio and keeps you cool in summer; for winter evenings there are couches in the patio area and a Moroccan salon with a library and TV. The riad is very easy to access and ideally situated close to the Mellah and the main Place Jemaa el-Fnaa. It works well for small groups and families as there are twin, triple, and quadruple-bedded rooms. Rooms are all tastefully furnished in modern Moroccan style and finished with tadlak walls, subtle lighting, and sculpted stucco details. Breakfast is served on the roof terrace (included in the rates); other meals can be arranged in advance.

Made up of two adjoining houses around separate courtyards, Riad Samsli has nine charming rooms at very good prices. The property is in a well-lit, safe neighborhood within easy reach of taxis and is close to both Place Jemaa el-Fnaa and the Mellah. Rooms are all on the first floor and are tastefully decorated and furnished in traditional Moroccan style with tadlak walls, carved wooden doors, wrought-iron trellised windows, and tile floors strewn with rugs. There are several indoor communal salons and cozy corners in addition to a rooftop terrace, a decent-size plunge pool with alcove seating, and a large restaurant with fireplace. An extra bed can be added to suites and there is a twin room, so families with small children can be accommodated.