8 Best Hotels in Medina, Marrakesh

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.

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.

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.

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.