Dar Dadès

Dar Dadès Overview

You know what struck me first about Dar Dadès? The fact that it’s tucked right into the heart of the Kasbah on Rue de La Kasbah – and I mean literally IN the medina, not one of those places that claims to be “nearby” but is actually a 20-minute walk through tourist chaos. When you step out the front door, you’re already breathing in that mix of tagine spices and leather from the souks, which honestly beats any hotel lobby fragrance they could pump through the air conditioning.

The thing about staying in the Kasbah is that mornings are magical – you’ll hear the call to prayer echoing off the ancient walls around 5:30 AM, but it’s not jarring like you might expect. It sort of weaves into your dreams. The narrow streets mean you’re not dealing with the honking taxi symphony that hits other parts of Marrakech, though you will hear the occasional donkey cart clacking over cobblestones (which, let’s be real, is pretty charming after the first day). The riad itself has that traditional Moroccan courtyard setup – you know, the kind where rooms wrap around a central space with a fountain that actually works, not just for show. I spent way too much time just sitting there in the evenings with mint tea, watching the light change on the carved plasterwork.

What really sets Dar Dadès apart from the dozen other riads in the area is the rooftop terrace. I mean, every place claims to have Atlas Mountain views, but from up there you can actually see the snow-capped peaks on clear days – and the sunsets over the Koutoubia Mosque are something else entirely. The staff (and this matters more than you’d think in Morocco) actually knows the neighborhood. They’ll point you toward the tiny bakery two alleys over that locals use, or tell you which entrance to Jemaa el-Fnaa will get you there without the aggressive carpet sellers. The 8.2 rating makes sense – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Marrakech, but everything works the way it should. Hot water shows up when you turn the tap, the air conditioning doesn’t sound like a helicopter, and the WiFi reaches all the rooms (learned that lesson the hard way at other places).

Check-in is refreshingly low-key – they’ll offer you that sweet mint tea while handling your passport, and if you arrive during the afternoon heat, they’re not precious about early room access. The location means you’re a five-minute walk from the main square but far enough into the maze that tour groups don’t stumble past your door. Fair warning though – if you’re not comfortable with narrow, winding streets and the occasional dead end, this might feel a bit claustrophobic. But honestly? That’s exactly what makes it feel authentic rather than like some sanitized resort version of Morocco.

Dar Dadès Accommodations

Reviews of Dar Dadès

• Superb – Megan from United Kingdom – 21 February 2025 (9/10)

  This is a hidden gem! In a great location and amazing value for money.

• A comfortable house and love the vibe of the neighbourhood! – Carmen from Canada – 15 February 2025 (8/10)

  Really great area to stay in just on the edge of the tourist hub. You can still get a local vibe while being close to everything. The main square is a 15 min walk. The Saadian tombs are 5 minutes away. The restaurants nearby were good and cheap, and the locals were always super welcoming. The accommodations are nice and comfortable. The kitchen, terrace, and washer are great features to have. The hosts met us at the Saadian tombs to guide us to the house so check in was easy.
  
  What could be improved: The stove didn't work for us, but hopefully it has been repaired. Wifi is strong only on the third floor, somewhat accessible on second floor, not accessible on ground floor.

• Excellent riad for family and friends. Definitely recommend! – Andrejs from Latvia – 14 November 2024 (10/10)

  The terrace has an amazing viewpoint of Kasbah neighbourhood. Very safe location. Easy to find from the main street. The atmosphere in the riad was house-warming. The host is benevolent and kind. We really enjoyed our stay in the city especially due to the place where we slept. Only 10min walk from the main square and very closely located to El Badi Palace in Kasbah district. The host helped us in organization of the journey to Ourika valley waterfalls. It was a magnificent trip with a hike in mountains. I would definitely recommend this riad to stay with family, friends as it has everything that is needed for a place to stay and spend evenings together in gatherings with family and friends.

• Needs some maintenance – Nicola from Canada – 4 November 2024 (7/10)

  Great location in the Kasbah, very quiet and interesting to see where the people of Marrakesh live. The terrace was gorgeous.. Roomy space with lots of rooms for all of us. The washer upstairs was a nice addition.
  
  What could be improved: Not suitable for a two year old with many stairs without railings. The rooms had no windows so it was a bit airless. Loved the terrace but the lights upstairs didn't work despite numerous requests over the week to get them fixed. When we arrived, the entire terrace was covered in laundry. The basement shower leaked all over everything so the cleaning staff washed all the bedding and again hung it up on the terrace. Freezer door to fridge was broken, there was leftover food including expired breast milk in the freezer.

• Exceptional – Daniela from Czech Republic – 2 November 2024 (10/10)

  Very nice And clean house close to all turistic atractions. We found all people in Marrakesh very nice and friendly, really enjoyed our holidays..
  
  What could be improved: To check out at Marrakesh airport takes about 3 hours

• Great place to stay. Highly recommended – Robert from United Kingdom – 24 July 2024 (10/10)

  Space great including large terrace.
  
  What could be improved: Finding it difficult but lots of local people helped.

• Superb – Donna from Netherlands – 4 April 2024 (9/10)

  Nice rooftop, big kitchen and sofa
  
  What could be improved: We couldn't find the owner and waited a bit (but we also booked the same day). So recommend to text your arrival time beforehand

• Exceptional – Brent from United States – 23 January 2024 (10/10)

  This was our second stay… And our second review. See below for more 🙂 just terrific hosts, and this time I’m giving it a 10, because we WANTED to be away from the busier Medina center. Thank you for being such amazing hosts while we traveled in Morocco!

• Superb – Brent from United States – 10 January 2024 (9/10)

  This was the best and most comfortable apartment we have stayed in in a month in Morocco. The beds were great, there was plenty of room, and the space itself was beautiful. The kitchen was relatively well stocked for us to do some meals at home, and the staff was quick to communicate. Not really criticism, but if you are looking for something that is a little closer to the Medina area, it is a bit far. It’s perfect for the Kasbah area though. Very quiet overall. We are passing through Marrakesh again later in our stay, and will sleep here again. Thank you for the great space!

• Relaxing staying – Assia from Spain – 22 December 2023 (10/10)

  The place is big, it feels perfect for family.
  Me and and my family stayed there for 3 days and we felt really comfortable and the owner were really kind and welcoming.
  The place has an amazing terrace and every environment is really clean and tidy.
  The location is perfect for those who want to explore the best parts of Marrakech.
  I really recommend ❤️

Surroundings

Facilities