Riad Dar Arwa

Riad Dar Arwa Overview

You know what’s funny about finding Riad Dar Arwa? You’ll probably walk past that narrow entrance on Derb Larsa at least twice before you spot it – I mean, that’s just how the medina works, these incredible places hiding behind totally unremarkable doorways. But once you’re inside, honestly, it’s like stepping into someone’s beautifully maintained family home rather than a typical hotel.

The thing that struck me most was how quiet it gets once you’re in that central courtyard. I stayed there during peak season (mistake number one if you want to avoid crowds in Marrakech generally), but somehow the usual medina chaos – the motorbikes, the donkeys, the vendors calling out – all of that just fades away. The staff actually knows your name by day two, which sounds cheesy but it’s genuine. They’ll remember you prefer mint tea over coffee and won’t try to oversell you on excursions, though they’re ridiculously helpful when you do need directions to find that leather shop everyone raves about near Ben Youssef.

What really sets this place apart is the attention to small details that matter when you’re dealing with medina life. The rooms stay surprisingly cool even in summer heat – something about the thick walls and strategic placement of windows that creates this natural air conditioning effect. The bathroom situation is actually modern (trust me, this matters more than you think in some riads), and there’s reliable hot water, which can be hit-or-miss elsewhere in the neighborhood. I loved that they’ve kept the traditional tilework and carved wood details without making it feel like a museum – you can actually relax without worrying about touching anything. The rooftop terrace becomes magical around sunset, and you’ll have views toward the Atlas Mountains on clear days, plus you can hear the evening call to prayer echoing across the city without it being overwhelming.

The location is pretty perfect if you want to be in the heart of things without being right on top of Jemaa el-Fnaa (which gets incredibly intense, especially at night). You’re maybe a seven-minute walk to the main square, close enough that you can pop back to drop off purchases or grab a quick rest, but far enough that you’ll sleep through the night. The nearby streets have some excellent hole-in-the-wall restaurants – there’s this tiny place about two blocks away that serves the best pastilla I had in Morocco, though I never did catch the name. Fair warning though: GPS is basically useless once you’re in the medina’s maze, so download offline maps and don’t be too proud to ask for directions.

Riad Dar Arwa Accommodations

Reviews of Riad Dar Arwa

• Amazing stay! Would book again – Rocel from United Kingdom – 4 June 2025 (10/10)

  Abdoul and Mustafa were great hosts! In particular, Abdoul was present for most of our stay. He was a fantastic host, was very attentive to our needs, made us traditional breakfasts, tea and coffee when we wanted, and shared his culture with us. And even before we got to Marrakech, Mustafa was responding very quickly to all of our queries.
  
  We recommend booking a taxi to and from the airport with them in advance as this made travelling seamless, especially if it’s your first time in Marrakech. Abdoul kindly met us at a parking lot, even carried our suitcase and walked us to the Riad (cars can’t enter the street it’s in). It was just a 2-3 minute walk.
  
  The Riad is very comfortable and clean, and looked just like the photos. The room was cleaned and towels were changed everyday. The location was great, within walking distance from many of the attractions we wanted to go to and only a few minutes walk from Jemaa el-Fna square. But even though it was in the heart of the medina, the Riad was still very quiet. There is also a nice spacious terrace to relax in or eat breakfast.
  
  Overall, a very pleasant stay and would highly recommend staying here!
  
  What could be improved: No complaints, but some things for other guests to be aware of:
  
  This is possibly just our room or a common occurrence in Marrakech, but our shower fluctuated between hot and cold. We could anticipate the changes, so it wasn't a big issue for us. We also didn’t mention this to them since we didn’t think of it as a huge issue, so perhaps they would have fixed it if made aware.
  
  The room is also a little dark during the day (especially with the curtains drawn for privacy, there would be little light), but it was comfortable at night. This also wasn’t a huge issue since we would be out during the day anyway.

• Very good – Balaji from United Kingdom – 27 May 2025 (8/10)

  Abdul extremely helpful and kind person. He guided us well and very trust worthy.
  Abdul's breakfast is top level & his hospitality is ❤️
  
  What could be improved: AC in the room is not great ,very hot at night.

• Exceptional – Argyrios from Greece – 21 May 2025 (10/10)

  Amazing location, in the center of the old town. Everything is close, the room was great and super clean. The staff was the most friendly we ever seen. Abdoul, Mustafa and the driver Hassan were amazing!! Thank you so much for everything!

• Very good – Eugen from Romania – 17 May 2025 (8/10)

  Mustafa was a good host, great location.
  
  What could be improved: The upper floor gets very hot and there is little ventilation. Room size is not great….

• Exceptional Riad experience – Roheemat from United Kingdom – 16 May 2025 (10/10)

  We had an incredible stay at this beautiful riad! Our hosts – Abderrahman and Mustafa were super welcoming and went above and beyond to help us book activities and arrange airport transfers.
  
  The breakfasts were amazing, and the hosts happily tailored them to our preferences. The location is perfect, centrally located in the medina, close to all the hot spots and markets. The riad itself is stunning, with a cozy atmosphere and a fantastic rooftop perfect for relaxation. The rooms were lovely, and the cleaning was top-notch.
  
  We'd highly recommend this riad to anyone looking for a comfortable and authentic Moroccan experience!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing! Loved it there.

• Exceptional stay – Viktorija from North Macedonia – 6 May 2025 (10/10)

  The riad is located in the Medina and very close to many attractions. It was very clean. The breakfast is also very delicious. Abderrahman and Mustafa are incredibly welcoming, friendly and helpful people. We couldn't have asked for a better riad and stay. We would definitely go back!

• Amazing! – Florina from Romania – 1 May 2025 (10/10)

  The riad is wonderful, beautiful, very clean, the location is very good, very close to the Jemma el Fnna, but is also very quiet so you can rest, delicious breakfast every morning, the staff very friendly and kind, they helped us with everything we needed, especially Abderrahman and Mustafa were wonderful and very welcoming and helpful. It was a pleasure beeing there, for sure we will come back.

• Fantastic and great location – Hannah from United Kingdom – 26 April 2025 (10/10)

  Excellent location. Rooms were nice, clean and comfortable. Breakfast was also fantastic! Mustafa and Abdulrahman were so accommodating and helpful. Would defo stay again and recommend to anyone

• A wonderful experience – Ni from United Kingdom – 25 April 2025 (9/10)

  The service exceeded expectations, the location is convenient, it’s very easy to walk to the old town attractions, and it’s very quiet at night.
  
  What could be improved: The shower water temperature is a bit difficult to control.

• Exceptional – Abedin from Italy – 17 April 2025 (10/10)

  Very nice place, tasty breakfast and extremely friendly staff.

Surroundings

Facilities