Riad La Smala

Riad La Smala Overview

Look, I’ve stayed in plenty of riads in Marrakech, and honestly? Most of them feel like they’re trying way too hard to be Instagram-perfect. But Riad La Smala – tucked away on derb El Farragua in the heart of the medina – actually gets it right. The thing that struck me first wasn’t the typical “wow, look at this gorgeous courtyard” moment (though yeah, it’s beautiful), but how the staff just… knew things. Like when I mentioned wanting to find decent leather goods, they didn’t send me to the tourist traps near Jemaa el-Fnaa. Instead, they pointed me toward a tiny workshop three alleys over where this old craftsman has been making bags for thirty years. That’s the kind of local knowledge you can’t fake.

The location is pretty perfect if you know the medina at all – you’re deep enough in Sidi Bouamer to feel like you’re living in the real Marrakech, but close enough to the main souks that you won’t get completely lost trying to find your way back after dark. And trust me, you will get lost at least once. The rooms have this lived-in elegance that feels authentic rather than staged. The beds are actually comfortable (not always a given in traditional riads), and the bathrooms work properly – again, sounds basic but you’d be surprised how often that’s not the case. What I really appreciated was how they handle the whole “riad experience” thing. You know how some places make you feel like you’re staying in a museum? Here, you can actually relax in the courtyard without worrying about disturbing some perfectly arranged photo setup.

The rooftop terrace is where you’ll want to spend your evenings, especially during sunset when you can hear the call to prayer echoing across the medina while sipping mint tea. It’s touristy, sure, but it’s also genuinely magical. The breakfast is solid traditional fare – fresh bread, local honey, good coffee (they know how to make it strong enough for Western tastes). One small thing that matters: they actually help you navigate the medina instead of just giving you a useless map and wishing you luck. The staff will walk you to the main streets when you first arrive, which sounds minor but saves you from that panicked “how do I get back” feeling when you’re wandering around later. With a 9.1 rating, clearly I’m not the only one who thinks they’ve got the balance right between authentic charm and actual comfort.

Riad La Smala Accommodations

Reviews of Riad La Smala

• Un Riad plein de charme et accueil chaleureux – Frank from Lebanon – 14 April 2025 (10/10)

  Nous avons été tres agréablement surpris par notre séjour. Le Riad est tellement beau. Tres belle decoration avec un grand charme. Mme Nizah, qui s occupe du rangement et nettoyage , nous a gate tous les jours avec une délicieux petit déjeuner et vous pouvez également lui demander de cuisiner un repas traditionnel. Le Riad est super bien situe.
  On reviendra!

• Perfect stay, just book it – Younnis from United Kingdom – 30 March 2025 (10/10)

  From start to finish, the whole experience was perfect. Weeks before check in, I had the owner reach out to me to explain the entire process of check in and offering any support needed during our stay. When it came to checking in, we had Nizha who looks after the property meets us in the main square to take us to the property where she explained to us all the details and asking if we needed any support through our stay. She prepared us an amazing breakfast for each day and kept the property tidy. The property was very modern and clean. On check out the owner was helpful to allow us to keep our luggage at the property just after checkout to allow us to explore the city more. After checkout, she checked in with me again to see if there was anything more she can do for me while in Marrakesh.
  
  Amazing, amazing, amazing. Just book it.
  
  What could be improved: I was lucky to speak some Arabic and French, if you speak neither, you’ll be missing out on all of the knowledge and benefits of communicating with Nizha at the property – keep google translate to hand! But the owner spoke English very well who we always had available to us via WhatsApp.

• A Wonderful Stay at Riad La Smala – Perfect for a Hassle-Free Trip From start to finish – Nirmala from Germany – 16 December 2024 (9/10)

  From start to finish, our experience with Riad La Smala was absolutely exceptional. Before our arrival, the owner, Sylvie, was incredibly helpful and responsive. She assisted in creating a magnificent 5-day itinerary for our group of five girls, which included activities such as a dinner in the desert and a hot air balloon flight. Sylvie was clear and transparent with the pricing, making financial planning a breeze for our group.
  There was an issue with my luggage at the airport, but Sylvie went above and beyond by organizing an extra trip to retrieve it for me. Throughout our stay, she remained available to answer any questions and provided excellent recommendations for restaurants, a traditional hammam, and even arranged a delightful cooking class at our request. Everything was seamlessly organized as discussed beforehand, which made our trip stress-free and enjoyable.
  The driver arranged by the riad was reliable, punctual, and skilled at navigating Marrakesh's traffic. Despite our group speaking little French, the driver understood us perfectly and ensured we felt comfortable throughout.
  Upon arrival at the parking area, we were initially a bit apprehensive due to the hustle and bustle. However, a very short walk later, we found ourselves in an oasis of tranquility at Riad La Smala. The riad was beautifully decorated, serene, and impeccably clean. The rooms and bathrooms were well-maintained, and the rooftop was a perfect spot to unwind after exploring the city. The location is unbeatable! Central yet peaceful.
  Special thanks to Nizah, the house manager, who was discreet yet attentive. She prepared delicious breakfasts and was always available to assist us with anything we needed. Any issues were resolved immediately with just a phone call and help was always nearby. Overall, our trip to Marrakesh was a fantastic experience, and much of that was thanks to everyone from the Riad.

• Exceptional – Amira from Switzerland – 13 November 2024 (10/10)

  Every morning, it was such a pleasure to see Nizah, whose warm energy and wonderful breakfasts made for a perfect start to the day. Her freshly made crêpes were delightful, and her positive spirit truly set a joyful tone. I almost felt reluctant to leave the Riad to explore Marrakech, as I would have been just as happy spending my time there, in the Riad La Smala, enjoying the atmosphere and hospitality. Everything was perfect and exceeded our expectations. A heartfelt thank you to the team — I highly recommend Riad La Smala!

• Excellent sur tous les points. – Dalin from France – 13 November 2024 (9/10)

  La beauté et le confort des lieux, qui sont idéalement placés. L’accueil et l’hospitalité de Nahza sont exceptionnels.
  
  What could be improved: Rien

• Zelo prijeten in lepo dekoriran riad na odlični lokaciji. – Diana from Slovenia – 3 November 2024 (10/10)

  Breakfast delicious and you can order also omelette, beside marocaine breakfast. Location was very good, we came in the middle of the night and Zinah waited for us in the parking to make finding the riad easier. The riad was easy to find and following days we didn't have any problems with finding it.. Rooms are very well equiped and clean. We decided to tray the dinner in the riad and Zinah prepared very delicius tajines and tanjia, with salad and starters. All the group enjoyed the stay in this peaceful riad.

• Luxueus onderdompelen in Marrakesh. – A from Netherlands – 3 November 2024 (10/10)

  Mooi centraal gelegen.
  Heerlijk rustig en schoon.
  Nizah verzorgt heerlijke maaltijden en een goed ontbijt.
  Riant en een fijn dakterras. Mooie relaxruimtes. Fijn om het hele huis voor jezelf te hebben.
  
  What could be improved: Niks

• The worst place I've stayed in – Norin from United Kingdom – 13 October 2024 (2/10)

  The location was quite central. Nizah who was the house keeper was amazing and very hospitable. Nizah made our stay in this riad worthwhile.
  
  What could be improved: I arranged stay in this riad for my sister's 50th birthday. There was 9 of us who stayed at the Riad and although the host accommodated a last minute request for an extra friend to stay at the riad with us, we did not enjoy staying at the riad for a number of reasons: 1) the rooms were not cleaned properly, only the bedding was tidied 2) the bathrooms were not cleaned properly and we had no clean towels on a couple of days 3) there was a constant sewage smell in the first bedroom on the first floor especially in the bathroom which was persistent during the four nights we stayed there 4) the AC in two of the rooms was not working properly which we reported,someone did come to check it but we were tokd to just close the room door to keep the room cool but the AC still didn't work properly, 5) the toilet in the third room was coming loose from the ground so when we sat down it felt as though the toilet was about to come out of the floor, 6) 2 of the breakfast tea mugs were broken with no handles which I pointed out to Nizah on the first day but we were told by the host that the crockery was not available for 9 people 7) the iron stand kept coming loose and kept falling when you tried ironing clothes 8) none of the bedding was changed in any of the rooms during the 4 days we stayed at the riad 9) the riad was advertised to have a swimming pool and jacuzzi which was not true as there was no swimming pool and there was no jacuzzi, the riad had a tiny water feature like a pond which means it was mis advertised on booking.com 10) the lighting in the rooms and the riad entrance was terrible, it was really dark in the rooms and the rooms did not have adequate mirrors 11) considering Marrakech is a Muslim country the riad did not have any facilities for ablution so we had to use a water bottle which was very inconvenient

• Exceptional – Piotr from Poland – 6 October 2024 (10/10)

  The location of the property is excellent for sightseeing. The adjacent public garden provides extra peace and quiet. The photos on the portal reflect the actual condition. On the ground floor, there is a beautiful seating area and a large table suitable for breakfast and work. On the upper floor, there are rooms, each with its own private bathroom. At the very top, there is a beautiful terrace where you can eat breakfast and relax. The property provides both transport from the airport and to local attractions. The caretaker of the property is a wonderful woman named Nazah. Throughout our stay, she took great care of us and prepared delicious breakfasts. The property is cleaned daily. It is nicely decorated and clean. For formal matters, we contacted Sylvie via WhatsApp. We received immediate answers to any questions. The property is suitable for both leisure and business trips. I received an invoice without any problems, which was very important to me. The property exceeded my expectations. I will definitely go back there.

• Sylvie, Nizah, merci pour ce séjour à Marrakech. Le Riad est magnifique et il est tenu par des gens très gentil. Nizah e – Adeline from France – 30 September 2024 (10/10)

  La décoration est sublime. Nizah la dame de maison est d’une gentillesse rare. Le chauffeur est très serviable. La localisation est idéale. Les repas sont très bons.

Surroundings

Facilities