Riad Maizie

Riad Maizie Overview

You know what caught me off guard about Riad Maizie? The moment you step through that heavy wooden door on Derb al Cadi, it’s like someone just hit the mute button on Marrakech. I mean, outside you’ve got the usual medina chaos – donkeys clip-clopping past, vendors calling out, that constant hum of life that makes the old city so intoxicating. But inside this riad, honestly, it’s this perfect pocket of calm that feels almost sacred.

The thing about staying in Azbezt is that you’re deep enough in the medina to feel like you’re really experiencing it, but not so deep that you’ll spend twenty minutes wandering narrow alleys trying to find your way back after dinner (trust me, I’ve been there). The staff here actually knows the neighborhood – they’ll tell you which bakery has the best msemen in the morning, or that the little spice shop two streets over is run by this guy who speaks perfect English and won’t try to sell you saffron that’s basically just colored rice. These are the details that matter when you’re trying to navigate the medina without looking like a completely lost tourist.

What really gets me about Riad Maizie is how they’ve managed to keep that authentic riad feel without making you suffer for it. The central courtyard has this gorgeous fountain that’s actually soothing rather than noisy, and the rooms – well, they’re what you’d hope for in a four-star place. The beds are properly comfortable (not those rock-hard mattresses you sometimes get in traditional places), and the bathrooms have good water pressure, which honestly can be hit or miss in the medina. I loved that they’ve kept the traditional tadelakt plaster walls but added modern touches where they actually improve your stay.

The rooftop terrace deserves its own mention because you get these incredible views over the medina rooftops toward the Atlas Mountains. It’s particularly stunning just before sunset when the light goes all golden and the call to prayer starts echoing across the city. I spent way too many evenings up there with mint tea, just watching the storks that nest on the nearby buildings – there’s something mesmerizing about it that photos just can’t capture.

Look, an 8.3 rating might not sound earth-shattering, but for a riad in this part of the medina, it’s pretty solid. The minor downsides are exactly what you’d expect – sometimes the wifi is a bit spotty (though honestly, isn’t that part of the point of being here?), and if you’re not used to the sounds of the medina, it can take a night or two to adjust to the early morning call to prayer. But these aren’t really complaints so much as just… reality of staying in an authentic part of Marrakech.

What I keep coming back to is how Riad Maizie strikes this balance between giving you a genuine medina experience and actually taking care of you as a guest. The staff genuinely seems to care about making your stay work, and they know their neighborhood well enough to point you toward experiences that feel real rather than touristy. For anyone wanting to stay somewhere that feels like the real Marrakech without sacrificing comfort, this place really delivers.

Riad Maizie Accommodations

Reviews of Riad Maizie

• Superb – Olivia from Canada – 2 July 2025 (9/10)

  The Riad was so beautiful! The bed and couches are exceptionally comfortable. The inside garden with soothing fountain, the rooftop terrace, the decor, everything was like an oasis in the middle of head turning lot busy Marrakech. Youssef and his wife were very kind, and the food (both for breakfast and dinner) is so good!
  
  What could be improved: The property is a bit secluded, but still easily found with Google maps. Just beware when you walk to the Riad to say no to the people telling you the street is closed —they’re just trying to get money from you by pretending to help you find your way when really you don’t need them.

• The Riad Maizie is a peaceful oasis in the middle of the bustling medina. – Gillian from United Kingdom – 10 May 2025 (8/10)

  Will was an excellent and helpful host.
  The breakfast and other meals if requested, were prepared by Rajah. They were so good. We had the best evening meal of our holiday in the Riad.

• Old world – Sands from Ireland – 5 March 2025 (8/10)

  Very quirky with loads of character, very comfortable bed, beautiful breakfast.
  
  What could be improved: We arrived late and found it very difficult to find, not signposted, and dark alleyways.

• Perfect – Patricia from Netherlands – 23 February 2025 (9/10)

  Charming authentic riad close to everything. Very comfortable bed. Delicious breakfast. Run by knd people who are available to answer your every question. Make sure you stay at least 3 nights to truly appreciate it. As it was my first visit to Marrakech I had to get used to the location in the midst of all the action. The streets are well lit at night and as a solo female traveler I felt completely comfortable. If you're looking for a small scale traditional riad with bilingual staff (fluent English, French, Arabic) give it a go.

• Beautiful, quiet, very friendly – Nina from Germany – 13 February 2025 (9/10)

  I really loved my stay at Riad Maizie. It's very quiet and you hear birds sing everywhere. The bed is surprisingly comfy: a bit on the firm side but not too hard for me. Lots of pillows make up for it. The breakfast was fab, and I especially loved the various pancakes. The dates and olives are so tasty. As it's a hotel around an inner yard of course you hear people talking, but everyone was respectful and stopped at 22:00. Yes, it's an old building without insulation, and as such it was somewhat chilly in early February, but the heating took the bite off and the duvet was nice. I'd wish for an additional blanked to sit on the sofa and if the duvet is not enough. Very friendly host.
  
  The area is lovely: very few tourists around, and once you get onto the main road there's fab street food two squares to the right. Talking of which: the path to the hotel is never dark at any time of the day, there are lights, and nobody cares if you walk there or not. No reason to be scared. For navigation I found openstreetmap most useful, also for walking through other narrow paths through the medina.
  
  Confusion: leaving. Ryanair told me to print my boarding pass and to bring this print to the airport. Ok, I did. There the check-in agent tore it apart and threw it away, and gave me a normal boarding pass. On the other hand, you had to check in online. Someone in front of me was sent away to check in online as apparently the agent could not do that. Ok, that's different.

• Very good – Peter from Netherlands – 18 January 2025 (8/10)

  Nice riad away from the crowdy parts of the medina but close to all you want to see or experience. English speaking host.verry nice breakfest and optioneel for lunch and diner. Sunny rooftop.

• Superb – Martin from Germany – 3 January 2025 (9/10)

  Calm although in the middle of the Medina.
  We love the details of the ancient construction and decoration elements. Very charming!
  Delicious veggy dinner!
  
  What could be improved: Not easy to find

• Superb – Melanie from Germany – 6 October 2024 (9/10)

  supportive host, great location in the center (first not easy to find, but when you know the location, it is ok), nice decoration, nice roof terrace

• Comfortable stay in a great location – Kate from United Kingdom – 20 September 2024 (9/10)

  Beautiful riad with authentic interior. Very quiet and peaceful

• Very good – Zsuzsi from Spain – 4 March 2023 (8/10)

  I liked the style, the size of the room the height of that beautifully painted ceiling, the golden basin, the “royal” shower, the rooftop terrace, the patio…

Surroundings

Facilities