Riad Rodaina

Riad Rodaina Overview

Look, I’ve stayed in plenty of riads around Marrakech, and Riad Rodaina honestly caught me off guard in the best way possible. It’s tucked away on Derb Lkaid Bouhou in the Kasbah district – and I mean really tucked away. You’ll walk past it twice before you find the entrance, which is actually perfect because it means you’re away from the tourist chaos that hits places closer to Jemaa el-Fnaa. The Kasbah has this quieter, more residential feel that most visitors never experience, and you’ll hear the call to prayer from the nearby mosque in the early morning rather than motorbikes revving all night.

The moment you step through that heavy wooden door, there’s this immediate sense of… well, relief, I guess? The courtyard is what riads are supposed to be – that classic Moroccan architecture with the fountain in the center, but they’ve managed to keep it feeling authentic rather than like a theme park version. The tiles are worn in just the right way, and honestly, the staff here actually seems to enjoy their work, which makes a huge difference. I mean, check-in was smooth, but more importantly, they gave me genuinely useful advice about navigating the medina – not just the standard tourist recommendations. The rooms themselves are spacious (unusual for a traditional riad), and the beds are actually comfortable. You know how sometimes these historic places sacrifice comfort for authenticity? Not here.

What really sets this place apart is the location within the Kasbah itself. You’re a five-minute walk from the Saadian Tombs, which means you can hit them early before the crowds arrive, and the Royal Palace is right there too. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize – the Kasbah connects to the medina through these smaller, less crowded passages, so you can avoid the main tourist bottlenecks entirely once you know the routes. The riad sits in what feels like a proper neighborhood where people actually live and work, not just sell carpets to tourists. You’ll see kids playing in the alleys and women chatting on their doorsteps – it’s the Morocco most visitors never get to see. The rooftop terrace deserves a mention too, because the view hits different at sunset when the Atlas Mountains catch that golden light. And parking? Well, you’ll leave your car outside the medina like everyone else, but the riad can arrange the whole thing, which saves you from wandering around with your luggage trying to figure out where the hell you’re supposed to go. That 9.2 rating makes sense when you experience the whole package – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Marrakech, but it nails what a riad should actually be.

Riad Rodaina Accommodations

Reviews of Riad Rodaina

• Overall, we truly enjoyed our stay. It’s a great way to experience the old town and be close to the locals. Would defini – Jaymar from United Kingdom – 9 June 2025 (9/10)

  We had a wonderful stay at Riad Rodaina! The location is convenient, especially being close to the airport and within walking distance to many of Marrakech’s attractions. The riad itself is stunning — we were genuinely surprised at how beautiful it was when we first walked in. The terrace is lovely and peaceful, and the room was clean, cozy, and beautifully decorated. The bed was comfortable, and everything looked just as pictured.
  
  What really made our stay extra special was the staff, especially Yousef. He greeted us with a warm smile and lovely tea upon arrival, gave us a tour of the riad, and made sure all our needs were taken care of throughout our stay. He was incredibly kind, helpful, and accommodating — truly a gem. Please keep him, he’s an asset to the riad!
  
  What could be improved: If there’s one thing to note, the riad can be a little tricky to find if you don’t have mobile data, so we highly recommend getting a local SIM card at the airport. Also, while the welcome tour was a nice touch, it would have been great to be asked if we were up for it, as we were quite exhausted after traveling.

• Superb – Jessica from France – 11 May 2025 (9/10)

  The staff were exceptional 🙂

• Great location, but not a place I would return to. – David from United Kingdom – 9 May 2025 (8/10)

  Great location: plenty of atmosphere but away from the craziness of the medina. Staff tried hard to be helpful.
  
  What could be improved: Decor is rather impersonal and the white light is harsh. I rejected the first room I was offered, whose only ventilation was a window above the toilet cistern opening onto the ground floor reception area. The windows of the room I occupied also opened onto the ground floor reception area and smelled of damp. Breakfast was adequate but lacked any homemade touches.

• Very good – Hilde from Canada – 5 May 2025 (8/10)

  Beautifully decorated Riad in an excellent location within the Kasbah, including breakfast on their rooftop terrace.
  
  What could be improved: The ground floor room was much smaller than what we thought we had booked. Although we had only carryon luggage, it was cramped for the two of us (although I loved the authentic furnishings). Ok for one person. I think the upstairs rooms are larger.

• Exceptional – Stefano from Italy – 27 March 2025 (10/10)

  Staff professionale

• We have a wonderful time at Riad Rodaina, Brahim was particularly excellent and went above and beyond to make our stay p – Bella from United Kingdom – 1 March 2025 (10/10)

  Excellent location and facilities- very clean and relaxing
  
  What could be improved: Nothing- we could not fault it

• Superb – Mark from United Kingdom – 25 February 2025 (9/10)

  Clean, stylish and comfortable. Very friendly helpful staff. Excellent breakfast provided.

• Superb – Silvia from Greece – 16 February 2025 (9/10)

  Staying at the riad Rodaina was an unforgettable experience. It is located in the older part of Marrakesh, but this was not a negative as it made us feel the vibe of how most people live there. Close to the riad there were also shops like the ones you find at the main souk, but we found that the sellers there were not trying to sell at exorbitant prices although we were tourists.
  
  The food was unique and everyday there was a different menu. It felt like home away from home. We met the cook and honestly we felt like we knew her. Everyone from the cleaners to the manager were exceptionally caring and made us feel like we were part of an extended family. We have never had this experience before in any other place we visited.
  
  However, the best part of our experience in the riad was our interactions and long discussions with the three male main members of staff who were always around. A big shout out to Osama who is the gentlest and most well-spoken man we met and a massive shout out to Brahim, who felt like a long lost friend, even a relative. He is a linguist and very educated and we enjoyed our discussions around politics, religion, linguistics and so much more. He gave us insight to the real Morocco and we were impressed by his openness and kindness. Words are not enough to describe what an amazing time we had because of each and every one of them. They went above and beyond to please us. As I said, we never had experienced something like that before and although we live in the UK, we are Greeks and come from a country that is considered hospitable to its core. And this says a lot as this love and care is nothing we have ever experienced anywhere we have been around the world.
  
  What could be improved: There was nothing we didn't like, but if I have to mention something I found that the water of the jacuzzi was a little cold for me although it was not cold at all objectively. My husband found it exactly the right temperature! I think it was a little cold mainly because the centre of the riad is an open area mostly, and the temperature would drop during the night hours as it was winter.
  
  Also, although not a negative, our room had no natural light and this felt like a cave. It was very traditional and cozy though and this is my fault as when I booked the rooms, I think I chose the cheapest option. When we arrived, the staff showed us around the other rooms and they were exceptional, so next time we will know.
  
  As I said, these are not negative aspects of the place, just personal preference.

• Exceptional – E from Italy – 2 January 2025 (10/10)

  The best Riad ever!
  It's very comfortable, clean, in a nice location nearby everything. The breakfast is very good, with a lot of options.
  The staff is the best, super super nice, kind and they speak perfect English! They also have a swimming pool and massage and Hammam services!
  I really recommend it.

• nice. – Li from United Kingdom – 26 December 2024 (9/10)

  Must mention Brahim, he is really excellent, he will consider the needs of the guests, understand the guests personally and help the guests. This review is written for him, give him a thumbs up!
  
  What could be improved: The toilet we stayed in didn't have a door, so it was a bit cramped.

Surroundings

Facilities