Riad Sabbah

Riad Sabbah Overview

You know what? I almost walked right past Riad Sabbah the first time I tried to find it. The entrance on Derb Hargassa is so understated – just a simple wooden door tucked into the medina walls – that honestly, I had to double-check the address. But that’s sort of the magic of staying in a proper riad, isn’t it? You’re literally living inside the old city, and once you step through that door, it’s like discovering a secret world. The whole check-in process was refreshingly smooth (no haggling with taxi drivers about drop-off points, thank god), and the staff actually seemed to remember my name from the booking email, which… well, that doesn’t always happen.

The courtyard is where this place really shines. I mean, you’ve got that classic Moroccan tilework everywhere – the kind that makes you want to take a million photos but somehow never quite captures how intricate it actually is. The fountain in the center creates this gentle background noise that drowns out most of the medina chaos, though you’ll still hear the call to prayer from nearby mosques (which I found pretty atmospheric, but fair warning if you’re a light sleeper). What surprised me was how cool it stays even during the afternoon heat – something about the traditional architecture just works. The rooms are solid for a 4-star place, nothing fancy but comfortable beds and surprisingly good water pressure in the shower. The rooftop terrace is where you’ll probably spend your evenings though, especially if you snag one of the low tables with cushions. You can see the Atlas Mountains on clear days, and honestly, watching the sunset from up there with a mint tea makes all the medina navigation worth it.

Here’s the thing about the location – yes, you’re deep in the medina, which means about a 10-minute walk through the souks to get to Jemaa el-Fnaa square, but that’s actually perfect. You’re close enough to easily explore but far enough that you’re not dealing with the main tourist chaos right outside your door. The alley can get a bit tricky to navigate at night (bring a phone light), and you’ll definitely want to screenshot the walking directions because GPS gets weird once you’re in the narrow passages. The 8.4 rating seems about right – it’s not going to blow you away with luxury, but it nails that authentic medina experience without making you feel like you’re roughing it. Plus, the breakfast spread on the rooftop is pretty generous, and they make excellent coffee, which… let’s be honest, can make or break a travel day.

Riad Sabbah Accommodations

Reviews of Riad Sabbah

• Superb – Pavel from Czech Republic – 12 November 2024 (9/10)

  Great location close to main squere and souks. Riad is old with strong oriental feeling with carved doors and ceilings. Terrace with a view of the city. Nice patio for evening parties.
  
  What could be improved: Breakfest could be better, something fresh, like a fruit or vegetables, would help. No eggs, sausages or cheese.
  We travel with group of basketbal players, so double beds was extremly small for us, but could be OK for standard pairs.

• Good – Katja from Switzerland – 25 February 2024 (7/10)

  very central location just a few minutes walking distance from the main square
  
  What could be improved: we arrived at the riad earlier than expected (5pm instead of 7pm) and had to wait in front of the entrance for more than one hour because no one was there

• Pleasant – Suzy from United States – 24 January 2024 (6/10)

  Great location; exceptionally friendly and helfpul staff
  
  What could be improved: No privacy from noise in the building; old bed; dirty duvet.

• Serene and beautiful property. I would gladly stay there again for an extended period. – Karin from Spain – 28 March 2023 (9/10)

  The location was perfect. We were on a quiet street in the Medina and very close to the main square. The scenery in the riad was lush and peaceful. The rooms were beautiful and had comfortable spaces outside to rest, read or work. I arrived early on my date of check in and was immediately served breakfast. Everyday we had a fresh, hearty meal with fresh orange juice and great coffee. By far the best aspect were the host – Michel and Hakima treated us like family with warmth and generosity.
  
  What could be improved: I loved everything about the stay. The only reason I selected 9 instead of 10 was the internet connection. For anyone who needs to work remote, this is the only area that was not always reliable. I was able to communicate most times, but the signal dropped occasionally and disconnected when idle.

• Cozy and welcoming Riad – Jan-hendrik from Germany – 17 March 2023 (9/10)

  – Hakima, Fatima and Michel are incredibly nice and welcoming people
  – very nice building and architecture
  – very good breakfast
  – very central location

• great location lovely staff nice breakfast – Rod from United Kingdom – 5 November 2022 (6/10)

  wonderful staff that made my stay so great
  
  What could be improved: showers are not great
  difficult to open front door

• Good – Ark3 from Spain – 12 October 2022 (7/10)

  Lovely staff member looked after us very well and made us feel welcome, very atmospheric place to stay in Marrakesh.
  
  What could be improved: Place needs a little maintenance and updating.

• nice stay in Marrakech Medina – Frederic from France – 7 September 2022 (8/10)

  inside the Medina
  comfortable and nice property
  silence
  welcoming and availability of people
  breakfast

• Superb – Daniela from Austria – 6 September 2022 (9/10)

  Very, very nice staff, great location about 2 mins away from Djema El Fnaa, small terrace with a tiny pool (but great for cooling off in the morning/evening), great and cozy atmosphere
  
  What could be improved: Wifi not the best but OK

• An absolutely wonderful experience in a beautiful Riad – Sherrit from Switzerland – 17 July 2022 (10/10)

  It was absolutely lovely. Despite being so close to the markets, it was very quiet. The rooms were beautiful and my kids had a great time cooling off in the plunge pools. Breakfast was plentiful and delicious. However, the best part was Fatima and Hakima, the two ladies working there, who looked after us so well and made our stay wonderful. The owner, Michel, was also very informative and checked that everything was going well for us, including after we returned home. I highly recommend staying here. It’s a great way to get to know more about Moroccan culture while staying with people who feel like family.
  
  What could be improved: We liked everything.

Surroundings

Facilities