Ryad Selyen

Ryad Selyen Overview

Look, I’ve stayed in plenty of riads in Marrakech, but Ryad Selyen actually gets it right. Tucked away on Derb El Cadi in the Azbezt neighborhood – which, honestly, most tourists never even hear about – this place feels like stumbling onto a secret that locals have been keeping to themselves. The moment you step through that heavy wooden door (and trust me, you’ll walk past it twice before you find it), you’re hit with this incredible sense of calm that’s pretty rare in the medina.

What really struck me about this place is how they’ve managed to keep the authentic riad vibe without making you feel like you’re roughing it. The courtyard has this gorgeous fountain that’s not just for show – the sound of running water actually drowns out the call to prayer and early morning donkey carts, which means you can sleep in if you want. The rooms, well, they’re proper Moroccan with the tadelakt walls and carved plaster, but the beds are genuinely comfortable and the bathrooms work like they should. You know what I mean – hot water when you turn the tap, decent water pressure, towels that actually dry you off. Small things, but they matter when you’re exploring the souks all day.

The rooftop terrace is where this place really shines, though. Most riads have one, but Ryad Selyen’s gives you these incredible views of the Atlas Mountains on clear days, and you can see the Koutoubia minaret without having to crane your neck. I spent most evenings up there with mint tea, watching the light change over the city. The staff – and I’m not just being nice here – actually know the medina like the back of their hands. They’ll tell you which hammam is cleanest, where to get the best tagine (hint: it’s not in Jemaa el-Fnaa), and how to navigate back home through the maze of alleys without getting completely lost. One guy, Hassan, drew me a little map that was better than anything on my phone.

The location is honestly perfect if you want to feel like you’re experiencing the real Marrakech without being in the middle of tourist central. You’re maybe a ten-minute walk from the main square, but far enough away that you don’t hear the drummers and snake charmers until 2 AM. The neighborhood has this lived-in feeling – kids playing football in the alleys, women chatting on doorsteps, the smell of bread from the local bakery mixing with incense from the small mosque nearby. It’s not sanitized for tourists, which I really appreciated.

The only minor thing – and I’m being picky here – is that the WiFi can be spotty in some rooms, but honestly, that might be a blessing in disguise. This isn’t the kind of place where you want to be glued to your phone anyway. With an 8.9 rating, I’d say it’s earned every bit of it. If you’re looking for a riad that feels authentic without sacrificing comfort, and you don’t mind being a little off the beaten path, Ryad Selyen is exactly what you’re looking for.

Ryad Selyen Accommodations

Reviews of Ryad Selyen

• Superb – Zane from New Zealand – 30 May 2025 (9/10)

  Lovely accommodation in a quiet street off one of the Souks, newly renovated, with a great rooftop. The staff are incredibly helpful, with good restaurant recommendations, big breakfasts and plenty of green tea!

• Amazing choice! – Vasile from Romania – 5 April 2025 (10/10)

  The stay at this Ryad was a great choice. We had just found it on Booking, fell in love with the simple, new and modern design, read the reviews and decided to book it. It concluded to be the perfect choice. We had everything we needed, the location was secluded and away from the never ending noise of the town, while being very close to the main attractions at the same time. The staff working for the Ryad, especially Anas and Aziz, did a great job. They have always jumped in to help us and accommodated all our requests. We asked the staff to help us print the plane tickets, find places around and order taxis. Amazing breakfast and coffee, simple options, but very tasty. The sheets and towels were changed often during our stay. I noticed that some people were complaining about the lack of tv or the wet air in the bathroom. In our case, we didn’t feel the need to watch tv as we were mostly on the move and the accommodation served our basic needs, in the bathroom, there is a special material that absorbs the wet air, but it takes time. No bad smell. The WiFi worked very well most of the time, just on a few occasions there were some challenges. Thank you for making our trip so enjoyable! We would gladly come back here.
  
  What could be improved: What I would suggest to improve is simply adding a coffee espressor in the room, as I had during other stays in different locations. It makes it very easy for the early birds. However, this is not an impediment or such a big thing, just what crossed my mind now.

• Very good – Quoc from Netherlands – 29 March 2025 (8/10)

  There was no tv in our room and wifi is sometimes not great at the highest floor. Once it's connected the wifi is good.
  
  Central location in the medina and very quiet place in the building.

• Loved our trip to the Ryad and Marrakech – Mike from United Kingdom – 8 March 2025 (9/10)

  Excellent breakfast and a good range of 8am to 11am to get breakfast. Friendly staff. Great to communicate with before we travelled. Location is superb for visiting the old city, shop at end of passageway and plenty of places to eat and shop nearby

• Relaxing haven – Hannah from United Kingdom – 6 March 2025 (10/10)

  Fabulous ryad with cute roof terrace. Everything spotlessly clean, a real quiet haven from the bustling souks just outside. Yes, you have to familiarise yourself with local area but we felt very comfortable and safe in surrounding area. About a 10 min walk to the main square. Staff were great and organised our airport taxi which was good as I think we would have struggled to find it on our own. Good breakfast.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Superb – Pia from Slovenia – 20 February 2025 (9/10)

  Great location, good breakfast, clean room.

• Beautiful zen retreat in the heart of the medina – Isaac from United Kingdom – 29 January 2025 (10/10)

  What a hidden gem – the spaces are so well planned, beautifully styled, and high quality finish. Pictures don't do it justice. Such a zen, relaxing and luxurious place. The staff were faultless throughout, always around to help, always friendly, and made us feel really at home
  
  What could be improved: The location takes a while to get used to, but this is very typical of all Marrakech ryads. Once you've got your bearings, it's the PERFECT location to pop straight into the souks and the main square not far beyond

• Exceptional – Kathryn from United Kingdom – 27 January 2025 (10/10)

  The breakfast spread was great and the rooftop pool was amazing, super convenient location too

• Superb – Wajid from Netherlands – 10 January 2025 (9/10)

  Service was good, nice personnel;
  Daily fresh breakfast
  
  What could be improved: Location could be a bit better in my opinion, it was in the city center/medina was near, but you have to find it/search (again and again).
  You cant reach location with car

• Fantastic stay at this wonderful ryad – Imran from United Kingdom – 4 January 2025 (9/10)

  Our stay at Ryad Selyen was superb – friendly staff, great decor, comfortable and spacious rooms, amazing breakfast. We were even thinking of booking the entire ryad for extended family when we next visit Marrakesh. Highly recommended!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing, everything was perfect. It is a little tricky to find but this is the case for most ryads in Marrakesh. Perfectly safe, even at night, as Moroccons are lovely, hospitable and kind people.

Surroundings

Facilities