Stylish and Central Downtown Retreat

Stylish and Central Downtown Retreat Overview

Look, I’ve stayed in my fair share of Marrakech hotels, and this place in Gueliz actually surprised me. The name “Stylish and Central Downtown Retreat” sounds like marketing speak, but honestly? It’s pretty accurate. You’re right in the heart of the new city – not the medina chaos, but the part where actual Marrakchis live and work.

The location is what really sold me on this spot. You’re maybe a ten-minute walk from Avenue Mohammed V, which means you can grab proper coffee (not just tourist mint tea) and hit the French bakeries locals actually use. There’s this little pharmacy right around the corner that became my go-to for random travel stuff, and the taxi drivers know exactly where you are without the usual address confusion you get in the medina. The neighborhood gets pretty quiet after 9 PM, which – let’s be real – is perfect when you’ve spent the day getting your senses completely overwhelmed in the souks.

What I didn’t expect was how much attention they’d paid to the details. The AC actually works (you know how hit-or-miss that can be), and the wifi reached every corner of my room, even the little balcony where I’d sit with morning coffee. The staff spoke decent English, but more importantly, they knew their city. When I asked about getting to Essaouira, the guy at reception didn’t just hand me a brochure – he told me which bus companies actually run on time and where to get the best seats. The rooms have this sort of modern Moroccan thing going on without being too theme-park about it, if you know what I mean. Clean lines, good lighting, and thankfully no fake tagine decorations everywhere.

Parking was actually doable, which is saying something in Marrakech. There’s secure parking nearby, and they helped arrange it without the usual haggling drama. The whole check-in process was refreshingly straightforward – no mysterious extra fees or surprise tourist taxes appearing at the last minute. I mean, the place clearly caters to people who want to experience Marrakech without feeling like they’re camping or dealing with sketchy plumbing.

The 9.3 rating makes sense when you consider what you’re getting for the price point. It’s not trying to be La Mamounia, but it’s doing what it does really well. You’re close enough to walk to the train station if you’re heading to Casablanca, but far enough from the main tourist drag that you’re not hearing groups of travelers coming back from dinner at 2 AM. During Ramadan, the neighborhood stays respectfully quiet, but you can still find places to eat during the day without feeling awkward about it. Honestly, if you want to feel like you’re staying somewhere that Moroccans would actually choose for visiting relatives, rather than a place designed specifically for package tours, this hits that sweet spot.

Stylish and Central Downtown Retreat Accommodations

Reviews of Stylish and Central Downtown Retreat

• Very good – François from Morocco – 19 April 2025 (8/10)

  Modernité de l'appartement et son emplacement
  
  What could be improved: Une odeur de canalisation

• Exceptional – Oskar from United Kingdom – 16 February 2025 (10/10)

• Beautiful – Sureya from Egypt – 23 January 2025 (10/10)

  Location is quite central to the modern side of Marrakech. The apartment itself is very nice, clean and lovely. There is an iron, toiletries, washing machine, clothes drying rack, private parking. It's a very secure apartment.the host is a really nice person. I would definitely recommend and I would be sure to rent this place again if I go to Marrakech again.
  Just an FYI: I'm born and bought up in London, I don't know why my flag on booking is Egyptian but my husband is Egyptian, because sometimes this can make a difference to people reading reviews.
  
  What could be improved: Sometimes the drain smell from the bathroom and kitchen sink made the apartment a little smelly.

• Superb – David from Spain – 8 January 2025 (9/10)

Surroundings

Facilities