Riad Thé d'Orient - Piscine Privée - Petit Déjeuner

The person managing the riad is very nice, clean rooms, nice location. No noise around.

the swimming pool could be a bit cleaner, but I guess it's not easy to clean/change the water every time.

Very beautiful architecture and ceilings!

The location was close to markets but didn’t feel safe at night (my husband got mugged outside the house at 1am), and was noisy and a strong smell of poisonous chemicals from local construction. One of the showers was broken and the pool is cute but narrow spaces around it so not so safe for young kids. Narrow steep stairs too… not that easy to live within but very attractive property. The roof is relaxing to sit on.

Everything was as described, which was a positive surprise (at some point, with the few reviews and the offering of a full riad for the price of 2 rooms elsewhere, made us even suspicious). The place is clean, the breakfast abundant and prepared in the ground floor and served at a separate dining room, and it is a bliss to have a place for the family to combine city excursions with a calmer space. The terrace is wonderful, the call to prayer very interesting from the rooftop, and the small swimming pool is an extra. The place felt safe, most rooms warmed up ok when needed, and facilities worked as expected (warm water, kitchen, etc.) All was very new, as if it had been recently renovated and painted. Some lights and small details didn´t work, but generally all was well in place and giving it a finish feeling.

What we didn´t like is that it was very unclear who where we talking to when preparing the arrival. There is an agency that acts as an intermediary, a different manager on the spot, but yet someone from the agency was the one receiving us and asking for a caution in cash (that was given back when leaving). They were nice, offered services (at not negotiable and rather high prices) such transfers and excursions with third partners, but it all just got a bit confusing and I had to deal with at least 5 whastapp chats + booking messaging at some point. One can´t not think about how touristy Marrakech has become, and how we are probably pushing locals out of these traditional houses so they can be renovated for stays like ours. Again, it is not about the place itself, but with a conscience I have to share that this is not a traditionally owned riad where one has the feeling that the budget will reach a few people but rather a fund or corporation. It was what my family needed, though, and I can´t imagine this model going away any time soon (next two buildings where undertaking works too).