Riad Zara

Riad Zara was a devine oasis. The staff were helpful, kind and friendly. The room was clean, with a magical quantity, making me feel like some sort of Moroccan prince. The old town can be a bit hetic, with the bustle of the souk at your doorstep. But upon entering Riad Zara it all disappeared, and i was wrapped in a blanket of colors and calm. I highly recommend Riad Zara for anyone who is looking for a touch of bohemian class in there visit to Marrakech.

We did not feel particularly welcome right from the start both before and after our arrival. You have a very specific arrival window and if you don't meet it then you have to pay extra. Everything above and beyond the absolute basic costs extra at this Riad and by extra I mean significantly higher than average prices in Marrakesh. This was very disappointing as we had stayed in another Riad by the main square a week or so earlier which was run by a Moroccan family and everything was included in the price such as water, tea, snacks, and breakfast. The family also went out of their way to esure we had an amazing experience which you certainly do not get at Riad Zara. Whilst the Riad is very clean and nicely furnished, I would suggest staying at a different one if you want to receive a proper Riad experience.

No air conditioning and the bed was hard and the room very small but the breakfast omelet was very good!

If you like walking and experiencing the real Marrakech this could be the area for you. Away from the brightly lit souks it allows you to meet the residents in their everyday life. The Riad Zara is tucked away and very peacefull. Monique is very helpfull and her Riad is well run.

We spent Christmas week at the beautiful Riad Zara and loved it! Monique is a fantastic host and cook! Quiet and calm after a day in the souks!

I cannot recommend Riad Zara highly enough! A beautiful building with a rooftop to look out over the medina. Monique and her staff were friendly and helpful, cooking delicious meals, providing directions, even calling cabs. My time in Marrakesh was so much better for having spent it here.

Monica was a wonderful hostess and provided us with invaluable advice .

We had a truly happy time staying at Riad Zara. Monique unfortunately wasn't there when we stayed but had left the Riad in the care of her friends Kim and Michel, who were the best of hosts. Although our inbound flight was delayed for around an hour, they stayed up to welcome us and provide a light meal. Throughout our stay, they did everything possible to make our stay comfortable, from booking taxis to warning the drivers not to rip us off and giving us advice on how to walk through the busy lanes of the Medina or fend off hasslers. They made us feel like family. Riad Zara is situated at the eastern edge of the old town and therefore about a 20/25 minute walk from the main square, Place Jemaa el Fna. It is very much a place for the locals and walking along the lanes nearby is probably much the same as it was in medieval times (barring the mopeds and motorbikes you need to beware of!) with everything being sold from fridges to live chicks! Monique left us wIth a guidebook of notes on how to negotiate the roads, helpful tips for getting about Marrakech and coping with a very different culture. There is a variety of excursions available which can be booked via the Riad management and they have a driver who will come to the door and escort you to the meeting point as the road is inaccessible by cars. The Riad itself is charming, every bit as pretty as the photos and kept very clean and neat by the young housekeeper Jamila who also served the light breakfasts with a smile ever

We LOVED Riad Zara! Monique, the proprietess, is hospitable, knowledgeable, warm and wonderful. The Riad is beyond beautiful, tucked away inside the old city with easy access to everything. Highly recommended!

Monique and Hassan are beyond accommodating and can answer any question you have about Marrakech. They helped us plan a day trip to the Atlas Mountains which was the best part of our short trip. It was a great experience from begininng to end. Their place is oasis in the middle of an overwhelming city. I definately recommend staying there if you are ever in Marrakech.

Myself and 3 girlfriends stayed here over a weekend trip in Marrakesh. We were very well looked after by Hassan as Monique was away, and it was definitely a refuge from the craziness of the souk and rest of the Medina! Would definitely recommend to all who stay, to have dinner at 'home' one evening - the food is amazing and such a lovely setting. It is a bit of a walk from the souk but probably good to walk off all that food & wine!

Riad Zara is a coloruful, stunningly decorated Riad in a quiet area about a 15 minute walk from the main square of the Marrakech Medina. The courtyard and terrace are beautiful places to relax and recharge. Hassan was a great host offering top notch service. I highly recommend finding time to enjoy the terrace!

This is one of the nicest stays that I have had anywhere. You really feel as though you have been allowed to share in someone else's life, in this case, Monique's. The breakfasts were wonderfully varied and universally excellent. The neighbourhood allowed you to experience the real Medina without being constantly hassled. The roof top terrace was such an escape from the hustle and bustle below and the views were amazing. Cannot recommend this place enough.

We had a lovely week staying at Riad Zara. The room was cosy and clean and at a great price. Monique and Catherine who were running the Riad during our visit couldn't have been more helpful and it felt more like staying at a friend's house than at a hotel. Would definitely recommend!

The best thing about this Riad is amazing and friendly staff; provided us with all the necessary information, organised a day trip for us (which was the highlight of our stay) for a very affordable price and were overall extremely helpful and generous. They were really attentive and made us feel like we're staying at home. Location was great (not in the strict centre of Medina, which turned out to be a big benefit since it's closer to taxies for going out of the old town). The pickup from and to the airport was organised for us as well by the Riad Zara and went smoothly (I really recommend doing that). And we regret not staying for dinner at the Riad because it looked really good (we realised that on our last night). I highly recommend it.

Monique was an excellent host. She was attentive to our needs, caring for us with everything from her lovely French breakfasts to assisting us with all of our travel/sightseeing arrangements. I would highly recommend Riad Zara for anyone wanting to experience "Old Morocco."

A peaceful hideaway from the chaos that is Marrakech. Riad is lovely and Monique is a fab host arranging days out, taxis, meals and whatever else you may need. The riad is hidden away but easy to reach the Square on foot with a bit of practice. Would highly recommend.

This is a great place to stay with lovely rooms at reasonable prices. Monique, the owner, is friendly and very helpful. She is French and speaks good English. The riad is situated in a residential area and as such I would not want to go back to it too late at night but if you are sight-seeing like me, this will not be a problem. I never once felt uncomfortable walking back at say, 10pm because the streets are still busy. Breakfast at the riad was varied and over the course of the week I had pancakes with honey, bread with 2 kinds of jam, another type of toasted bread (not sure what), yoghurt, bananas, oranges, tea, orange juice.

notre séjour chez Monique à était excellent voyage pour mes 60 ans j'ai eu droit a une bougie au petit déjeuner 😍 Monique nous conseille et nous guide au mieux pour notre semaine et un petit coucou à coralie très sympathique riad au calme et tout proche de la place jemaa el fna je recommande cet établissement

La signora è molto simpatica ed accogliente...il riad è molto pulito e caratteristico