Le Riad Villa Blanche

The food was delicious, authentic, and beautifully presented, with plenty of choice for different tastes. Service was attentive and welcoming, and the traditional Moroccan decor made the cozy, elegant restaurant a lovely place to sit. We were four at dinner and initially had a really good evening. Later, though, three of us had diarrhea and felt ill that night and the following day. I hope it was an isolated incident, but it’s a serious concern and hard to overlook. The restaurant has a lot going for it in terms of food, atmosphere, and service, but this needs attention.

The room was spacious, the one thing that made the stay bearable. We’ve been to many places in Morocco with friendly staff and clean facilities, and this was easily our worst experience. There’s potential here, but the whole place badly needs updating and a much better clean. I never felt confident about the cleanliness. The heavy jasmine and flower scent was overwhelming and unpleasant. The security staff and bellhops outside the hotel were lovely and friendly, and the dining waitstaff were also trying their best. They were a little chaotic, but very nice. At the front desk, though, people were often so grumpy that asking a question felt like a bother. We were led to think breakfast was included, but it wasn’t. They should have clarified that upfront, since we wouldn’t have eaten there every day otherwise, and it wasn’t worth it. The spa was worse. The receptionist seemed not to care, was rude and grumpy, and clearly hated her job. My treatment wasn’t up to standard either. The masseuse gave me the wrong massage, tossed the oil bottle between my legs, and kept flicking the towel around. It was not relaxing at all, and I left more tense than when I arrived. The bed towel was a little damp, which made me question if it was clean. They had no intake forms about allergies or waivers. She also smeared some random substance on my face without my consent. I’d booked a massage, not a facial. Housekeeping missed at least one towel for us every day and hung the robes up damp as if they were fresh. The staff outside the hotel deserved a raise, but that didn’t make up for the rest. Please stay somewhere else.

We went to the spa for a hammam and massage. The day was going quite well until it was time to pay. I wasn’t sure about the price my husband had confirmed with the manager, and she became abrupt and rude, grabbed my card, and put it in the machine while saying that was the price. She had already been a bit rude when we called before coming, but we decided to try the place anyway. That payment interaction unfortunately spoiled what could have been a lovely day.

We waited outside for 30 minutes, made to feel as though we didn’t belong, because the doorman was rude and obstructive. As we left, he stared us down, looked us up and down, and slammed the door behind us. It was completely classless. I’d arrived for a birthday dinner reservation for five. Instead of simply checking it, he questioned me about what my friends were wearing, then dismissed me and falsely claimed there was no birthday dinner inside. He spoke in a vulgar, condescending way. He was managing the bar, not the restaurant, yet took it upon himself to block our entry as if he owned the whole place. This place puts a lot into presenting a “luxury villa” experience, with decor, lighting, and branding, but the way people are treated at the door undermines that image. The person representing the establishment left a disgusting impression and has no place at a venue claiming to offer a premium experience.