La Maison Arabe Hotel, Spa and Cooking Workshops

Getting to relax by the pool at the Country Club, away from the Medina’s crowds, was a lovely bonus. Back at La Maison Arabe, the riad felt like a beautiful little retreat right in the heart of Marrakech, and the staff were warm and attentive throughout. We also took the cooking class, which was a lot of fun and felt authentic. Dada and Mohamed were wonderful. We’d happily return and recommend it to anyone visiting Marrakech.

We left with full bellies, smiles, and an unexpected gift bag that I’m really grateful for. The cooking class at La maison Arabe was such a good time. We were welcomed into a beautifully decorated, impressively grand kitchen that had everything we needed and more. The staff looked after us and kept things entertaining. It was funny and informative, too. Afterwards, we all sat at an elegant table and ate the warm meal and dessert we’d made.

The hotel was easy to reach and the location was its clearest plus. We had two rooms, a garden-view suite and a standard room. The view from the suite was lovely, but the old furnishings need updating. There was a distinct smell in that room each time we went in. Reception couldn’t move us and instead offered a diffuser, which helped a little. The standard room was extremely cramped, barely giving us space to move comfortably. In both rooms, the worn furnishings and outdated condition made it clear that upkeep and renovation are overdue. The worst moment came the night before checkout, when we saw small roaches crawling over the table. That was unsettling and made us worry about cleanliness and pest control. The hotel fell well short of the expectations its description created. We wouldn’t recommend it to friends or family.

The cooking class was excellent, and Maraod at the front desk was especially helpful with recommendations and arranging rides and activities. The staff in general were attentive. There’s lovely music in the courtyard at night, little fires tucked into corners, and the rooms are all beautifully done. The hallways have fun decor, too. Our first room was cold when we arrived early in the morning, and I was worried. After the first day we moved to another room, and things felt much better.