Riad El Bellar

We arrived at the end of September 2025, visiting Marrakech for the first time as a Japanese couple, and the riad felt more like a local home than a hotel. The staff were friendly, and the atmosphere made the stay memorable. My partner and I enjoyed chatting with Zakaria, the manager, about Japanese fighters since he loves judo and martial arts. Kabira, who took care of breakfast, showed my partner different ways to wrap a hijab and gave us a few short Arabic lessons. The riad is tucked into the medina, still within walking distance of Jemaa el-Fnaa. We loved the rooftop at sunset, and the resident sparrows added charm. We nicknamed one “Chuntaro,” after the sparrow character from Demon Slayer. The entrance door is sturdy, but takes some instruction to use, so ask for a demonstration when you arrive. We arranged round-trip airport transfers for €28.9. There was some back-and-forth, and communication was slower than you might expect from a hotel, but it worked smoothly in the end through Expedia and WhatsApp. One night around 1 AM, I went out alone to spend the Moroccan dirhams I had left and stopped to play with the alley cats. A local on a motorcycle pulled up, and I braced for trouble. He just asked whether I liked the cats and where I was from. We talked briefly, then he smiled, said, “Welcome to Morocco,” and rode away. That moment really stayed with us. This place suits couples looking for a memorable, authentic Marrakech stay.

The people running the place were kind and decent, which is why I gave it two stars instead of one. But their kindness couldn't make up for the room's condition, the lack of basic amenities, or the price. I don't feel the stay was worth what I paid. The shower didn't work when I arrived. I was told it would be fixed by 7 a.m. the next morning, but that didn't happen. In the end, they asked me to use the shower in another guest's room, which hadn't even been cleaned yet. That wasn't okay. I know problems can happen, but the way they handled this left a strong negative impression. I can't honestly leave a positive review, because that wouldn't be fair to places that really deserve five stars. This was one of the weaker places I stayed during my 10 days in Morocco, when I tried a variety of riads and hotels.

The Moroccan-style place is quaint and lovely, and so are the people who run it. Still, a couple of things really affected our experience. Female travelers should know that the walk through the medina alleyways to the entrance can feel dodgy and unsafe at times.

The ladies manage this lovely riad well. The rooms are small but very nice, and the location is handy for visiting the center and enjoying what it has to offer.