Riad Dar El Grably

After the sensory overload of a trip around wonderful Marrakech, this place felt like a peaceful refuge. Laila and the other women, along with Simo, were fantastic, and Françoise gave us lots of useful advice. We had a great stay.

The rooftop was a lovely place to sit in sun or shade, with a hot tub tucked into a private corner. We watched the sun over the High Atlas mountains and heard the Call to Prayer from the city mosques. Riad el Grably has four floors, and the stairs are steep, so take care. We tried the Hammam with Leila, who works incredibly hard at the Riad. Her English is limited, but she explained what to expect and helped us relax through the scrub and shower. Then we had a couples massage downstairs, which left us feeling wonderfully relaxed. We’d told Francois by email that the visit was for my birthday. Hannan, the Riad manager, met us at the square after an Easyjet affiliated driver brought us from the airport. It was only a minute’s walk through side streets to the riad. Inside, a big ornate wooden door opens onto a cool, welcoming house decorated with traditional Moroccan objects. We had mint tea by the pool while Hannan went over the welcome pack. Then the staff brought me a red rose and sang Happy Birthday in French, English, and Arabic. They’d scattered rose petals on the bed and in the bathroom too, which felt very romantic. Our ground floor room was near the dining area but still fairly quiet and private. It was clean and comfortable, with a large bathroom and shower, and housekeeping came every day. We mostly used it to sleep after long days out exploring. The Medina begins just a few streets away, and we walked for miles. Be alert for mopeds and little trailer bikes. They’re everywhere and beep to warn you to move aside. Mohammed served our dinner at a pretty candlelit table decorated with rose petals. The lamb kofta tagine with roasted vegetables was delicious, and there was enough for four. All the food was excellent, home cooked in a traditional style. Breakfast included bread and preserves, fruit cocktail, yoghurt, pancakes, coffee, and fresh orange juice. We’d heard Mohammed lovingly preparing the juice the night before. We’d booked the flights and stay through EasyJet for a wonderful four day birthday break. Francois and the team worked hard, made us feel like family, and even put up with my attempts at French. We were very reluctant to leave and hope to return soon. Special thanks to Leila and Mohammed for looking after us so well. Fiona and James x

Laila’s cooking was a real highlight, with tasty, healthy Moroccan food served beautifully in the charming courtyard. We also had a deeply relaxing hammam. The riad sits in a quiet spot that works well as a base for exploring, and made a wonderful retreat during our visit. Merci pour ce séjour inoubliable et ce hammam très relaxant !

A lovely hotel in a great spot for getting around on foot. The room was spacious and clean, and the staff were very polite and friendly. The whole place was nice, with a pool, jacuzzi, and a pleasant terrace with a view.