Riad Elli Marrakech

The staff were friendly and helpful, but Riad Elli looked very different from its photos. The rooms are small, cold, and gloomy, with poor lighting in both the rooms and washrooms. You can’t leave the windows open because other guests walking along the corridor can see inside. The small layout also means people on the stairs or chatting in the common area can be noisy and annoying. The lanes leading to the riad are narrow and shady. If you order dinner there, ask the price first. We ordered one chicken tagine with vegetables and were charged for two people.

The rooms were quaint and typical of a riad, but also nicely decorated, clean, and cozy. Riad Elli is tucked away, though still close enough to the main attractions. We had a lovely stay. Our host greeted us with tea and cookies and offered to prepare a Moroccan dinner at the riad.

It’s about a 10 minute walk to the Medina. Samir is a kind host who clearly cares about his work, and is quick to help whenever you need advice. The room was okay, and there’s a hair dryer.

The breakfast was great, the service was good, and the hammam next door was very good. Beyond that, I wouldn’t recommend staying here if you need a quiet room before a flight. Our room was tiny, barely big enough for the bed, and the bathroom smelled so strongly of mold that I couldn’t stand there to brush my teeth. It looked nothing like the photos. Opening the window for air meant hearing loud guests in the hallways and downstairs, and they could look straight into our room.