Riad les Jardins des Lilas

What a fantastic place, tucked away in the maze of the old town Medina. It is an ideal place to stay, close to the lively energy of Marrakech. A short 10 minute walk takes you to the center of the souks, and many places to visit are within a 30 minute walk. The staff are among the friendliest people you could meet. It is very clean, with air conditioning, great food, and warm sunshine, so you will want for nothing. Special thanks to hosts Hakim and his lovely wife, and to Mustapha, who made everything perfect for us.

We spent several nights at Riad les Jardins des Lilas. There were some good points, but maintenance and service problems made this the least satisfying stay of our Morocco trip. The housekeeper was the best part of the Riad. She worked incredibly hard, made our beds perfectly each day, and kept the rooms as clean as she could. We also appreciated the fresh Batbout bread she baked each evening for breakfast the next day. Breakfast was adequate and a standard Moroccan spread, though we missed having fresh fruit or vegetables. The Riad's condition did not match its online photos, which we saw when booking through Booking.com. The furniture and upholstery were quite worn, and the mattress in our room was completely worn out and uncomfortable. The surrounding Bab Taghzout area could be hard to navigate because many people tried to misdirect tourists. The Riad is a moderate distance from the Medina itself, about a 20 to 50 minute walk depending on where you are going. The worst issue was sanitation. This may have been specific to our Dahlia room, but the bathroom had a persistent, severe sewage smell. Management's only solution was to pour chlorine down the drain, which covered the odor briefly. I had to block the drain with a cloth to make the room bearable. Later, we found incense sticks in the bathroom and a strong smell of smoke, which seemed like an attempt to cover the drainage problem instead of fixing it. We contacted management through the booking platform about these issues and asked to change rooms, but most of our messages went unanswered. About luggage storage, be aware there is a mandatory fee of 50 MAD for

My partner and I stayed at this riad. Honestly, I felt only somewhat at ease because I was with my partner. I would probably have felt quite unsafe in this area if I had been traveling alone or with other women. I have traveled extensively in Asia with a friend, so I am not usually overly sensitive or easily unsettled when traveling. The riad is only about five minutes from a larger, lively street, but those five minutes take you through very narrow, confusing alleys. It can feel uncomfortable, especially in the evening. We also saw many children and teenagers deliberately approaching tourists. They would wait at corners and say the road was closed or did not continue, confusing visitors before offering to show them the way for money. We saw this happening to tourists every day. I would have appreciated a warning or some guidance from the host. The room was disappointing too. A strong sewage odor came from the bathroom and made the stay unpleasant. The room was tidied regularly, and the bed and towels were clean, but the riad felt worn and not very clean or well maintained. The bed was extremely uncomfortable. The mattress on one side was so worn and slanted that I kept feeling I might roll out. The floor did not seem clean or inviting, and I was not comfortable walking on it barefoot. Communication with the owner was unsatisfactory. We told him about the problems, but he showed no willingness to accommodate us. He would not even consider letting us leave our luggage at the riad for half a day without charge as a small gesture of compensation. We expected more understanding and willingness to help. Breakfast was basic and not very nutritious, mainly sugary food and carbohydrates with tea and coffee. Some fresh fruit or vegetables would have made a big difference. Overall, I would not recommend this riad. I am surprised it currently has fairly good reviews, since our experience was disappointing.

The lovely couple and their employee Hamid welcomed us with big smiles. We had trouble finding the Riad at first, but once we arrived, we had a great experience. The rooms are clean, and the whole Riad is beautiful. We especially want to recognize Hamid and thank him for his wonderful hospitality and warm welcome. You are a gem, Hamid! ✨