Riad Noir d'Ivoire

We felt at home within minutes at this beautiful Riad in the heart of Marrakech. The thoughtful design and amenities were great, and the staff were so caring and attentive. The food was excellent, though we only found that out too late in our stay, and there’s a renowned chef in house. The owner loves music and has a fantastic sound system in the bar and main atrium. We met him there one evening, and he invited us to chat and listen to music. I’d definitely visit again.

I stayed at this riad twice, and what began as a pleasant experience became deeply concerning. Steve, the owner, wasn’t there during my first stay, which was enjoyable. Later I realized I’d been charged twice for it, once through Booking.com and again directly by the riad at checkout. I raised it right away, but got no response and had to dispute the charge with American Express. I assumed it was an honest mistake and booked again. The same double charge happened a second time. This time Steve contacted me on my personal WhatsApp, outside Booking.com. He called me a scammer, insulted me, wouldn’t let me explain the charges, and initially refused to refund the duplicate payment, despite clear documentation. After I showed proof, I was told I had to sign an NDA to get the refund. I’d never encountered that before, and it raised alarm. There was also behavior from the owner that made us uncomfortable. One evening, while I was at the pool with my mother, he approached us visibly intoxicated, playing loud music and commenting on our sandals and feet. Later, he openly said he had a foot fetish and showed us why he keeps a displayed image of Angelina Jolie focused on feet in the library area. Given that he has access to all guest rooms, we felt so uneasy that we put a chair against the door at night for safety. Loud music from the bar also kept us from sleeping every night. The riad itself and the staff are lovely, which makes this unfortunate. But because of the repeated double charges and the owner’s hostile, inappropriate behavior, I’d warn others against staying here. Be very cautious with payments and aware of the owner.

I left immediately without using the room because I no longer felt comfortable staying. Before arrival, we’d made clear arrangements, but once I got there the communication was inconsistent and the terms kept changing. The owner escalated things instead of handling them calmly, threatening to call the police without a valid reason while I was already in the process of leaving. It was unnecessary and disproportionate, and left me stressed and uncomfortable. No one tried to resolve the situation respectfully or reasonably. This fell far below an acceptable standard of hospitality, and I’d advise others to reconsider booking. The owner’s reply only confirms my experience. Its tone and the number of inaccurate statements match what I encountered during my stay. For clarity, I didn’t post any public question as suggested. My boyfriend had his own room booked and paid for. Whatever the current account of events, the threat to involve the police as I was leaving made the situation feel unsafe and highly uncomfortable. Anyone reading this exchange can draw their own conclusions. I stand by my experience.

This is an authentic Moroccan place to stay, with large, clean rooms, a very comfortable bed, and a spacious bathroom. Breakfast was lovely, and the staff were accommodating and as helpful as possible. The downside was the bedroom lighting: it was dark, with only lamps, and they weren’t enough. We asked for extra lamps, but none were available. The photos seem to have been edited to make the furnishings easier to see.