Riad Porte Des 5 Jardins

Madame Louise speaks only French and has converted to Islam. She welcomes guests into her lovely riad, which has a very genuine atmosphere and welcome. It's family-run and easygoing, right in the middle of the Medina. The rooms can be a bit cold in winter, and soap or other items are sometimes missing. That's part of why prices are a little below average.

On December 30, 2023, I expected to stay at La Porte des 5 Jardins, but the room we were given bore no resemblance to the online listing. When we tried to raise this with the manager, Louisa, she was rude and dismissive, repeatedly talking over us and ignoring our concerns. After a long, heated discussion, she suddenly told us to leave. We ended up spending half of our short time in Marrakesh frantically looking for somewhere else to stay that day, which was extremely stressful. I'm deeply upset by the experience and feel I should warn others. The way guests were treated seemed profoundly unprofessional and completely unacceptable. I came away with the strong impression that money mattered more than hospitality, and that the manager showed no proper business conduct or care for customers. I don't think this riad is worth your time or money.

Don't expect the standard of a 4 star hotel, but do expect plenty of laughs and an authentic experience. Luisa tried her absolute best and made things interesting. God Bless you Luisa!

When we arrived for our double room booking, the riad was shut. We stood outside for an hour, and people passing by told us it had been closed for a month while still accepting what they called fake reservations.