Riad Sardinas & Chili

The host let me keep my suitcase in the room after checkout until it was time to leave for the airport, which was really generous. My room was small but sweet, with good air conditioning and a suite bathroom with copper knobs and a bathtub and shower. I’d stay again when I’m back in Marrakech.

The terrace was a nice place to sit, and it was quiet and dark. That was about the upside. The beds were extremely uncomfortable, with a really hard mattress. The toilet barely flushed, the tap was loose, water sprayed all over the shower, and the air conditioning only worked part of the time. Finding the place the first time was difficult: it’s next to Riad Hibiscus, but there’s no sign or directions beforehand. The Google Maps location is deliberately wrong. It’s five minutes from the square, but the airport transfer was expensive and still left us far away, no better than a 10e taxi. Staff told us to sleep on top of a couch without sheets, and we had to insist on getting some. We also didn’t get a receipt for payment.

The woman working there was very kind and agreed when we asked for an early breakfast. Inside, the riad is very nice. Getting to it is less pleasant: the entrance needs cleaning, there’s no sign, and you have to pass through a dark entryway with cats before reaching the riad door.

A quiet spot amid the chaos of the city’s most famous market. Nice for spending a few days in Marrakech.