Riad Dar Alkatib

The courtyard was the standout for me, a calm, refreshing place to sit with mint tea. The riad is beautifully put together, with traditional details like colorful zellige tiles and intricate woodwork throughout. My room was clean, comfortable and tastefully furnished, with a mix of traditional style and modern comfort. A wonderful, peaceful stay full of authentic Moroccan hospitality.

Our long-term stay at this dar was a horrible, depressing experience. We spent 1800 Euro, about 18000 Dirhams, for the stay, plus an average of 50-60 Euro a night for 30 days of meals. We also spent a lot at the souk, local shops and supermarkets. We had planned another 30 days in Meknes, but changed our plans because of the owner's rudeness, reduced service and what felt like outright instability. We ended the stay early. After 1/27 there was literally no front desk staff to attend to us, and it was obvious the owner didn't want us there. We checked in with a very professional English-speaking property manager, but that manager was removed partway through our stay. The owner then started giving “Us” orders as if we worked for her. On 1/29, we were asked to open the hotel's door, pay a vendor and accept food on the hotel's behalf. I'm not kidding. The attached pictures show the messages and how she spoke to us. I saw her response and added her final message from our conversation as a picture. This felt like a bait and switch, a tourist trap at the highest level. We were treated like the help, literally, rather than as guests. In the middle of our stay, the owner told the concierge he didn't need to work because there were no guests, even though we were there. The staff made the visit bearable. The two people working hard to cover for the owner's lack of professionalism were mistreated by her, and we could hear her yelling at them on the phone. My thanks to the staff for handling the situation professionally. I have a feeling they went above and beyond to shield my family from the owner's malicious intent toward us. I rated service 3 specifically because of the owner's involvement. The staff were 5-star. Do Better. Most of the listed amenities were, in our experience, simply not there. The wireless signal was extremely weak and sporadic, and the speed never went over 3 mbps. For a consistent signal, we had to sit in the unheated downstairs common area. To work remotely in the dar, I ran a 100 ft ethernet cable directly to the router, and even then averaged 30 mbps, nowhere near what was advertised. There was no heat in most common areas beyond electric space heaters for the bedrooms, so the indoor temperature there was whatever it was outside. There was no coffee bar, only a limited amount of filtered water, no restaurant or spa, and just one oven instead of two, which didn't work. There was no fruit or juice each day as promised. There was an empty hamam chamber but no one to provide a service, and there was faulty wiring. As the weeks went on, fewer breakfast options were available. Rain led to lots of water leaks and loads and loads of black mold. Sewage backed up into the shower, and we were told to put used toilet paper in the trash can. There was also a camera pointed into our room, not a common area, which the owner constantly monitored. Just weird. If you're considering this place because the price seems reasonable, my advice is to avoid it like the plague. Oh, and this place IS NOT a Riad. Do Better, or just keep being dishonest.

We had a fantastic stay here in June. The staff provided excellent service, and the place was spotlessly clean. Breakfast came with the price, simple but tasty. It's conveniently next to the central market and close to lots of local restaurants. Highly recommend it if you're staying in Meknes.

The hosts were lovely, friendly and helpful, and the location was perfect for exploring Meknes. A beautiful place in every way.