Riad Darna

I’m confused by the negative reviews and plan to stay here again whenever I’m in Tetuán. It’s a clean, cosy Riad. I first had a private room and am now staying in a shared one. Breakfast is included, and the welcome tea is a great extra. The staff are so welcoming and will go out of their way to help. Oumaïma was a wonderful receptionist and host, and helped me arrange a taxi to the airport. About the cash payment comments, in my experience that’s usual in Morocco. Booking.com takes your card details to confirm a reservation, but doesn’t charge you. Most hotels don’t have an online booking system unless they’re bigger and twice the price, so you should get used to carrying cash in Morocco.

The calm atmosphere made it easy to rest after a day exploring Tetouan, and the staff were welcoming and ready to help with any questions or requests. I booked Riad Darna because I was curious about the place and the city, and I had a very pleasant stay. The location was convenient for exploring the city’s lovely streets, markets and historic areas. My room was clean and comfortable, with what I needed to relax. I’d happily return on my next visit and recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable, friendly place in the city.

A bad experience. We reserved a Ramadan iftar for our team meeting, expecting a traditional meal. They put us in a tiny prayer room with a huge table. My coworkers’ knees kept hitting the table legs, and we didn’t really fit. The soup was cold, and the savory food tasted old and not fresh, we had to spit it out. The mint tea came afterward as part of the reservation, but it had no mint, no sugar and barely a couple of tea leaves. It tasted like hot water with a faint flavor I couldn’t identify. The room had a small door and stairs going down as you entered, so everyone hit their head coming in or out. It was also very overpriced. We’d thought the decor and view would be beautiful background for the marketing team documenting the meeting, and I’d specifically reserved the terrace area for the view. We felt ripped off and left as quickly as we could while keeping a professional front. Honestly, we could have done a lot, but we chose to stay professional.

The welcome from everyone was warm and polite, and Kaoutar did even more to make my short stay comfortable. She was also really helpful with local tips. Best hostel stay I’ve had so far, 10/10 recommended.