Riad Alma

9.2

Wonderful

92 Guest reviews

9.2

Wonderful

92 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness9.4/10

Service9.4/10

Comfort9.0/10

Condition9.0/10

location7.2/10

Neighborhood6.6/10

Value9.6/10

Amenities8.2/10

the service from the staff was realy excellent

6 stars! Outstanding experience will return

Absolutely outstanding stay at Riad Alma cannot thank the team including Ahmed enough for making me feel so welcome, so relaxed, so pampered. I am well travelled and can say this is one of the BEST stays I have ever had. From the minute I arrived and Ahmed assisted with bags, choosing a room and dinner I just felt so happy and chilled out. The room was just stunning, immaculately clean and decorated so beautifully. The bathroom was spacious with beautiful artwork and details- all a modern touch on the traditional. The terrace is divine and I was served my own dinner there and Ahmed even went to the trouble of bringing up a speaker for ambient music. The wine was lovely (and well earned after summiting Mount Toubkal that morning). The spa…. Absolutely INCREDIBLE! I felt like a new woman, three hours of treatments left me feeling like I was walking on clouds. Thank you so so much I don’t know what more to say- a 1000/1000 experience, 6 stars!

6 stars! Outstanding experience will return

Absolutely outstanding stay at Riad Alma cannot thank the team including Ahmed enough for making me feel so welcome, so relaxed, so pampered. I am well travelled and can say this is one of the BEST stays I have ever had. From the minute I arrived and Ahmed assisted with bags, choosing a room and dinner I just felt so happy and chilled out. The room was just stunning, immaculately clean and decorated so beautifully. The bathroom was spacious with beautiful artwork and details- all a modern touch on the traditional. The terrace is divine and I was served my own dinner up here and Ahmed even went to the trouble of bringing up a speaker for ambient music. The wine was lovely (and well earned after summiting Mount Toubkal that morning). The spa…. Absolutely INCREDIBLE! I felt like a new woman, three hours of treatments left me feeling like I was walking on clouds. Thank you so so much I don’t know what more to say- a 1000/1000 experience, 6 stars!

Lush riad

This is a really lush riad. Our superior room was small but very stylish and comfortable, with beautiful surroundings and lush amenities. Would absolutely come back here.

My wife and I booked for our 35th Wedding Anniversary Trip to Morocco and chose the Riad Alma in Marrakesh as the place to stay for its charm and location close to the palace and it being in the Medina. Our booking was for 11 days and we were lucky to have Ahmed as the Ried Alma Manager and Concierge. The Riad is run as a hotel but you receive personal service of the highest quality. The amenities of the dining areas to choose from, the pool, the lounges from the first floor to the roof and its great views were well worth after a hot long day of excursions to the Atlas Mountains and to the seaport of Essaouira. The staff is wonderful from the meals served and the services offered such as the Hamman massage. But the Concierge services offered by Ahmed were invaluable for we had 6 excursions from Riad Alma and all claimed by email and text that they would be picking us up at our Riad and at the last minute they would change the pick up to a distant location! Ahmed, saved the situation by talking to each of the excursion company’s owners/managers/drivers to have them uphold their agreement to time and place of pickup and return. He is outstanding person and one of the best manager/concierge I have come across in all my years of travel. We loved our room and the staff was perfect in the meals and cleaning. We also appreciated the laundry services. So complete your stay and give Ahmed and his staff a try at the Riad Alma.

The location enabled easy walking access to the sights and sounds of Marrakesh

Amazing stay at Riad Alma!

Loved the local scene, kids playing in the alleys, locals going about their daily busy routine... Riad Alma was very clean, well organized with an authentic moroccan feeling. Ahmed was extremely professional and helpful, could not praise him enough. Breakfast was fresh and the ambiance in the interior garden was surreal with the birds chirping. Can't wait to go back :)

Alright staff and though brochure states all day unlimited tea we had to constantly remind

Within the Medina, quiet road, close to sights. Riad was an oasis of calm.

It was a good location. It was clean and the staff was very helpful.

The Riad is a hidden gem tucked away in the old back streets of the Kasbah. Staff, food, service, room all SUPERB! We'll be back next year .... 10/10*

Very kind and considerate staff, who provided a very early breakfast when asked. Lovely room.

Great location, helpful staff, excellent Riad.

Long weekend

My wife and I recently returned from a long weekend in Marrakech. We pondered on several Riads but decided to go with Riad Alma based on its excellence reviews. On arrival we were not disappointed, we were welcomed into the opulent Riad by owner Maurad, whom really couldn’t do enough for us throughout our stay. Location was ideal for us, nestled in the less busier south Médina but only a 15minute stroll to the Jamaa el fna square. A truly wonderful eye opening trip enhanced by the beautiful Riad Alma.

Oasis of calm

This is a lovely Riad to the south of the Kasbah. Our room was of a generous size with a large, if somewhat firm, bed. The room had a shared verandah, that overlooked the courtyard containing the small plunge pool, a sizeable en suite with shower and plenty of wardrobe space. The hotel, which is really a large house, is located at the end of a series of narrow lanes and thus away from the noise and chaos of the old city centre. This does have the drawback that it is a fair walk to the main square and souks (20 mins) and to the Ville Nouvelle (3.3 miles or 1hr walk) but taxis are available for most of the way at reasonable rates if you haggle. The staff were absolutely brilliant and always eager to help. Food in the Riad was very good albeit limited in choice. Nevertheless, they always were attentive and on two occasions insisted we have lunch on the roof terrace so we could enjoy the sunshine.

Memorable stay

We stayed at Riad Alma for a week and it was one of the highlights of our holiday. Our room was beautifully decorated with outstanding attention to detail. We had a large terrace overlooking one of the central courtyards which had a pool. Mourad, the Riad manager was extremely helpful. He gave us a map on the first day and explained to us where all the attractions are. He was always available and very helpful whenever we had questions. The three ladies working at the Riad were also very friendly and they served us a delicious breakfast on the terrace and in the courtyard. They also cooked dinner for us as we got there late and served us breakfast early when we had excursions. We were fortunate to meet the owners, Pierre and Samira and like the rest of the Riad Alma team were very hospitable, friendly and helpful. They also invited us to join them and some of their friends for champagne on the terrace. The hotel is an oasis of peace in a residential area compared to the hustle and bustle of . It is situated just a 10 minute walk to Jamma Al Fina. And yet as soon as you step in the alley that leads to the Riad you are in a totally different world. We also loved the fact that because it's in a residential area we were mixing with the local people rather than being cut off from the true Marrakech. We would like to thank Mourad, Samira, Pierre and the rest of the Riad Alma team for making our stay in Marrakech one to remember.

Very exciting stay in Medina, Kasbah area.

Wonderful to escape the busy city in Riad Alma, lovely authentic hospitality. Hidden away in narrow back streets, recommend prearranged pick up to help get there. A brisk 10-15 mins to the square so near enough to the main sites and smells. Clean spacious suit, air conditioning and comfortable. Great breakfast anytime, open access and good introduction and orientation by

Very happy with our stay. The staff and owners were lovely. Would be very happy to return.

Great Riad in the Kasbah

Beautifully decorated, perfect lounging areas on the roof and around the pool and a very friendly and accommodating staff. During our 4 night stay, we were treated extremely well - even had dinner there one night which was exceptional. Our room was very clean, modern lay outfitted and perfectly sized for two. Mourad was able to secure us transportation for a day trip. The one downside would be the distance to the Medina/heart of the city. But it was very safe to walk and definitely tucked away from the business of the Kasbah streets. I will stay again on my next trip!

Fantastic Riad!

I can't recommend Riad Alma highly enough. Hidden away through a maze of back streets, Riad Alma is a welcoming and tranquil place to stay. Moirad, the owner, greeted us with big smiles and lots of helpful advice on our first night and throughout our stay, he could not have been a better host. He made us feel so welcome and happily helped us with everything we asked for, including arranging taxis to restaurants to save the bother of having to negotiate fares and a trip to ride some camels. There were always staff on hand to help with any requests too. We stayed in one of the rooms with a private balcony and enjoyed our morning tea and coffee overlooking the courtyard watching the little birds hop about. I would definitely go back.

Riad Alma in December

Really enjoyed our stay at Riad Alma. We had a very spacious room on the top floor with great views. The hotel staff were very helpful with directions and provided a delicious breakfast each morning.

You wont find much better than this!

The staff was fantastic, very accommodating, friendly and always smiling. They went out of their way for us at all times to the points to even show me around the city one of the nights on their own vehicle and take me to a local Shisha Bar, cook me any food I want and recommend us a restaurant (which was sincerely, very upscale and fun). The day before me and my friends arrived we asked to have beers bought for us and "voila!" when we arrived they had bought a 48 pack. The atmosphere was fantastic as we literally had the whole place for ourselves (the terrace is amazing) and in the morning you wake up with the birds singing just outside your window. The decoration is impeccable and really gives you the feel that you are in Morocco. Of course it was not perfect, but nothing is. My room had not "hot" water, it was just body temperature, which was fine by me. The neighborhood looked a bit rough, but then again, we decided to stay at the "real" side of town (Medina) where we could see a bit of the real Marrakech. If you want to go to a really nice restaurant go to "Le Comptoir Darna" I swear you wont regret! If I ever go back to Marrakech I would not think twice, I would stay there again in a heartbeat!

Very quiet and traditional Riad

Situated perfectly a short 10-15 mins from Jenna el fna square. Nearby to amazing street food vendors in Kasbah area, healthy, fresh and most importantly cheap food (compared to tourist sections). Staff at Riad Alma are so welcoming and friendly and so easygoing. Breakfast is fresh and personally prepared by the staff. We were fortunate to have the Riad to ourselves and felt so homely watching some late night TV in the lounge surrounded by rustic morroccan furniture.

an Oasis

Don't be put off by its location and the route you have to take to find Riad Alma, it's all part of the experiance. The Riad it's self is full of tradition and individuality. We booked the airport transfers well in advance and independently as no one answered the hotel phone in the weeks before our arrival. We were greeted by 'George' who tried to tell us about the Riad and how to get about in marrakech, unfortunately we didn't speak much french and he didn't speak much English. That said we asked for a snack due to long journey and were amazed how quickly the staff rustled something up. We never saw George again throughout our 5 day stay! We found that we were left to sort things out, which wasn't a problem to us but may be if you're used to being pampered. This is the sort of place that if you want something, you have to go and find the staff and ask. Don't wait to be asked as it will never come. The staff were the best thing about this experience. They 'jazzed' up the continental breakfast, they kept the place immaculate and were always willing to help. Be sure to ask for the roof terrace, if it wasn't for the guest photos we would never have known that it was there (another George forgot to mention ). Enjoy the Souks and NEVER listen to people willing to help you. They will send you to there shop telling you 'its this way to the big square ) we found that you used the map and the compass on the iPhone we could head in a rough direction until we found a landmark

Gorgeous Riad! Delightful Staff! Amazing Area!

Concerned about the Riads location before we arrived, imagining a warren of narrow, unlit streets & being difficult to find. Not so! Simple as anything, believe me, using the map of Marrakech which Mourad kindly supplies. He even writes directions to & from the Riad on it. Located in the most amazing working area of Marrakech. The tiny 3m x 3m "shop units" had everything going on in them... hairdressers, motorcycle repairs, woodworking, a mechanical rabbit skinner (or chicken plucker - I didn't get too close a look!), 2nd hand tap seller, patisserie, fresh eggs - from chickens at the rear! A real treasure trove if you want to see the true Marrakech. Oh! Brochette stalls aplenty too! Try them, we did they were lovely... The people in the streets around the Riad were as friendly as can be. As they were in the whole of the Medina. Breakfast, ok it's not a full English, get over it! It is lovely though (in our opinion), yoghurt, fruit, marmalade, sweet cake, small toasts, pancakes or filo pastry with jam and gorgeous mint tea (to die for!). The Riad is beautifully kept and decorated and truly welcoming. I really can not praise the staff enough. Elodie manages it along with Mourad superbly catering for your every need. We came home to a blazing log fire each night (February). Staff are discreet but attentive, and so welcoming, we didn't eat there but everyone said the food was unbelievable. Oh there's a lovely roof terrace & 'small' pool too! A truly fantastic experience!

Pretty Riad set away from the hustle and bustle.

This Riad is very nice and comfortable. When you enter there are a few common areas with seating that you can hang out in. There is a very small dipping pool outside in a private terrace-we didn't go in it as it was winter time and we didn't know there was a dipping pool. We were given a room with our own small terrace. The room was comfortable with a double bed that was 2 singles pushed together but you didn't feel the gap between the beds. The bathroom was roomy and the water from the shower had a good pressure. The drain was a little slow to drain but it never over flowed from the shower. There was no door to the shower so the floor could get a bit wet. There was a window to the bathroom so you could let the steam out. The aircon acted as a heater (which we needed as January isn't that warm during the night). I would highly suggest organizing a taxi to collect you from the airport and bring you to the Riad (you can do this through the hotel via email) as you will probably never find the Riad amongst the winding streets of Marrakech. Getting to the Riad at night can be a little spooky since the alleys are dimly lit and very empty. We had brought a flash light and always went out together so neither one of us felt unsafe. The locals are all very friendly but I think if I was alone I would be a little spooked going down the alley by myself. Overall the hotel was very nice and I would recommend it to my friends.

Lovely Riad with great staff

Fabulous staff, exceptionally helpful and nothing too much trouble. About 20 minutes walk to square , so away from the hustle and bustle but easy to get to all tourist sites. Food was fantastic, we ate there 3 out of the 5 nights . Elodie arranged airport transport ( on time and very pleasant ) and a day trip out to the Atlas Mountains which was well worth the drive. Really made our stay in Marrakech a great one. Definitely recommend.

Friendly road

Enjoyable stay and good location. Marrakesh is a lively city with lots to explore. Airport is very close so nice not to have a long taxi ride from the airport.

Nixe Riad in Marrakesh Old town

All Perfect, but too cold for December - ask for the Remote for the AC; breakfast a bit simple

Very modern riad tucked in the maze of streets

Very modern riad which is tucked in the maze of streets that is the Kasbah. Initial thoughts was that we would never find our way around and the amount of people and traffic about was very daunting. Don't worry about this as everyone we came across was very pleasant and helpful and eventually you do get used to were everything is. The riad supplied us with a map and a card which was invaluable especially when we had to be guided back by a 13 year old lad on a bike!! There is an open top bus which goes around the main visitors site so this is a good way of getting your bearings.

Clean, friendly, comfortable.

Friendly staff, clean and comfortable stay. A bit of a walk to the centre of the medina but all part of the experience. I would recommend this hotel.

Great Stay in an unusual part of town

At the south end of the Kasbah, Riad Alma is a little further from the centre of Marrakesh than many other Riads, but we enjoyed the bustle and friendliness of Rue de la Kasbah when we went in to, and came back out of town; it made us feel a little more immersed in this wonderful, exotic location. The Riad itself was a clean, friendly place of calm after the madness of the souks and Djeema el Fna. It has a great staff and a lovely feel to it, a little like being in a Graham Greene novel almost. Thoroughly recommend it. The only thing that might catch you out is the walk from the Rue de la K to the Riad itself, we arrived by taxi quite late and felt a little uncomfortable wnadering through the dimly lit back streets for a couple of hundred metres to find the Riad. Once we'd been there a day or two we realised how friendly the locals are, and didn't feel vulnerable after that; but on the first night when it was all a bit strange and new, it was a little unsettling.

A gem in Medina downtown

Very nice and cozy riad in downtown Medina. My room was simple but beautifully decorated, super clean and very spacious. I was also welcomed to make use of other spaces of the hotel such as common TV room, living room, and sofa space beside a swimming pool, etc. And they served mint tea which tasted great from time to time. Basically they made me feel at home, and staff were very polite and helpful even though some of them did not speak English at all (Never mind because the first foreign language in Morocco is French, anyway). Location-wise it's great if you want to discover Marrakech downtown as most of the major historic landmarks are in proximity and you can also see real life of local people, which is quite unlikely to happen if you stick to New Town Gueliz. Having said that, though, it would be better note that the streets around this riad are so narrow that taxi cannot drop you in front of the door of the hotel, and it's not a short walk in the dark from where you get off your taxi to the riad, if you take a taxi after visiting Marrakech's famous night market.

Very tranquil, lovely staff. Beautiful roof terrace, tastefully decorated.

Lovely Riad in the heart of Marrakech

The Riad was in a great location,offering peace and tranquility in the crazy city that is Marrakech.

Riad Alma

Great Riad, Martine the owner really helpful as we're all the staff. Good location just far enough away from the main square to allow for an interesting walk, great break, thanks!

A lovely place to stay

We stayed here for 6 nights and loved it. The staff are really friendly and helpful. It is very clean and well decorated. It has 2 lovely courtyards and a private roof terrace. Thank you for a lovely stay

Worth a revisit

The hotel manageress and her staff were excellent. Very friendly and went out of their way to make our stay memorable. Access to hotel is not direct when in a car but easily manageable

Excellent service

Nice little Riad in the corner of the Medina, not too far away from the Souks and other touristy attractions; in amongst the with the 'locals' and how they live; if this is not your thing then stay away and stay at the 5* hotels they do have around, which are very nice but lacking in a bit of soul. The Riad itself is very nicely presented, the owner had decorated it sympathetically and pleasant on the eye...with bags of character. Clean and quiet once inside and lovely hideaway from the hub-bub and noise outside. Service is excellent...there was never a 'no'; always 'yes!' and 'of course' at every request (reasonable request). I cannot fault the staff on their level of service with a smile; making our stay all that more pleasurable. The dinner cooked at the Riad are homely and delicious, wished we had stayed in more for dinner...it would have saved us some money too. Highly recommend Riad Alma, based on our stay.

A little bit of France

Ok, Riad Alma is not easy to find and the surrounding neighborhood is not the best, but when the door to Riad Alma is opened you are greeted warmly by Martine & Pierre and your difficulty in finding the Riad is forgotten. We spent 4 nights there and enjoyed every minute. Breakfasts were amazing and we ate dinner in on our return from camel trekking (really dromedary) which was very enjoyable. Transport around Marakesh can be organised by Martine which helps to orientate yourself in and out of the Riad. Ville nouvelle is only about 4 kilometers away and is easily walked. Petite taxi to the train/ bus station should be about 20 dirhams.

A relaxing heaven

Clean, modern, unique, relaxing - terrace to sunbathe upstairs, spacious room, chilling out area downstairs. Excellent service and care, good breakfast. Can't say a bad word. About a mile walk from the main part of town/the market - but we didn't mind as also away from the hetic part, so very peaceful.

The manager is charming.

It was nice.

All Good

Through out the stay very good service by friendly staff led by Martine who made you very welcome , and assisted us on all our requirements.

friendly,helpful staff,

A calm oasis in a busy medina,the pool was a welcome relief to come back to each day. The host prepared a special traditional meal for us on our last night, she was very helpful with arranging our next adventure.

Short break with husband

We had a fantastic time in Marrakech! The Riad Alma was perfect in every way. The owner Micheline was lovely as well as her staff. The Riad was beautiful & so relaxing. You must eat in the Riad, their Chicken & Lemon Tagine was exquisite! Clean, comfortable & beautifully decorated. A home from home.

Don't be Fooled by the Outside

The exterior of this hotel gave me flashbacks to my tour in Afghanistan. To get there, you must travel through the winding streets of a crowded neighborhood and then navigate some really sketchy back alleys. I'm talking trash all over the place, piles of rubble, feral animals roaming the ruins, the smell of raw sewage wafting through the air, the whole nine yards. Although, to be fair, those features seem to apply to pretty much seemed the entire inner city. If you can't handle it I suggest visiting somewhere else. While the outside may be intimidating, the interior is very well kept and beautiful. The staff are very friendly, most speak English except for the maids, and they will hook you up with a great tour guide and trans to and from the airport for a very reasonable rate. As a bonus, after a day or so you start to relax a little bit walking the streets. Breakfast is amazing, fresh squeezed OJ and outstanding crepes.

Charming little oasis

Our superior room was spacious and sweetly decorated, and the entire riad is well taken care of. The owners clearly take pride in their hotel. Please note that this riad isn't in what locals would refer to as the medina - it's in the Kasbah area. If you're okay to walk a few blocks, then don't let this deter you. If you are up for a longer walk, you can even do what my partner and I did and walk all the way to Jardin Majorelle via Nouveau Ville. It's quite the walk, but the location of this riad makes it a bit easier than it could be as it's close to a door in the wall which you can use to exit the old town and into the new town (not all that much to see there though other than the Jardin Majorelle). Please note that like all riads, this experience is more of a bed-and-breakfast type as opposed to a hotel - some of the amenities you may be used to if you travel a lot must be arranged in advance. This isn't a negative - just something to keep in mind. The WiFi worked well enough although didn't work so well in our room - we had to sit in one of the shared areas for the best connection. All the same, we were happy we had that available as we're both entrepreneurs and have to keep up with business back at home. All in all, I would absolutely recommend Riad Alma to couples and to friends who are visiting Marrakech. It's a charming little oasis, and we really enjoyed our stay.

Kasbah Oasis

Located in the Kasbah Area of the Medina lovely Riad with friendly & helpful staff,

Phillips made us very welcome

Riad Alma is a lovely home into which we were welcomed by owner Pierre. The Riad itself is beautiful, with a quiet roof terrace, and several courtyards for relaxing in the sun / shade, and lots of indoor lounge areas for chilling out in the evening with a glass of wine in the company of the other guests. Our room was small, but clean and functional, and decorated in a Moroccan style. The only negative was the location - a good 25 minute walk through dusty streets dodging cars and motorbikes to Jemaa el Fna (the main square). We were really pleased that we visited while Pierre was in town (he splits his time between Marrakech and France) as he was very friendly, ensured we had everything that we needed, and generally made us feel like old friends.

Great fun for a girls' trip.

The staff were all very helpful especially Michelin who was running the Riad she was always on hand to give us advice on the best places to go, she organised drivers booked restaurants and went out of her way to make our stay very enjoyable. We ate an evening meal in the Riad twice whilst we were there and both times the food was excellent, breakfast was served at a time to suit us and was always good. Hot afternoons were spent lazing around the plunge pool or on the terrace, there was always someone to bring us drinks and make sure there was a sun lounger. The rooms were very comfortable with air conditioning and we all enjoyed peaceful sleeps. We all had a wonderful stay and Michelin made it go so smoothly.