Where to Stay in Morocco: The Best Boutique Hotels & Riads
Morocco is full of so many beautiful riads, charming homestays and luxury resorts it can be hard to know which ones live up to the photos and high expectations. I love to stay in a range of places when on my travels for budget and experience reasons and carefully base my choices on several elements such as unique locations, authentic interiors and incredible food. During my 12-Day Road Trip from Tangier to Marrakesh we stayed in 8 different hotels/guesthouses ranging from £23-£240 a night. Read on to find out my top 4 most memorable places to stay in Morocco.
The tranquil bubble of Berber Lodge feels like a world away from Mococco's busy Marrakesh. This walled garden oasis consists of 9 individually styled Berber lodges scattered across a private property which embody a slow way of living and an understated luxurious stay. The materials used to make each guest lodge have all been locally sourced such as hand-crafted terracotta tiles, unfinished timber beams and sandblasted walls. Each room has a different feel and layout but the warm-toned scheme is continuous throughout with bursts of colour incorporated using carpets and cushions.
Guests can enjoy their time lounging by the 20m pool under the mature olive trees which scatter the property or playing a board game in the communal lounge areas. To make your stay extra special there is a treatment room for massages or activities such as weaving and horse riding can be organised through the hotel.
Make sure to read my full Berber Lodge Review!
In the warm summer evenings the restaurant, predominantly for hotel guests only, spills out onto the garden and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. For all meals, there is a set menu consisting of traditional Moroccan and Mediterranean food with ingredients supplied from the garden or sourced locally from trusted farmers. Expect an intriguing selection of food including dishes such as baked couscous and feta stuffed peppers and tangy beetroot. Breakfast is predominantly continental with fresh fruits, yoghurt and eggs made to order. Delicious cocktails and french wines are available which can be delivered to you anywhere on the property.
Location: Berber Lodge, Douar Oumnes
Cost: From £150 Per Night
Restaurant: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Set Menu
Highlights: Romantic Boutique Experience, Beautiful Grounds, + Tasteful Interiors
In the ancient medina of Fez the guesthouse Dar Seffarine hides behind an unassuming oak door within the bustling copper district. The courtyard glows with a surprising amount of natural light highlighting the flowering vines that grow up the tall and narrow walls of the raid. You enter the building through the blue-tiled kitchen where the housekeeper prepares guest meals and where you will most likely find the property's eccentric owner.
The central courtyard of the building is made up of soaring columns that have been richly decorated with carved plasterwork. Dramatic four-meter-high doors which surround the space are made of cedar and painted with intricate geometric designs which lead into guest rooms. The floor is covered with a mix of traditional zellij mosaic, a handcrafted clay tile which is Morocco's most recognizable art form, and fragments of white marble. All other guestrooms are accessed by narrow steps which lead of this grand space and take you up to the rooftop.
Bedrooms are large, grand and all face towards the centre of the building. The furnishings are simple and refined using materials local to the town of Fez which allows the grandeur of the architecture to be fully appreciated. The atmosphere is extremely peaceful with no sound except the call to prayer penetrating through the building's thick walls.
Wine can be purchased within the Raid and enjoyed on the stunning balcony with uninterrupted views over the medina. Visually I preferred the media of Fez compared to Marrakesh because of the varying heights of the buildings and consistent use of traditional building methods. The property is only open to guests so the rooftop is consistently quiet with no overlooking buildings.
Dinner is prepared freshly each evening and on request so ingredients are sourced daily from the market. Expect lentil soups and traditional stuffed pastries followed by a light fruit-based dessert with an amuse-bouche between courses. Breakfast, which is incused in the room rate, is just as magnificent with platters of fresh fruits, honey, yoghurts and baked goods.
Location: Dar Seffarine, Fez
Cost: From £65 Per Night
Restaurant: Breakfast + Dinner Set Menu
Highlights: Boutique Experience, Rooftop, Delicious Food + Tasteful Traditional Interiors
Set deep within the lively streets of Marrakesh Raid Dar-K is a boutique hotel combining Moroccan craftsmanship with minimalist Scandinavian style. The riad is situated in one of the oldest neighbourhoods of the Medina and is composed of two beautifully furnished double rooms and three large suites. Guests can enjoy the sunlit central courtyard with its refreshing plunge pool or the private terrace which is the perfect place to soak up the sun and relax under the Berber tent while listening to the hypnotic call to prayer.
The Riad is plastered white throughout with black accents highlighting external joinery and reclaimed timber used to create guestroom furniture pieces such as bed frames and coffee tables. All areas have been accessorized with traditional textiles from the market to soften the space and dried pampas grass to add texture. The scheme is continuous throughout with every corner a potential photo opportunity.
Breakfast is served on long communal tables on the terrace and includes fresh fruits, yoghurt and Moroccan Msemen with honey. Of course, there is a generous serving of mint tea and orange juice but coffees can be made on request. Traditional Moroccan dinner and lunch are also available to guests but must be prearranged
Location: Marrakesh
Cost: From £90 Per Night
Restaurant: Breakfast, Lunch + Dinner Set Menu
Highlights: Boutique Experience, Plunge Pool + Tasteful Interiors
Undoubtedly one of Morocco's biggest highlights is a trip to the Sarah desert however with a 9-hour drive each way and plenty to see along the way it's best to break up the journey. The tiny town of Tinghir is most famously known for the start of the Todgha Gorge which is 9 miles long in total and located in the eastern Atlas Mountains. This particular section of the gorge is up to 300m tall and in some areas only 15m wide creating a unique and dramatic landscape sliced out of deep orange rock.
While the Gorge is impressive don't miss the small clay villages and magical ancient kasbahs passed along the way towards the town of Tinghir. Perched high above the swooping bend in the rocks facade sits the modest Riad Sephora. A welcoming and budget-friendly place to stay this riad offers basic rooms but has amazing views of the Troda river and gardens that sit nestled next to the water's edge.
There are few places to eat once darkness falls so dinner must be taken within the raid with a small menu of local dishes such as tagine or roasted vegetables with couscous. You can request for breakfast to be taken on the balcony which we did and is the best way to take in the views before embarking on the next leg of your journey. Expect basic rooms with genuine hospitality, home-cooked meals and vibrant traditional interiors.
Location: Riad Sephora, Tinghir
Cost: From £23 Per Night
Restaurant: Breakfast + Dinner Set Menu
Highlights: Peaceful Romate Location + Rooftop Views
Morocco offers a huge range of accommodations from super low-budget homestays to high-end resort hotels. My top 4 recommended stays made my time in morocco extra memorable with a focus on tasteful interiors and a tranquil welcoming environment.
You may also like Berber Lodge Hotel Review or The Perfect 12-Day Road Trip, Tangier to Marrakesh
Fancy a night at Number One Bruton? Book your stay now here! Or pin this for later…
