Riad El Zohar — Hotel in Marrakesh Prefecture

Pros:

Staying at Riad El Zohar offers a unique and authentic Moroccan experience. The male staff members and the owner are incredibly welcoming and friendly, always willing to assist with anything—from tips on negotiating prices at the market to helping with small purchases. Their hospitality is one of the highlights of the stay. The riad itself is stunning, with a design that truly reflects traditional Moroccan architecture and decor. For those who appreciate authenticity and charm, this is a great choice.

Cons:

Unfortunately, the welcome at Riad El Zohar left much to be desired. I’m used to being greeted with tea, some small treats, and a warm chat upon arrival at Moroccan riads. Here, it was straight to business—no tea, no small welcome gestures, and not even a proper tour of the property. This initial impression dampened the start of my stay.

The female staff members also fell short in terms of service. I often felt like my presence was a nuisance to them, as if I was in the way or disturbing their routine. It seemed as though they’d forgotten they’re working in hospitality, which detracted from the overall experience.

While the riad’s authentic design is undeniably beautiful, it comes with practical drawbacks. The doors and windows are very thin, so noise travels easily. You’ll likely hear everything happening outside your room, and I imagine it’s the same the other way around. Privacy can feel compromised. Additionally, the rooms cannot be locked, although I did feel safe and didn’t worry about my belongings.

The riad’s location is another challenge. It’s situated deep inside a cul-de-sac, and almost every time I went in or out, I encountered local kids trying to scam me by saying the road was closed and insisting I follow them. While it’s easy to ignore them, this interaction does create a sense of unease. The surrounding neighborhood doesn’t feel entirely safe, particularly for those unfamiliar with Marrakesh.

Breakfast was a big letdown. Unless you have a sweet tooth, the offerings of cakes, crepes, jam, and drinks will disappoint. Unlike other riads I’ve visited, this one didn’t provide any cheese, bread, or eggs, which I’ve come to expect as standard.

Lastly, while the riad advertises a pool, it’s more decorative than functional. It’s clean and well-maintained, but the layout and placement make it impractical for swimming or relaxation.

Overall:

Riad El Zohar is best suited for travelers seeking a deeply authentic Moroccan experience and who are comfortable with a rustic, old-fashioned environment. It’s ideal for those who don’t mind noise, are familiar with Marrakesh, and prefer adventure over comfort. For first-time visitors or those looking for a more welcoming and accommodating experience, this might not be the...

I wish I were back in Marrakesh, and our home away from home Riad El Zohar, right now. The sights, the sounds, the hustle and bustle of the centuries old city make it a fantastic and exotic location.

From the beginning everything was fantastic. Once through customs at the airport, Allan had organized a hotel transfer and our driver was waiting for us upon arrival, making it delightfully effortless.

We were then dropped off with our porter at the entrance of the Medina. All our luggage was loaded up and off we went into the Medina to get to El Zohar. Such a fantastic experience to immediately be immersed in the unique Medina atmosphere.

Upon entrance to Riad El Zohar we were given a wonderful welcome filled with lots of smiles, kind chit chat and history of Marrakesh and delicious mint tea by Allan and Morat. We unloaded in our rooms that were locally decorated and lovely, even with little rose petals on each of the towels. The bedrooms are very comfortable and unique to each other. Riad El Zohar is very very quiet and tucked away from the hustle and bustle outside the door providing a wonderful and tranquil escape.

A huge highlight for our crew was the fabulous home cooked meal at the Riad by Allans team followed by games and a wonderful wood burning fire in the second floor parlor. Spectacular! Khadija, Nadia, and Bahija (and Morat and Erradi) did an incredible job and it beat any restaurant we had visited (even dinner at La Mamounia!) while in Morocco. They made the stay so so lovely!

Another huge highlight was the delicious home made daily breakfast on the roof top deck. From there you see the Atlas Mountains in the distance saturated in their soft pink, blue and white hazy hues, which is a perfect backdrop to the muted clay colors of the Marrakech’s cityscape. You feel as though you have been transported back in time. No better way to get your day started than soaking in all the sounds of the traditional call to prayer during certain times, while nibbling on wonderful homemade treats.

We took advantage of all the Medina & Marrakech had to offer. Museums, restaurants, the local cultures, walking the souks for shopping, and all the areas throughout the Medina and surrounding areas. Highly suggest you get all the tips from Allan on what and how to do it to get around like a local. Allan and his team will be your best asset, especially if it’s your first visit to Marrakesh.

I already can’t wait to go back. Many thanks to Allan, Malika and their superb and...

We booked Riad El Zohar based on glowing Trip Advisor reviews and are so glad we did, as we got so much more than a place to sleep and keep our stuff, I don't even know where to begin to sing its praises. The overall experience the owners, Allan & Malika, and their exceptional staff offered us during our too short stay at their gorgeous riad was almost indescribably perfect. From the time we booked the room to the minute we sadly said goodbye, we felt welcomed and at home at the Zohar. Upon arrival, mint tea and cookies were spectacularly presented by Morad in front of the pool, and we were kindly welcomed to our magical home base. We couldn’t have chosen a more perfect and centrally-located location to stay, and the riad itself is a multi-level wonderland, with beautiful surprises at every turn. Have a mint tea and relax with your feet cooling in the pool, find a cozy couch in the library to read and recharge for a while or enjoy a bottle of delightful Moroccan rose a la terrace. After dropping bags in our room, we were so glad we scheduled our first night’s dinner in, and having it on the rooftop terrace was as beautiful as it was delicious. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the riad chefs, staff and meals, and even though we enjoyed dinner out at a great place Allan recommended, nothing beat the home cooking at the Zohar. The entire team are so talented and kind we had to learn the Arabic expression “shway” for “a little” because they fed us so generously. We highly recommend the authentic Moroccan dinners at the riad, you won’t be disappointed. Allan is a literal ROCKSTAR in the Medina, and you'll be well informed and feeling good about it once you get the lay of the land from him. He and Malika helped with dinner reservations, scheduled a fantastic driver (Adil) to take us on an adventure to the Atlas Mountains for the day, and arranged our airport pick-ups and strong baggage porter (Abdul) to guide us into the Medina and right to our doorstep. Allan also advised on the best sights to see, spots to exchange currency, prices to pay for taxis and how to navigate and delicately negotiate in the souks. His guidance was invaluable and appreciated beyond measure, and we’re already checking the calendar for dates to return next year. Thanks to Allan, Malika, and everyone at Riad El Zohar, we wouldn’t even consider staying...