Riad Hayati — Hotel in Marrakesh Prefecture

I’m not even sure where to start. I’ve traveled to over 50 countries and hundreds of cities and Riad Hayati is in my top 5 best hotels list. Why? For starters it is in a great location, near the Bahia & Badi Palaces and the smaller souk of the Place des Ferblantiers, close to most everything, but tucked away on an extremely quiet side street. Then there’s the rooms & public areas: exquisitely, elegantly furnished without feeling stuffy or overdone. There are the lovely homemade breakfasts of Moroccan pancakes with jam, omelettes, mint tea and the FABULOUS dinners that Mina makes to order. Yes, all of those things make Riad Hayati a wonderful place to stay…but what makes it spectacular is that it feels as though you’re at a house party, not at a hotel. This is mostly because of Abdou…I could spend several paragraphs on how well he runs the place, but that would bore you. Suffice it to say that anything you need, any question you have, any scrape you get into (I had a Marrakech scrape during my stay) Abdou will be there for you. He is a marvel of organization and kindness. ||||Other random things: the air conditioning works really well, it smells good, the rugs all over the riad are works of art, it has a fabulous roof deck. There isn’t one thing I would change about Riad Hayati. Not one thing....

Our stay at Riad Hayati in Marrakesh was absolutely beautiful and exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we felt not like guests in a hotel, but as though we were returning home to family. The riad itself is beautifully maintained—impeccably clean, serene, and full of character, nestled in a very safe location just steps away from the city's main attractions.

What truly sets Riad Hayati apart, however, is the host, Abdel. Warm, attentive, and incredibly generous with his time and knowledge, he went above and beyond to make our stay perfect. In the mornings, the table was set to have petals of roses and upon returning from the long walks, fresh fruits were waiting for us every day...He personally taught us how to negotiate in the souks, pointed us to the best local restaurants, and was always there to welcome us back with fresh tea and a smile. It’s rare to experience this level of hospitality. At the departure, he personally escorted and waited with us the transportation taxi.

If you're looking for a place with heart, soul, and genuine care, this is it. I honestly don’t believe I could have made a better choice for our stay...

I had a look at some of the negative comments and it seems we stopped in an entirely different Riad.||The folks at Hayati couldn't do enough for us, organised a trip up the the Atlas for us and made restaurant bookings.||This place is tucked away in a back street (as they all are) a short stroll from the Bahia Palace and really central for the Medina, despite being so close it remains quiet and secluded.||The building itself is a typical, large traditional Marrakech home, built around a central patio(?) area and looking inwards rather than outwards.||Our room was on the ground floor and the quietness may cause some issues with privacy (honeymooning couples I suggest you get the top floor room).||We had dinner here one night and it was one of the best meals I've had in a hotel or guest house anywhere and the manager went out of his way to create a lovely environment.||||On the top floor there are a range of sun loungers etc and these remain quiet despite being so close to the Medina.||||||If you want Paris in the sun then go get a bland identikit hotel in...