Riad Merstane - Hemingway — Hotel in Marrakesh Prefecture

After being picked up at the airport, we were driven to the Medina edge. We were greeted by Raschid. He escorted us down the series of narrow alleys before we arrived at the unassuming front door of Riad Merstane. After briefly experiencing the noise of Marrakesh, it was instantly evident how quiet the Riad was.||||He showed us to our room and followed us up with baggage in tow. The room was pleasant. My only grievances are the comfort (or lack of) provided by the mattress and a clear issue with ants. The mattress was incredibly firm and took getting used to. After the first night, we both woke with sore backs. By our last night however, it had become manageable. The issue with the ants was worst in the bathroom. They seemed to have a few crevices throughout the room. They were even climbing the walls to reach a gap in the ceiling. Despite this, we were impressed with the quality of the shower and really appreciated the presence of the daily cleaner. We loved returning to a freshly made bed.||||We decided to breakfast out of the Riad each day, but said we would experience the 'House Tagine' one night. They paid close attention to my dietary requirements, with Raschid remembering my vegan ways! The Moroccan Salad and bread were excellent and the best we had during our stint in the Medina. However the Tagine was average. It was doused in oil, with little in the way of flavour through spice. It didn't appear to be have been seasoned very significantly, and as it cooled the oil made it unpleasant. ||||This didn't mar our stay. On the contrary, we would return again in an instant. We enjoyed the tranquillity after spending countless hours of the day in the vibrancy of Marrakesh. The terrace area has some excellent vistas of the Atlas Mountains, and the benches are incredibly comfortable. They were ideal for picnics and Scrabble matches!||||Thanks Raschid for your wonderful hospitality! He's a knowledgeable host that exudes...

We found Riad Merstane on AirBnB, and looking for a traditional Moroccan experience, this is exactly what we got.||Firstly, the highlight of our stay - the hotel manager. Rachid was an incredibly friendly host; nothing was too much trouble. He arranged our taxi to / from the Riad and was waiting for us on arrival to take our bags. He also handed us a hand drawn map of the Medina on arrival and gave us lots of important tips about the local culture/things to do in Marrakech.||The Riad itself is very traditional, with large wooden doors that open up to a long bedroom with traditional Moroccan artwork on the walls. The Riad was clean and the staff changed our towels/toiletries every morning. ||Riad Merstane is located at the heart of the Medina - in what felt like a traditional Moroccan neighbourhood. As soon as you leave the Medina you are into fast paced backstreets and market stalls, so bear this in mind before you book. The Riad is located around 20 minutes walk from Jemaa al-Fnaa square.||Riad Merstane also has a roof terrace with places to sit and sun loungers, which was a nice addition. We were also told that you could eat dinner on the roof terrace but we never did this. ||We did eat breakfast at the Riad most days. We sat down at one of the tables in the courtyard and before we knew it we were served with a large continental spread. A very good breakfast with the pancakes / omelette being a particular highlight. Breakfast was €5 a day and paid for at the end of our stay. ||We had a brilliant stay at Riad Merstane and really felt like we experienced true Moroccan culture. I would recommend...

As a first time visitor to Marrakech, we booked our 8 days stay at Riad Merstane based on reviews, pictures, and a gut feeling. We made the right choice! Benjamin was our initial contact before arriving in Marrakech. He arranged our transportation from the airport to the hotel without any problem. As the old saying goes "never judge a book by its cover" All our initial apprehension melted away once the manager, Rachid escorted us into the villa. ||||Over 8 days, we came to know Rachid, Rachidat, and Mania as first-class staff. They attended to all our needs without hesitation. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner was always on time and delicious. They gave our family a cooking lesson which we have put to use upon our return. We rented the entire Riad of 5 rooms which easily accommodate our 8 family members. ||||Rachid provided details to the square, restaurants, hamam and other areas of note. He personally negotiated the best rate for our day trip to the Atlas Mountain, which was simply memorable. Based on our experience, we plan to visit Marrakech again in the near future. ||||Thank you, Rachid and the entire staff at Riad Merstane. I hope our paths cross again.||||Regards - Adekunle and...