We stayed at the Riad Zara for five nights. Shi Jia, our wonderful host, has just taken over the business and looked after us as though we were family. We enjoyed the tranquility of Riad Zara away from the main and busy sights of the Marrakech Medina (About a twenty five minute walk) but close to the gate for transport to sights outside the Medina. Bus #9 to Jardine Marjorelle was 4 Dirham. Our room, #4 was on the first floor. It was spacious, comfortable, tastefully decorated and very clean. It had lots of options for mood lighting. The huge bath and shower was a treat. The room had its own hot water system so there was plenty of easily regulated hot water. A delight. It was a typical Moroccan continental breakfast - breads, interesting jams beautifully presented with slight variations each day in the Riad courtyard. We had dinner at the Riad one evening. Shi Jia asked us what we’d enjoy. We had an octopus tajine, an avocado and mango salad and pumpkin soup - seasonal produce, well presented and delicious.

We would have loved a reading lamp but this is not something we’ve seen in over 40 days in Morocco.

Riad Zara is absolutely fantastic!! We could not recommend staying here more highly. We had such a lovely time and wish we could have stayed longer. Hopefully we will be back again! First things first. Our host and owner of the Riad Shijia could not have been a more welcoming and gracious host. This was our first time staying in Marrakech and from the moment we arrived we were made to feel completely at home at ease. We arrived late, hungry and in need of some kindness and Shijia made us delicious food (briwats) and accommodated our every request and made us feel so very welcome throughout our stay. The Riad itself beautiful. A traditionally decorated Riad in the district of Aylen, the Riad and our room were wonderfully decorated and cosy. It was our sanctuary away from the bustling medina and souks of Marrakech for us to relax. There are plenty of seating areas in the Riad to just relax or read a book. Or you can sunbathe on the rooftop terrace if you prefer! The breakfast was terrific too, traditional messemen, amlou and Moroccan tea were served in the courtyard which started our days very nicely indeed! Our trip to Marrakech was a delight from start to finish. We started in Riad Zara and are so glad we did. Thank you!

Nothing!

Gorgeous riad, very nice staff, Shijia was a very friendly host. We loved sitting on the peaceful roof terrace in the evening. Really enjoyed the breakfast. Rooms don’t lock but it felt very safe as Shijia or other staff are always around and the front door to the riad locks. We left our bags there on the last day and there were no problems at all. We paid for the shuttle to and from the airport which was hassle free and got us there in good time. The cost of the shuttle included early check in at the riad. It was easy to communicate with Shijia via whatsapp and email.

Slight misunderstanding about vegetarian diet at dinner but it was rectified very quickly and I enjoyed the alternative which was freshly prepared.

extremely friendly and helpful owner/manager. The riad was beautiful inside. The room was as comfortable as I expected. Food was excellent.

I would have liked to have been able to pay my bill with a credit card. The owner requires cash which was a bit of a pain in the neck because I needed to find an ATM (not the easiest thing to do in Marakesh) and get as close as possible to the correct amount because you can't take the money out of the country. If her reason is to avoid paying the credit card processing fee, I would have been happy to include that cost in my overall bill.

The Riad is incredibly beautiful, little birds chirping from the trees in the courtyard and ornate details everywhere. I especially loved the beautifully painted doors, the old tiles throughout and the stained glass in the windows. It was full of beauty. Our hostess Monique is warm and funny, full of helpful tips and a great cook. She is an interesting woman who has lived there for 20 years, I wish her well in her return to France but am sad I won't get to return to Riad Zara as it is now. Thank you Monique for adding so much to our holiday. The neighbourhood is fascinating, not touristy at all, full of local people going about their day on the busy noisy street full of cats and mopeds. I found the bustle and noise invigorating and it was such a contrast to the lovely calm of the Riad. I loved my time here,very special place.

All was perfect

Riad Zara definitely stands out with its original Moroccan decor and attention to detail. Beautiful interiors are complemented by small works of art. If you are looking for a Moroccan experience, then Riad Zara is for you. The owner is a very friendly person who cares about her guests. In 15 minutes you can walk to Jemaa el Fna, walking through narrow streets lined with local workshops.

The Riad's vicinity itself can be a bit demanding for unexperienced travelers ;)

Fantastic location. Good communication throughout with Airport transfer. Really nice place, comfortable and in the Medina but quiet and safe location. Even though Monique was unable to receive us, Jamila was very welcoming and was an excellent host and even booked us and escorted us to the taxi on departure.

A few hidden charges (like late check in fee, airport transfer) which weren't disclosed beforehand. Extra cost for gluten free breakfast but rice cakes where the only GF option. The regular breakfast was very good though.

We absolutely LOVED our stay here. Riad Zara is so charming, comfortable, and clean--a peaceful oasis in the Medina. The STAFF is so kind, helpful, and accommodating. Breakfast was always delicious (our only regret was missing dinners.) You are a bit of a walk away from the center square, but you learn the way pretty quickly, and we loved being able to observe and interact with the locals on our walks. You are also very close to a main door to the Medina which makes drop offs and pick ups very easy if you're doing activities or traveling by taxi. Thank you to all the wonderful staff at Riad Zara: you made our time so special <3

The riad looks amazing. The decorations and furniture are tasteful, and showcase Moroccan charm. The inner courtyard (the central part of the riad) is serene and tranquil, with birds chirping away in the shades of the trees above a small pond. All this gives you a splendid place to return to and recharge after a day of exploring the Medina, which is easy to do as the main square is a 15 minute walk away (sometimes more due to the throng of people slowly moving through the streets). It's also easy to access the perimeter wall gates to catch a taxi or a bus to the new part of the city. The rooms look onto the courtyard, which is a staple of the riad, but should be something to consider as you may find yourself shutting your windows to block the chatter from the shared sitting area, which can hinder ventilation and make the room air feel a bit stale. The rooms themselves are cleaned and tidied up every day. They also do not come with a locking mechanism by default (you can ask the hosts for a padlock, which we didn't do as we weren't leaving a lot of valuables in the room - none of our things were touched except to tidy). Monique and Coco were our hosts, and they supported us with great advice and recommendations about what to do and see. As they are both European (but have been living abroad for a long time), they can help explain and navigate the local culture. They are very pleasant, and our talks with them will remain one of the hallmarks of our trip. When it comes to food and drink, the riad serves breakfast and dinner - we did not try the dinner, but we opted for having the breakfast during the whole of our stay. The breakfast is nicely balanced - some fresh juice, yogurt, butter, cheese, a selection of sweet spreads and preserves, bread and/or pastries, and some fresh fruit. You can also choose between local tea and coffee.

The breakfast is very nice, but it is mostly sweet (as it is in most places around Marrakech from what we've seen). There are savory options, like eggs, but they cannot be bought on their own, and are charged as extras (a plain omelette is 3 EUR for instance). This can be problematic if you have a diabetic condition, insulin resistance, or just don't like a sweet breakfast. While I am aware of the extra prep work, I feel that offering a mostly savory alternative would make it even better and more accessible to all guests. It would also be great if the option for breakfast could be booked directly via Booking (this was not available in our case) - just as a convenience to not have to pay the breakfast tally at the end of the stay.

Wonderful and peaceful Riad secluded in the Medina. Close enough that the souks/square/palaces are all walkable, but far enough out that there isn't too much foot traffic/noise in the evenings. Monique was an amazing host that took interest in what we were doing and provided advice and local knowledge, along with organising excursions for us. 100% would recommend!