“The city taught me color,” said Yves Saint Laurent. “Before Marrakech everything was black.”
It’s a sentiment that doesn’t just apply to the bustling streets of Marrakech, but also to the city’s ornate riads. Originating from Middle Eastern architecture, Morocco’s riads are typically defined as traditional houses built around an interior garden or courtyard. Over the years, many have been transformed into guest house stays, with private rooms and wonderfully serene shared common areas—often with picture-perfect courtyard swimming pools or roof terrace gardens. Some new-wave riads have even begun to combine Western boutique hotel trends with whimsical Moroccan architecture and traditions, cementing themselves on our list of the best hotels in Marrakech. Riad stays are in such high demand that Airbnb recently added them to their search categories, making it even easier to discover these often hidden gems.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
