Appealing authenticity and a contemporary flair collide in this former-fortune teller’s abode, Zamzam Riad & Spa

The Zamzam Riad Boutique Hotel poses the ultimate snapshot into this Moroccan utopia. Lain in the vibrant heart of vivacious Marrakech, towards the northern stretch of the Medina, the hotel poses a reprieve from the city buzz. This traditional riad offers visitors a chance to marvel at the modern-day luxury and teeming traditional charm, with both opposing features fringing throughout.

From the marble bathrooms and Moroccan antiques to the handwoven carpets and ethnic art pieces, each individual space has been idiosyncratically curated to appease all the senses. Get pampered in the hammam, refresh yourself in the plunge pool, or indulge your taste buds in the array of palatable plates and traditional Moroccan cuisine.

Dotted with divine details and intricately intimate spaces, the experience in this boutique hotel is further ameliorated by the panoply of features. Enjoy a novel under the palm-shaded courtyard, or peruse the undulating mountain tops from the terrace during the heat of the summer. And in the cooler months, get cuddled up by the fireplace and bask in the beauty of the star-filled sky. The Zamzam Riad offers the ultimate snapshot into local living, elevated on a lavish level.

4.2
Based on 40 reviews
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Talia Hava
10:25 31 Oct 24
We had an excellent stay, the staff were extremely friendly. We had dinner one evening at the Riad, the meal was very good as was the value for money of this establishment.The room was still tidy when we returned.The family and soothing atmosphere of the Riad truly immerses us in Moroccan culture.The staff always showed us very well where to take taxis, which facilitated access to the center of Marrakech.I recommend asking in advance how to access the Riad by calling reception to avoid any problems with poor orientation.Thanks for everything!
Serafina
19:03 30 Oct 24
We booked this boutique spa hotel for my 60th birthday but it was so bad we flew home a week early...the Riad was very run down and dirty and not like that photos that are used to advertise it. The plunge pool was filthy and so was the spa area, we were not offered any treatments massage, facials etc nor we offered any drinks of food in the evening. The roof terrace sun loungers are absolutely disgusting I wouldn't ask a dog to lay on them.The area is residential and you have to walk past groups of men all telling you that you are going the wrong way so that they can get money from you it is very daunting. The Riad is hard to find down and alley littered with cat faeces......All in all this was a major disappointment and I have complained to love holidays for wasting our hard earned cash. My husband has put a review on and the owners replied and have accused him of not being a tourist and working for competition this is not the case. AVOID THIS RIAD
Bohemian Life
17:22 29 Oct 24
THE RIAD IS HAS FADED TO A 1 STAR ESTABLISHMENT YET STILL PROMOTED AS A 4 STAR USING OLD IMAGES AND VIDEOS IN PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL.On arrival at the airport, despite contacting the ‘manager’ , Mohammed and getting further confirmation of taxi we booked weeks before flying, and being told a driver would be stood at the exit with our name on a board, we were left waiting in 36 degree heat for 20 minutes and had to telephone the riad and Mohammed several times before the taxi finally arrived, charging 20 Euros. The taxi dropped us off but not near the riad as there is no vehicle access within 1,000 metres! We had to walk down narrow poorly lit alleyways to the riad which has no signage at all.Now, here are a few of the issues we encountered during our stay at this place.Guests are not allowed keys to the front door so every time you return to the riad you have to ring the bell and wait to let in.....we were lucky as the longest we had to wait for someone to open the door was 10 minutes. Some other guests have been left standing outside for much longer. See other reviews.Staff park their motorbikes INSIDE the riad, in the entrance passageway where you have to walk past. This is an obvious FIRE RISK as this is the ONLY exit.The stairs are so poorly lit that during darkness that they can be quite treacherous......very steep and narrow.Most of the staff are actually very pleasant as are the majority of Moroccan people.....however, on one occasion two staff were heard arguing and shouting at each other for over 20 minutes..... TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.The staff also use the bedrooms to shower and take naps.On the 2nd morning of our stay, I opened the shutters to find find a person sleeping on the sofa outside our room. We never found out why or who this person was.Many of the lights in the room were not working and some with no bulbs at all....making it difficult to see.Room was not cleaned or serviced for several days.When we mentioned this, we were told that staff cannot access rooms if you lock them when you go out? Ridiculous. I would never leave a room unlocked with money and belongings left in the room. There is a lightweight ‘safe’ without any instructions on how to use and as it just sat on a shelf and not fastened down, it is of little use.Toilet (although new) was not correctly fixed to the floor and moved every time you sat down.Sink tap was very loose making it difficult to use.Sink repaired badly with silicone. (see pics)BLACK MOULD in both the sink and shower.Shower head was loose. Floors and walls dirty and a foul smell from the drain.Air con unit is in a overhead cupboard but the door wouldn’t stay open restricting the air flow.Every electrical socket in our room was loose and moved when plugging in a charger.The floors in the breakfast dining area are also very dirty. The table we sat at one morning still had cigarette ash still left on the floor from a guest who used the table the day before..... YES THEY ALLOW SMOKING IN THE DINING AREA (BREAKFAST AREA) despite Moroccan law banning smoking in restaurants. If you are a non smoker it is impossible to get away from the smoke!Roof terrace sun bed mattresses absolutely filthy and badly stained. (see pics). The spa room is dirty and in poor repair.The furniture on the terrace is damaged with stained cushions and nothing like the promo photos.Plunge pool dirty and nothing like the photos......not one guest used this during our stay.No breakfast served on terrace despite the website stating this was possible.No signage on streets or at the alleyway outside to tell you where the riad actually is...... someone has spray painted a letter Z on the wall..... it’s ridiculous.Curtains (shown in photos) along the terrace are missing so there is no shade on the balcony to sit.As you can see from the 'owner's' response, they are in total denial!We paid a lot of money to stay in this terrible place and our photos are GENUINE and it ruined our holiday.THIS PLACE IS A DISGRACE, FILTHY AND NOT AS ADVERTISED.....AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
Geru Kevin
09:02 17 Oct 24
Very good one-week stay in this riad in the heart of the Medina.I recommend the “Rose Gold” room with its magnificent bathtub!
Rachael egan
13:26 27 Apr 24
I stayed 4 nights in this riad which is absolutely beautiful. The staff were incredible, couldn't thank them enough. They shown me round the local area which was such a unique experience.If you can, ask to join a cooking class. Learnt lots and food was delicious.Only thing I'd say is the location is slightly out and in a very local area. At nighttime cars cannot drive down the small roads so it's a bit creepy as a women on her own. However, the taxi will walk you if you ask.
Oluwatobi Ajala
13:06 28 Mar 24
Terrible riad, terrible location.Look, you can take this as another fussy customers review or you can take it in good faith and save your coins and experience.First of all location is terrible and signage is non existent. It almost feels like its done on purpose because locals use the opportunity to bamboozle you, take you on a round about journey and demand for payment aggresively when they eventually 'find' the place. Its different if youre on your own or with your friends (im talking about men here) but if you are with the Mrs and family its scary for them so youre forced to pay.Food is basic. Taxis cant get there so you have to walk past aforementioned locals to get to medina gate.Staff clearly dont care about the place anymore. Like i said its rundown now. Get yourself a place in new town and avoid the old town/medina like a plague. Again up to you to take my word in good faith or see for yourself. Im sure those locals will welcome you with open arms but make sure to have those coins ready to pay!
The Chiltern Turbo
15:52 05 Mar 24
A very basic Riad. The people and food were lovely, however, the location is at best awful and and worst dangerous. The riad is a good 20 minute brisk walk from the city centre and is very difficult to find in the maze of the narrow streets. Lots of young men loitering around sending you in the wrong direction and then demanding money to show you the way. After being surrounded by 5 men asking for money I checked out the riad and went to a hotel by the airport ending my stay 2 nights early. Avoid.
India Munday
01:29 05 Mar 24
Lovely stay, we were very well looked after by Nordin and the rest of the staff. Food was great and staff were happy to help. Beautiful building and rooms too. Location was a bit far away from most main attractions but equally nice to be away from the busy areas of Marrakesh, once we settled in and knew our bearings it was fine. Thank you all at Riad Zamzam 🫶
rayan marrakech luxury
16:11 25 Feb 24
Oh my. What a wonderful Riad this is.From the minute we were collected from the airport to being dropped off we were treated like royalty.We can not thank everyone at zamzam enough, especially the lovely Mohamed. Nothing was too much trouble, even having to take our breakfast to the rooftop each morning.Thank you all.
Imran Tai
12:03 08 Nov 23
What an amazing place! Nice little set up with traditional rooms and all the facilities you could need.Staff are so friendly and can’t do enough for you. They are genuinely grateful for you been there.Only criticism I would say is the location as it’s at the far end of the Madina it’s a 15/20 min walk to the markets and shops. And 10 min walk to get a taxi which at the beginning was ok but got tiring towards the end of the Holiday.Would defo go back but take better shoes and would defo recommend.9.9 out of 10!
Sarah Zaubi
17:01 19 Apr 23
A truly exceptional experience from start to finish. We loved the location as it is still walking distance to the souks and points of interest, but in a slightly more quiet part of the medina. What really stood out was the attention and service provided by the incredible staff. We really felt like we were staying with family, and everyone went out of there way to make sure we were cared for. We cannot wait to visit again!
Chloé Heller
17:40 17 Feb 23
Amazing traditional experience. It’s a lovely and very helpful team, the rooms are beautiful, the decor super charming, and the breakfast abundant and delicious! You will feel at home at Zamzam - It’s truly an oasis of calm and beauty. ❤️
Kieran O'Brien
21:55 23 Jan 23
This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, the staff are incredible and helped with as much as they could. First day was a bit nerve-racking but the staff helped me and my partner feel more comfortable with the area by providing many trips and a tour of the city which is definitely recommended. Not only are the staff incredibly, the rooms are beautiful and the food is great! The location of the riad is perfect because you don’t get the noise from the centre and not as much air pollution. 11/10 will definitely be back in the future!
My family stayed here for 3 nights and we had 2 rooms. The riad is about 20mins walk to jemaa el fna & city center. The area where it’s located in the medina was a bit more sketchy & dirty, which startled us the first night. A local told us we’d were staying in the more residential part of the Medina. Also, the signage to the riad is very poor so would recommend fixing that.However, the riad itself is nice! The best part for my family though is the staff. Zacharia helped us so much (luggage, taxi, rooftop tea,etc)! He truly made the stay at the riad phenomenal. Layla & Suid were also very hospitable 🙂
Eliza Demasi
09:28 05 Oct 22
We loved our stay here. Our room was divine, with beautiful furniture and decor in a luxurious style. The staff were brilliant; friendly, helpful and really knowledgeable about what to see and do. They organised transfers and made the stay so much better. I loved that we were staying in an authentic part of the Medina, so it was quiet and felt less touristy. Our guide greeted locals in the streets and made sure we knew the way home, making me feel really safe and confident in navigating the twists and turns of the streets.I would so highly recommend this for travelers who want to escape from the tourist traps and enjoy a gorgeous corner of serenity in the Medina.Thank you Riad Zamzam!
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Guesthouse
7 Rooms
  • Taking a dip in the steam bath after a relaxing massage in the hammam
  • Relishing in the combination of locally-grown ingredients over lunch in the courtyard
  • Peering out over the Atlas Mountains from the comfort of the shaded sun loungers
  • Basking in the serenity and star-gazing from the rooftop terrace at night
  • Conversating over a colourful cocktail in the Moroccan sitting room

Rooms Overview

Dashed with intimate details and luxurious finishes, traditional Zamzam Riad offers high-end boutique hotel suites that seamlessly tie it all together. From the Egyptian bed linen and antique carpets to the sumptuous sofas and array of artisan touches, every last inch of this Moroccan edifice is a hotel connoisseur's haven.

Berber Suite

3 guests One-bedroom suite View into the patio

Replete with coloured tilework, luxurious bedding, curtain-draped windows, pistachio-painted, curved walls, and a lavish seating area, this suite serves as a respite from the bustling city life. Peer out the grandiose windows and bask in the cool shade provided by the courtyard’s palm tree.

Harem Suite

2 guests One-bedroom suite

Cosy finishes fringed by warm tones make this suite all the more special. This intimate environment features velvet curtains, a hand-woven Berber tribal rug, a traditional Moroccan lantern, and a seating area that is sure to spark all the romance.

Palm Suite

2 guests Balcony One-bedroom suite View into the courtyard

Etched with golden decorative details, rich red features and black undertones, this space is dramatic, dynamic and sumptuously romantic. From the marble bathroom, traditional lanterns and the wooden balcony, guests can expect nothing short of sheer paradise.

Rose Suite

4 guests One-bedroom suite View into the courtyard

Luminous lighting interplays with the wealth of white and beige tones, offering an airy, light ambience. Peruse the interplay of the courtyard’s light from the grandiose windows, get refreshed under the rain shower, or share a traditional Moroccan tea in the seating area.

Hagar Suite

2 guests One-bedroom suite

Get immersed in the eclectic fusion of French, African and Moroccan features in this suite. From the unique lanterns and delicate antiques to the marble bathroom and traditional, Moroccan vaulted ceiling, soak up all the sights and serenity.

Isaac Suite

2 guests Connecting rooms option One-bedroom suite

Rose-tinted, velvet curtains, apricot tones and golden details meld together to create an airy ambience that can’t be matched. From the lush furnishing and ornate chairs to the Berber carpet and walk-in marble bathroom, elegance reigns throughout.

Ismail Suite

2 guests Connecting rooms option One-bedroom suite

For a dive into the traditional realms of Moroccan life, this suite is your best bet. Dashed with luxe furnishing, velvet drapery, a marble bathroom, and an awe-worthy Moroccan vaulted ceiling, this suite oozes charm and luxury.

Services and facilities

City-center
Heritage
Spa
UNESCO Site
Winter sun
Air conditioning
Bar
Concierge
Dining on demand
Family rooms
Hammam
Laundry Service
Non smoking rooms
Parking
Pool
Restaurant
Spa
Terrace
Wellness services
Wi-Fi
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Taste the flavors

Delectable dining experiences

Honing in on seasonal, traditional Moroccan meals, the Zamzam Riad Boutique Hotel offers a dining experience sure to captivate all your senses. The ingredients are sourced from their very own vegetable garden, olive groves and citrus groves that lie in the outskirts of Marrakech. Satisfy your taste buds knowing that each palatable plate is rich in organic, locally-sourced ingredients that support sustainability. Enjoy a Moroccan-style lunch in the comfort of the courtyard, or bask in the snow-capped mountain vistas over dinner on the rooftop terrace. Every day at 4 pm in the courtyard, guests are invited to bask in the flavours of homemade pastries and traditional Moroccan tea.

Start the day with a divine breakfast

The Zamzam Riad Boutique Hotel is home to an enticing breakfast spread that’s sure to fill you up. Enjoy the organic jam spread over crunchy bread, devour a Moroccan pastry, or keep it simple with some yoghurt and locally-grown fruit. For something a little different, try out a traditional egg tagine, a Bissara soup or a Berber porridge.

About sustainability

Figs

Like the fig tree roots, the property is constantly addressing many sustainable tourism areas and excelling in most fields.

  • The building features a traditional design and structure that supports sustainability.
  • The Zamzam Riad has a vegetable garden, as well as various citrus and olive groves just outside the city. The team works tirelessly to cultivate organic produce from their own garden, or from other local markets, which helps support the local community.
  • The boutique hotel works with the surrounding community to provide itineraries and experiences within Marrakech. From the Sahara Desert tours and Mount Toubkal hike to the yoga retreats and exhilarating day trips, there is something for everybody.
  • All toiletries are locally-made and organic, therefore helping the local businesses to thrive and to nourish your body properly.

Explore the location

Sitting on the northern side of the Marrakech Medina, the boutique hotel offers prime opportunities all-round. Discover the nearby Marrakech Plaza, head into the Majorelle Gardens, or check out the Souk of the Medina. Hop on a bike for a different perspective, embark on a camel ride in the palm grove, or get comfy on a horse and carriage through the city. Discover 8 must-do experiences in Marrakech.

Explore the location like a local!

Located close to the airport, the Zamzam Riad additionally offers an airport shuttle to help make things easier on your trip. The staff can help you with public transport, as well as organising car hire.

Book a trusted local driver for your transfer to and from the hotel, and introduce you to the destination, pre-order travel essentials, and get all your questions answered before or during the trip. Choose the stops, visit the attractions, and don't waste any time waiting. We‘ve partnered with Welcome Pickups, the first company to deliver a holistic, in-destination travel experience.

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