It’s been a while since I wanted to visit Marrakech. I found the best timing this summer, for a one-week stay with family, but I still had to choose the best accommodation: a luxury resort or a private riad? We finally selected a luxury and exclusive riad in the medina, Dar Shariq. And we did well!
Marrakech is an interesting and surprising city. It’s composed of modern surroundings, built like western cities and an antique heart, the medina, where most of interest points are localized.
View from the terrace on 3rd floor
Our luxury riad Dar Shariq is based in that part of the city, at the end of a huge maze that can be confusing at first. Fortunately, this location is pretty convenient to visit main attractions such as Majorelle Gardens, YSL Museum or Koutoubia Mosque – as long as you like walking and have a GPS.
Patio – View from 2nd floor
Now let me describe the riad itself and why it was a good choice against a usual luxury resort. I have to precise that this riad is an exclusive rental, meaning that whatever you are 2 or 10 guests, the entire place is for you only.
Design & Facilities
Is there something more typical than a riad to stay in Marrakech? No, definitely no. Dar Shariq is an ancient riad totally renovated with a large patio, a plunge pool, five rooms with their own bathroom on and two terraces. An entire house just for us!
Corridor on 1st floor
I really liked the decoration, made of local Arabian pieces – wooden doors, pottery, furnitures – as well as the overall layout. It was a complete immersion in the city, with all modern standards of course.
Terrace on 3rd floor
Terraces were very pleasant during mornings and evenings, whatever the lower one with its pergola or the upper one with its collection of sun loungers. I told you, this riad is per-fect!
Accommodation
We had plenty of choice for our room: the one at ground floor near the patio, one of the three on 1st floor or the suite on 2nd floor? Well, we went for the suite because of its large bathroom and view over the courtyard.
Our suite on 2nd floor
In all rooms, decoration was also authentic and harmonious, cozy, in adequacy with the rest of the riad. It’s clear that it has been designed by someone with taste! Should I mention that bathrooms were all made of tadelakt, this local material so astonishing?
Our suite’s entrance
They all offered a complete privacy and honestly we didn’t hear a noise from the city or neighborhood – apart from the Islamic call to prayer and a nearby rooster.
Dining
Although Dar Shariq proposed an in-riad dining menu, we only experienced breakfast there. Rakia adapted it to our needs, like cooking omelets or toasting breads upon request. It was a light continental breakfast for sure, but very good and more than enough for the hot summer days we had.
Breakfast
For lunch and dinner, most of time we went to Place Jemaa El Fna – a 20-minute walk – where plenty of nice restaurants were available. I especially recommend Zeitoun Café that serves delicious couscous, tajines and ice-cream!
Level of exigency
Dar Shariq’s staff is composed of three people who are acting in a discreet way for breakfast, daily cleanup, maintenance and management. Rakia, Omar and Aida aren’t luxury professionals but during our stay they were prompt to help us in any kind and always very proactive. So don’t expect a Four Seasons service obviously, but more a family-like assistance.
Conclusion
The riad itself is absolutely perfect: large enough for 6-8 people, well decorated, totally private… and soooo typical! I definitely recommend it for young couples and group of men, while I would avoid it for single women and seniors because of its difficult location in the medina.
Gallery
Stayed from August 12th to 17th, 2018 – Unsponsored media stay.
Dar Shariq is an ancient riad located in the center of Marrakech’s medina, recently refurbished in a luxury way and composed of 5 rooms. All equipped with wifi and A/C. The rent of the riad is exclusive, and public rate starts at 120 EUR/night/couple with breakfast & daily cleanup included.
Dar Shariq Private Rental Riad – Book
Address:
Rue Bab Taghzout,
Marrakech – Safi, Morocco.
Wow,amazing place! I loved it! Thanks for sharing!
Hi, it would be great if you could reveal the price for 2 to 10 persons per week.
The placemitself is gorgeous indeed !
Author
Hi Conny, at that time we paid 1400 EUR for one week in the riad. We were 4 people and totally owned it, it was so cool!