Riad K
After the long drive to the desert and back, we returned to Marrakech for the last two nights of our trip, and this time we wanted to stay right in the heart of the medina. That is how we ended up at Riad K, which, without much hesitation, was the best riad of the whole trip.
Where It Is
Riad K is in the Rahba Kedima area of the medina, right next to the old spice square, the Place des Épices, and only a few minutes' walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa. Our first night in Marrakech had been at Riad Djebel, near the meat market, about a kilometre from the main square (I wrote about it in The Marrakech Medina). Riad K was the complete opposite: step out of the door, turn a couple of corners, and you are already in the middle of the souks.
Like every riad, though, from the alley you would never guess what is behind the door. Once you step inside, the noise and the mopeds of the medina stay outside, and all that remains is the calm of the courtyard and its pool. We never actually got round to using it, but on a hot afternoon in Marrakech, it is a very welcome sight.
Only Five Suites
Riad K is small, and that is a big part of its charm. There are only five suites, simply called K1 to K5, ranging from 22 to 54 square metres. The style mixes traditional Moroccan architecture with a cleaner, more contemporary design, and with so few rooms, there are never many other guests around, which makes the whole place feel more like a private house than a hotel.
Our Suite: K5
We stayed in K5, on the top floor, and the first thing that struck us was the size: it was very, very big, the kind of room where you could easily spend a lazy afternoon without ever feeling closed in. It even has its own fireplace. Best of all, K5 has its own access to the rooftop terrace, which turned out to be my favourite part of the riad.
The Staff
What really made the stay, though, was the staff. They were fabulous from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, and very attentive without ever being intrusive. With only five suites, it is the kind of place where the people looking after you quickly get to know you, and it shows.
The Rooftop Terrace
In the medina, the rooftops are where you go to breathe. Down in the alleys, everything is narrow, loud and crowded, while up on the terrace of Riad K you get open sky and the rooftops of the old city all around you.
With the access straight from K5, and the terrace almost always empty, it felt as if we had our own private rooftop over the Marrakech medina. It is also beautifully curated: every cushion and every umbrella is perfectly placed, and you can tell that someone has thought about each detail. After a day in the souks, it is the perfect place to sit down with a mint tea and do absolutely nothing.
Final Thoughts
If Riad Djebel was the place to see a quieter, less touristy side of the medina, Riad K was the place to be right in the middle of it, without giving up the peace a riad is supposed to give you. A huge suite, an almost private rooftop, fabulous staff and the souks on the doorstep: if I went back to Marrakech tomorrow, this is where I would stay.
Before You Book
- Book early. With only five suites, Riad K fills up quickly, especially around weekends and holidays.
- Ask for K5. It is on the top floor, very spacious and has its own access to the rooftop terrace, which was almost always empty.
- Perfect for a first visit. Jemaa el-Fnaa, the souks and the spice square are all a few minutes away on foot.
- Going to the desert too? We stayed at Riad K after our night in the dunes, which I wrote about in The Golden Dunes of the Merzouga Desert.
