7 Luxurious Boutique Hotels in Marrakech for a Personalised Stay in the "Red City"
- Malika
- Nov 22, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: May 26
Looking for the best luxury boutique hotels in Marrakech? Discover 7 inspiring small-scale hotels and riads that are offering personalised, high-end stays in the "Red City".
If there’s something that never fails to impress me about Marrakech, it’s the incredible quality of the accommodation available. While there are luxurious properties by some of the world’s best-known 5-star brands, the boutique hotels are, for me, the real standouts. If I could afford it, I would just hop from one to another for eternity!
Many of Marrakech's boutique hotels are housed within beautifully restored buildings that ooze charm and have been given a new (and inspiring) lease on life by global designers. They’re the kind of places you’ll be sharing with just a handful of others while being treated to discreet but exemplary service by some of the city’s best hospitality professionals.
In this article, I’ll share with you seven of the best luxury boutique hotels in Marrakech, all of which receive rave reviews. While some have rooftop terraces with sweeping views across the medina, others boast hidden courtyards that feel a world away from the hustle and bustle outside. Included in this list is one of the best sustainable hotels in Marrakech and a gorgeous dar (traditional home) in the Marrakech Palmeraie.
Travelling solo? Check out my top accommodation picks in Marrakech for independent adventurers.
Traditionally dressed porters at La Sultana - a sustainable boutique hotel in Marrakech (photo courtesy of Expedia)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best sustainable luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech
Best luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech with a pool
Best design-focused luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech
Best luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech Palmeraie
Best luxury boutique Marrakech hotel with a hammam
Best sustainable luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech
If you’re craving the intimacy of a boutique stay but want sustainability credentials to boot, then La Sultana ticks all the right boxes. It features 28 rooms and suites, each individually designed and decorated with original artwork, as well as a heated swimming pool, a pampering spa and a rooftop terrace with views of Koutoubia Mosque.
La Sultana has been designed to minimise the need for air conditioning, thanks to its thick walls and open-air spaces that promote natural airflow. As a boutique Marrakech hotel, it prioritises personalised service - you really will be well looked after here!
While Moroccan cuisine typically includes a lot of meat, La Sultana also provides a variety of plant-based dishes made from organic ingredients sourced from its own gardens. Vegetarians and vegans will be in heaven here! You can even participate in cookery classes on the terrace.
“A dream, an oasis of serenity…it's chic, beautiful and classy!” - Marie-Claude (read more reviews here)
Candlelit dining on the terrace of La Sultana with views of Koutoubia Mosque (photo courtesy of Expedia)
Best luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech with a pool
Envisioned by the British designer Jasper Conrad, Riad L'Hôtel Marrakech occupies a 19th-century building near Bab Doukkala in the west of the medina. As soon as you step through its doors, you are transported back to the glamour of the 1930s, with a feeling you are in someone’s opulent home, rather than a hotel.
Each of the six suites is decorated with Jasper's carefully curated collection of artwork and features a four-poster bed draped in sheer, billowing voile. They are named after iconic Moroccan destinations (Tangier, Asilah and Zagora) and each reflects the unique aesthetic of the place.
Complete with a bougainvillea-fringed swimming pool and a restaurant serving home-style Moroccan cuisine, Riad L'Hôtel really is one of the best luxury boutique hotels in Marrakech.
"Heavenly place. Really caring staff. Everything is done so that you don't lack anything.” - Bernard (read more reviews here)
The stylish interior courtyard of Riad 72 - a luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech (photo courtesy of Expedia)
Best design-focused luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech
Occupying a 1920s palace, Riad 72 has been brought to life by Italian photographer Giovanna Cinel. It effortlessly blends traditional Moroccan architecture with contemporary design elements, all set around a series of hidden courtyards.
There are only a handful of rooms to choose from but I recommend you splurge with one of the suites boasting a private terrace and jacuzzi. While you’ll find beautiful tilework on the floors and arabesque patterning on the ceilings (as in many boutique Marrakech hotels), it’s the incorporation of modern furnishings, striking decor and contemporary artworks that set Riad 72 apart.
Gourmet meals are served in the plant-filled interior patio and there's a spa offering hammams and signature wellness treatments using natural, organic products. Additionally, there are wonderful views across the medina from the rooftop terrace, which comes complete with a swimming pool.
“Incredible experience! Great attention to detail and exceptional service. Restaurant in the hotel is also really really good!” - Anna (read more reviews here)
The rooftop swimming pool at Riad 72 - one of the best luxury boutique hotels in Marrakech (photo courtesy of Expedia)
Best luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech Palmeraie
Nestled within spacious grounds in the Palmeraie, Dar Zemora is a luxury boutique Marrakech hotel set within a peach-coloured villa. It effortlessly blends Moroccan and European influences to create a quietly sophisticated ambiance, all within easy access to the bustling medina.
Aside from its six individually decorated rooms and suites, there’s a wonderful terrace with cushioned sofas where you can drink in the garden views. When you’re not out sightseeing in Marrakech, you can swim in the heated pool (it’s an enticing 28 degrees Celsius throughout the year) or be pampered at the onsite spa.
Not only are the staff effortlessly discreet at this luxury hotel in the Marrakech Palmeraie but the meals served onsite are exceptional. Dining can be enjoyed poolside, on the sun-dappled terrace or in the elegantly appointed dining room.
"A wonderful, intimate hotel with extremely friendly staff who are always ready to help.” - Romuald (read more reviews here)
One of the traditionally designed suites at Palais Riad Lamrani in Marrakech (photo courtesy of Expedia)
Best luxury boutique Marrakech hotel with a hammam
This luxurious boutique Marrakech hotel stands as a testament to the wealth and prestige of the Lamrani family, who commissioned the palace in the early 20th century. It centres around a lushly planted patio complete with a burbling fountain - the tiling on the floors and columns is exquisite - and there’s an inviting swimming pool backed by Marrakech’s signature ochre walls.
But the true splendour of Palais Riad Lamrani lies within its sumptuous interiors, which really celebrate Moroccan craftsmanship. Ornate stucco frames the multiple lounges, which overflow with a curated collection of antiques and artwork from both Morocco and Europe.
Aside from the traditional hammam, the romantic meals served by candlelight in the courtyard are not to be missed!
“A place out of time and space in an authentic Moroccan riad. Everything was perfect.” - Fabrice (read more reviews here)
Best boutique hotel in the Marrakech Palmeraie with hammam
Surrounded by a palmeraie just 10 minutes’ drive from the medina, this boutique Marrakech hotel radiates the splendour of a 14th-century Moorish palace. With stunning Romanesque arches leading to a pool lined with palm trees, its design embodies a sense of Ottoman luxury.
At Ksar Char-Bagh, there are just 25 villas and suites to choose from, each with a minimum footprint of 60 square metres. All feature marble ensuite bathrooms with indulgent tubs, plus cosy fireplaces and private gardens (some also come with plunge pools).
Personally, what I love about this boutique Marrakech hotel (aside from its serene setting) is its exceptional spa amenities, including a magnificent hammam embellished with luxurious red marble. The spa also provides an extensive selection of tailored massages and beauty therapies, using carefully selected blends of essential oils.
Best adults-only boutique hotel in Marrakech
Riad Livia is an adults-only boutique hotel in Marrakech that oozes romance with its soft lighting, artistic interiors and fragrant orange trees. I had the pleasure of staying here during my last trip to the “Red City” and it was truly heavenly.
The riad is tucked away in a serene part of the medina (not far from the Ben Salah Mosque) and boasts five exquisitely decorated suites. While two are designed for couples, the others come with a king-size bed and a single, making them perfect for adult group of three or friends wanting their own sleeping space.
Additionally, there’s an enchanting rooftop terrace that features a refreshing plunge pool - Riad Livia is one of the few riads in Marrakech with a rooftop pool. What I especially appreciate about the terrace is its multi-level design, allowing you to always find a peaceful spot to escape to.
While breakfast is included in the rate at this adults-only riad in Marrakech, additional meals are available on request. All dishes are prepared with locally sourced ingredients and can be enjoyed either on the terrace or in the forest green dining lounge, which I found incredibly charming.
Tips for selecting a luxury boutique hotel in Marrakech
If you’re planning to stay at a luxury boutique in the Marrakech medina, it’s important to consider access as the medina is pedestrianised. You can’t simply drive up to the front door and unload your luggage! If you’re self-driving, there are several guarded parking areas near the entrances to the medina - these are more secure than just leaving your rental car on a street.
After booking, your Marrakech riad will usually reach out and notify you of the closest and safest area to park and how to reach the property on foot. They can also arrange for someone to come and meet you at the parking area - just WhatsApp them on arrival so you can find one another!
If you’re taking a taxi from Marrakech Menara Airport, you can look up on Google Maps to find out which gate ("bab") is nearest to where you're staying. For travellers concerned about negotiating a taxi far from the airport, you can book a reliable, fixed-price transfer at Welcome Pickups.
That being said, most riads and hotels in Marrakech will offer airport pickup services and I’d highly recommend booking one of these for peace of mind. Not only will a driver pick you up at the airport (they’ll have a placard with your name) but they will coordinate with someone from the riad to come to the parking area on foot to meet you (usually with a luggage trolley) and guide you to the hotel. This is so much easier than trying to navigate the labyrinth of streets independently!
When planning your stay, keep in mind the noise levels from bars or clubs that play music late into the night (you can check Google Maps to see if there are any near your riad/hotel of choice). Generally speaking, I would avoid staying too close to Djemaa el-Fnaa as this is the noisiest part of the Marrakech medina.
When it comes to noise from mosques, there are so many within the Marrakech medina that they are more difficult to avoid. Whether the Fajr adhan (the dawn call to prayer) wakes you up will largely depend on how soundproof your hotel is (usually the more luxurious the property, the better the soundproofing). I’d suggest bringing along some earplugs, just in case, especially if you’re a light sleeper. Personally, I love listening to the early morning call to prayer and usually drift back to sleep afterward, but I know that might not be the case for everyone.
If you don’t want to stay near a mosque, then I’d suggest a boutique hotel like Dar Zemora in the Marrakech Palmeraie. Quieter areas within the medina include the Mouassine district to the northwest of Djemaa el-Fnaa (Riad L'Hôtel Marrakech is in this area) and the Kasbah area to the southeast of the square (La Sultana is located here). Both of these historic neighbourhoods are still quite authentic and are wonderful places to stay in Marrakech.
Lastly, remember that every Marrakech hotel is required to collect a government-mandated tourist tax. This tax must be paid directly to the property and is (usually) not part of your booking rate (though it is generally shown below the booking rates to avoid any unexpected costs). It contributes to the local community and is usually paid either at check-in or when you check out from your boutique hotel in Marrakech.
