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 five 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.
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
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 and 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 - usually you 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. However, 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 labyrinthe 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.
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. While Moroccan cuisine typically includes a lot of meat, La Sultana provides a variety of plant-based dishes made from organic ingredients sourced from its own gardens. 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 in the heart 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. Complete with a bougainvillea-fringed swimming pool and a restaurant serving home-style Moroccan cuisine, this 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. 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. Not only are the staff effortlessly discreet but the meals served onsite are exceptional.
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.
"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 do 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)
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About the author
I'm Malika, a global traveller who first visited Morocco in 2014 before marrying a local and settling down in a little village on the Atlantic coast. Over the years, I've developed an intense love for Morocco, its majestic landscapes, storied cities and the incredibly warm hospitality of its people. As the owner and content creator of Malika in Morocco, I share my years of experience exploring the country, from north to south and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert. I am passionate about helping others plan their Moroccan travel adventures to ensure they get the most out of their North African experience.