When most people think of Morocco, the first place they think of is Marrakech. A 20th-century by-word for mysterious exoticism, it can be a fascinating place to explore, especially when traipsing around the nearly 3-square miles of tangled alleyways and ancient gates that make up the ancient medina. For travelers seeking an immersive experience in the local culture, Morocco is filled with riads - lavish homes or palaces that once belonged to the elites of society and have now reopened as boutique hotels.
Among these, AnaYela stands out as a jewel of Marrakesh. AnaYela, a gorgeous 300-year-old palace transformed into an opulent hotel. The riad, located in a 300-year-old palace that sits behind an unmarked wooden door, is thrillingly elusive, reached by a ten-minute walk through a series of twisty alleyways (a staff member will escort you from one of the main squares). From the outside, AnaYela looked like an unassuming, unmarked building with an old door.
After a full-scale restoration, the luminous city palace offers a lush indoor courtyard, a heated limestone pool, and a beguiling rooftop terrace overlooking Marrakesh's historic quarter. Each riad bears the mark of its owner, but they all feature multiple stories centered around a courtyard, often with a pool in the middle. Like most riads, AnaYela is small, with just five guest rooms. But it had a great pool and plenty of spots for us to lounge around during our stay.
First Impressions and Ambiance
Everything at the five-room AnaYela, in the northern part of Marrakech’s Old City-from the rose petal-filmed plunge pool to the abundance of filigreed chandeliers that send spangles of light dancing off the walls-speaks of romance. Inside, the original structure has been left mostly intact, and the restrained creamy palette means the few occasional bursts of color-the terra-cotta of the exposed brick, the ruby-toned etched-glass windowpanes, and the dozens of silver objects that decorate both the rooms and common areas-shine all the more brightly. The overall vibe made for an intimate, relaxing, and high-end experience.
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My family was welcomed with fresh Moroccan mint tea and cookies sweetened with dates. I quickly felt at home at AnaYela. There was a nice lounge area with comfortable seating. I was surprised to see our hotel room had been decorated with rose petals, a lavish touch I'd only seen in movies. Although it wasn't large by any standard, the room had intricate carvings and a deep stone soaking tub that left me in awe.
Location and Accessibility
I mainly chose AnaYela because of its historically significant location. The riad is a 300-year-old palace on the edge of Marrakesh's 11th-century Medina - the walled settlement that marks the boundaries of the original city. All that said, it can be hard (though not impossible) to find Riads that can be booked on points and miles. AnaYela is situated in the Medina, Marrakeshs historic neighborhood that plays host to many of the citys cultural attractions.
Marrakech (Morocco) - A Walking Tour Through the Medina of the Red City (4K)
The Anayela Riad is located on north side of the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square. As a result, we had to drive around the walled city for about 20 minutes in order to get to the riad. As we entered the walled city area of Marrakech, the streets got quite narrow and single laned. We ended up parking the truck where, in a first for me, our bags were loaded on to a waiting donkey kart and transported the rest of the way for us. It was certainly a first for me with the valet services and it certainly brought a great smile to my face.
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However, the area is a bit rough. The hotel is not on a actual street and one has to to walk through a few dark and shady alleys to get to it. And its not close to the main touristic areas, while within walking distance I felt it wasnt advisable to walk in the area around the hotel in the evening. The property is a good 30 min walk to the main part of the Medina through pretty empty small streets. The location is also not very well known so most taxis will not know where to go and have to call the hotel to ask.
Rooms and Amenities
Like most Design Hotel Properties, there isn’t any official Marriott Bonvoy elite recognition. This means that you are less likely to get a complimentary upgrade or a free elite breakfast. Rooms have A/C but no locks, phones, or TV. There is no television in the room, which was actually a welcomed feature. We didn’t miss the television during our stay, as there is so much to do in Marrakech without worrying about what television you’re missing.
The suite concept is a bit of a mirage here, it was more of a larger room instead the traditional definition of a room with a detached sitting area. After the riad tour, we were then shown to our suite on the second floor, which was very nicely appointed. The doors to our suite were intricately decorated and refurbished. The sleeping area was on an elevated platform. Although it was compact, it was comfortable. The couch area was small. The coffee table contained some snacks, which was a nice amenity to have in the room.
Dining and Service
The luxury service started before we even checked in. Our luggage was brought up the riad on a donkey-pulled cart. When we arrived, our luggage was taken up to the riad in a cart pulled by a donkey. The rate included transportation to and from the airport or train station and daily breakfast. When we arrived to a completely unmarked and unsigned property. We were given an organic milk and some welcome dates in a small tagine while they processed the check in in a seated area around the pool. We were also fitted up for some slippers that were worn throughout the property.
The staff was always available throughout my stay. In true Moroccan style, mint tea flowed freely all day and night, and it was served with traditional flourishes. All the courses were beautifully presented. We could ask for fresh tea at any time. The complimentary breakfast was decadent, with multiple courses and a beautiful presentation.
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There is no restaurant as such, but you can choose to eat at the Riad. They’ll make you a 3-course menu that you eat in the courtyard or on the roof (by request - I believe that there’s a higher charge). The riad does offer a dinner service if reserved in advance. The riad was able to put on a special private dinner for us. We booked the day of in advance and a freshly prepared meal for just us two. We had a reasonably nice tasting Moroccan wine to enjoy along with dinner, along with an actual fresh green salad. The property is peaceful and quiet while being set in a really magical surrounding.
Value and Pricing
I splurged and booked my family a room at AnaYela for about $280 a night. I was surprised by how affordable the riad was. Even during a busy travel season, the rates were under $300 a night. I visited AnaYela for three nights during the busy holiday season, and my room still only cost 260 euros, or about $282, a night. I appreciated that it was more reasonably priced than some of the other riads I researched.
As far as I could tell, the only difference between AnaYela and more expensive riads was that it didn't have an on-site spa or restaurants. But I could still arrange in-room spa treatments and meals, so that didn't seem like a problem to me. Some of the pricier riads are also more centrally located in Marrakesh, but I saw being in a quieter, car-free part of the city as an advantage.
Price: We paid an average of ~43,000 Marriott Bonvoy points over three nights. As an award stay, it often seems to hover around 0.5 cents per point, which isn’t great (we value the average redemption of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each), but it can be as high as 1 cent per point. The hotel itself is not very nice compared to similarly priced riads in the Medina with its rates starting at 220 euros a night.
Rooftop Terrace
Sitting out on the terrace at night was magical. We spent every night up on the "flying carpet" terrace. All three nights, I spent time winding down on the highly decorative terrace enjoying the quiet, starry sky with a cup of tea. The views from the roof top were over the tops of similarly sized buildings.
Final Thoughts
From the incredible service to the beautiful design details, AnaYela is well worth the little splurge if you're traveling with a small group. I'm so glad we splurged on the riad. But when it was time to leave after our three-night stay, it was hard to walk away from the comfort and familiarity of AnaYela. It would've been hard to justify paying to stay in a riad for every night of our longer trip to Morocco. In general, it was a very nice and welcoming stay. Notwithstanding the setting, it’s always unique to stay at a property with only five rooms.
Summary of Key Points:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Northern part of Marrakech’s Old City (Medina) |
| Rooms | Five guest rooms |
| Price | Around $280-$300 a night |
| Amenities | Courtyard with a pool, rooftop terrace, complimentary breakfast |
| Service | Personalized and attentive |
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tags: #Morocco
