Budget-conscious travellers looking for some riad romance at the right price will be thrilled to discover this small, historic, four-bedroom courtyard house in the central neighbourhood of Sidi Abdelaziz.
Well located in close proximity to the souq, the Medersa Ben Youssef and the Marrakech Museum. The Sidi Abdelaziz area is also a lively shopping area with a number of good restaurants. Access to taxis is at Dar el Bacha, a five-minute walk from the house. The Djemaa el-Fna is a 10-minute walk away.
Dar Saria (meaning the ‘House of Pillars’) is named after the 16 ornately decorated pillars that ring its pretty sage green gallery. Unusually, they retain the bright vegetable dyes that originally coloured much of the domestic stucco work in Marrakshi riads. Keen to retain original features such as this, and the zellige tiled courtyard, Belgian owners Florence and Vincent have decorated the house in a sparing style.
Walls are whitewashed, furniture is plain and functional, and artwork is limited to Vincent’s photographs and some Africana. In the summer heat this feels refreshingly minimal, but come winter it can feel ssubtlely stark and chilly.
Reflecting the bargain price point, amenities are simple. Comfortable beds, basic toiletries and a roof terrace with a nice view of the minaret of the Medersa Ben Youssef. Ahmed, the house manager, is the making of the place and is always on hand to offer genuinely useful advice, such as insider tips on bargaining in the souq.
Given the small size of the riad, intimacy is the order of the day. All four rooms face onto the tiled courtyard. Those on the ground floor are less secluded and more pokey than the larger rooms on the first floor, which also have fireplaces (much needed in winter). There’s a small single and three double rooms, two of which can accommodate a third bed. All are ensuite with walk-in tadelakt plaster showers. None of them have air conditioning.
A classic Moroccan breakfast of pancakes, pastries and honey is served either on the roof terrace or at a shared table in the courtyard in the bhou (seating alcove). Lunch and dinner must be ordered in advance and are as well priced as the rooms (£8 for a lunch of salad, dessert and mint tea and £15 for a three-course dinner). Still, given the number of restaurants in the area it’s worth heading out to one of Ahmed’s recommendations.
No.
Children are accepted but there are no special facilities for them and rooms are rather small.
Trusted Tourism Brand
Leave a review