Riad Noga in Marrakech - Clients

Wonderful! After a hair-raising trip into the centre we were pretty shellshocked by the time we arrived at the Riad. And the area is quite a culture shock if you're used to green gardens and the seculusion you get from expensive hotels when you travel abroad! Then the riad itself - chock full of kitsch is the first impression.
And the walk in to the Djemaa El-Fna up the narrow alleyway, then downa twisty narrow lane with mopeds and bikes rushing past. And scary, scary locals. My daughter's first night was spent saying it's only for three nights!
Day 2 - you've found all the little extras, the proper slippers, the dressing gowns, the thoughtful touches in wooden boxes, you're starting to appreciate the brass sinkbowl, the intricate tiling. The furnishings are the same as those in the palaces! You've slept like logs. More than that you've found the roof gardens, the places to relax. The privacy! We felt like we were the only guests yet people occasionally turned up for breakfast too. Goodness knows what charming nooks and crannies they found to hide in in the Riad. And only a short walk to the main square.
Day 3 you don't want to leave. The scary locals are your friends, you feel you're starting to fit into the neighbourhood and you're passing the time of day with the guy who sits on his doorstep in the alleyway and the old lady with the pretty lapdog. You've found the tortoises in the riad. It's now your home and you are not ever going to go back.
We never did find out what the omlette choice was - the charming smile the waiter presented each morning and his shy muttering absolutely confounded us. We didn't want to pressurise him!
Forget hotel room security - you bar the windows and doors when you leave and the maid opens the windows to let the air in.
And this is a riad that has: a huge selection of books and DVD's, shoe polishing, they even do your laundry for free!
Location - perfect - not if you want a sanitised Marrakech - but if you want to stay in the medina - a five minute walk from the Café de France - and yet the minute you get into the riad the peace and quiet and cool and cleanliness surrounds you.
Don't stay here if you're the sort of person who wants to take a guide to go into the souks, do stay here if you want to fit into local life as well as two short blondes (one 50 year old and one 17 year old) can do in Morocco.
Rating 55555555555555555555! L.L. in April 2010

Our room (the White Room) was small with no windows. On arrival we asked whether any other rooms were available. We were told that there were but we would have to pay additional money for them....I would suggest that you do not send people to the White Room or otherwise warn them that it is very small. Otherwise, the Riad was very good. It is in a great location, the pool and dining facilities were excellent and the staff were helpful. J.A in October 2009

Lovely place, would highly recommend it and stay again. However, it might be worth warning people that there is a room with no window with the double bed is right up against the wall one side as that was the room we were allocated (and changed!) Breakfast on the roof was lovely and peaceful, ate there one night and it was great food Excellent location R.W. in October 2009

Probably more elegant even than the Villa Maroc and exquisitely furnished and lit. Dining on the candle and discreetly lit terrace was superb. A sophisticated riad where one was made to feel very welcome by Ali who I think is the manager and the owner. T.W. in April 2009

This Riad is fantastic. From the welcome cup of tea to the end of the stay nothing was too much trouble. The staff were very friendly. The room was comfortable and clean. You felt like you were a guest in a large house not a customer. Breakfasts were excellent, served usually on the roof terrace. Plenty to eat set you up for the day. Evening meals were beautifully cooked and served with charm and humour. The location is perfect too -- ten minutes from the heart of the city but miles away in terms of peace and quiet. They even allowed us to keep our room until 5pm on our last day with no extra charge. Highly recommended S.H in March 2009