Riad Noga in Marrakech

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