The Riad Matin is in the north of the Medina in Marrakesh, about 15 minutes walk away from the main square called Jemaa el Fna. The Riad Matin hotel doesn’t look very significant from the outside and in fact it is easy to miss it if you are not looking for it.
However, on the inside the Riad Matin looks great with the fountain, the plants and the natural light. The hotel cost GBP79 for the two nights, including breakfast.
I especially liked the inner courtyard of Riad Matin with the fountain and the nice seats around it – it felt like walking into a scene from the tales of 1001 nights and Ali Baba!
Outside Riad Matin it was really noisy and busy with all the city traffic, but when Yahia opened the front door of Riad Matin and I walked, it completely felt like the world was shut out.
Yahia brought me a cup of tea, the check-in paperwork and some biscuits before we had a nice chat after which he showed me the room. I was very happy especially when the next morning the sun was shining and I could work on the rooftop after breakfast, which Yahia cooked personally.
Unfortunately in the afternoon the neighbours started burning something that was super smelly, probably plastic and as the wind changed it started blowing over the roof of Riad Matin, so I had to go downstairs to the inner courtyard.
Also, if you want quick breakfast tell Yahia what time you want it by and it will be ready then, otherwise you may need to wait much longer.
Finding Riad Matin in Marrakesh
The easiest way to find Riad Matin in Marrakesh is to enter the Medina from the north through Bab Yacout and walk down south towards Houmet Bab Taghzout Ouenk Jmel n° 210, which is their address.
The entrance of Riad Matin will be at the end of the street, made of wood with a small metal fence in front. Press the buzzer and someone will come to open the door for you.
First Impressions
My first impressions of the hotel were great – the sound of the fountain and birds chirping welcomed me inside with Yahia on my right offering me a cup of tea and biscuits!
The Lobby Area
The lobby area was quite large, basically the inner courtyard of this traditional Moroccan style building. The courtyard had no roof so the sunshine (and rain) were free to enter!
Fortunately the first day it was sunny but by the second night it started raining so I was a bit bored as I could not go for a walk.
The walls were freshly painted and everything was clean and smelled good. I especially liked the seats and plants plus some of the artwork in the building.
Checking In
The check-in process was pretty good, similar to my check-in at the Hotel Lawrence of Arabia: they sat me down, brought me a cup of tea and asked me to fill out the paperwork. I did this, we had a nice chat then they showed me the room and I went to Jemaa el Fna for dinner on foot.
Public Areas
There was no lift but the building is only two floors high with a rooftop terrace for breakfast and sunbathing. For the first morning I had breakfast on the rooftop but the second morning I had to eat downstairs in their breakfast room as it was raining quite heavily.
Inside the Room
The room was nice and cosy with a double bed in front of the door, a couple of lights and a plug on each side of the bed. There were also a number of light switches on the side of the bed so I did not need to get up to turn the light off.
There lay a couple of rugs on the floor so even when I walked around bare feet it wasn’t too cold. There was no television in the room but by the time I got back I was tired anyway and went to sleep.
The Bed At Riad Matin Marrakesh
The bed was comfortable and the pillows were firm enough for my liking. The duvet was a bit heavier than what I normally experience in a hotel but it kept me nice and warm overnight, so nothing to complain about.
The Rest of the Bedroom
There was a hanger in the corner with a suit stand and a small table and chair – but not much else as the room was of a medium-to-small size.
Wifi in the Room
The wifi worked fine in the room and the courtyard but it only worked in one side of the rooftop and not the other.
The Bathroom
The bathroom had a shower, a toilet and a sink with a mirror. It was just big enough although I did not use the shower as I went to the local hammam instead.
The Swimming Pool
There was a pool on the roof but it was empty when I arrived. They also had a sundeck to lie down and sunbathe.
Overall Impressions
Overall I really enjoyed my stay except for the inconsiderate neighbours burning the plastic, making it impossible to stay on the rooftop.
Telephone: +212 5243-83809
Address: Houmet Bab Taghzout Ouenk Jmel n° 210 40034 Marrakech