Our stay at La Villa Marrakech was simply amazing. Located in the kasbah it's away from all the chaos but still just a 15 minute stroll from the center of the Medina. The Riad is so unique, the decor and layout gives a real sense of calm, we couldn't believe how quiet it was. Gaia was the perfect host, on our first morning she gave us a brief explanation of the interesting things to see, was always available and can help with any excursions. As we stayed a week, the highlight was the relaxing area on the rooftop and the amazing cool swimming pool, Bliss after a day in the heat of the Medina. If/when we return to marrakech I'm not going to look for anywhere else as I don't think I'll find anywhere more enjoyable as this. (The food was excellent also!)

Nothing, everything was perfect.

Where to begin? It would be easier to say what I didn't like as the list of things is so small it can only be married down to one thing - that we couldn't stay longer. Everything from the cleanliness of the Riad, to the amazing owners Gaia and Philip, the wonderful Max the tortoise and Zuzu the cat, the impeccable staff including Myriem and Hassin, who were so attentive and helpful to get us anything and everything we needed. The quiet and calm retreat into our Riad from the bustling city streets of the Kasbah was peace on earth. We had the entirety of the building to ourselves and it felt like such a secure and safe place to rest our heads at the end of a long day. As I mentioned, Gaia and her husband Philip greeted us on our first morning in the Riad, sat alongside us at breakfast and introduced themselves, spoke about the city, about us and overall just gave us insight into how best to navigate Marrakech. Hassin who although spoke little English, was at our beck and call at the drop of a hat if we needed him, super friendly, utterly attentive and always with a smile on his face. The Riad was spotless, from our rooms which were tended to everyday by Myriem and another lady I cannot quite remember the name of, to the halls outside our room and the rooftop terrace, there wasn't even a grain of dirt or dust. As two people coming from Ireland, we struggled immensely with the heat, but to be able to retire to the pool in the courtyard of our riad into perfectly cool water was a joyous experience. The rooftop terrace itself could be commended, overlooking a nice section of the Kasbah and a suntrap in the truest sense, you had beds with towels, hats and umbrellas for shelter from the blistering sun (and sometimes torrential downpour) to relax and enjoy. A jacuzzi was also atop the terrace although the heat prevented up from enjoying it during our stay.

One small hindrance was WiFi dropping on rooftop terrace near jacuzzi but otherwise nothing to bother us.

The breakfast was fantastic! I am vegan and Meryam, the chef made traditional Moroccan pancakes (Beghrir, which are naturally without dairy or eggs) every morning. She also veganised the recipe for another local type of pancake (Msemen) so that I could indulge in those, as well. She went out of her way to provide almond milk for my coffee, too. In addition, every morning, a platter of various fruits (different each day) was served. Traditional bread was always on offer and, for my non-vegan husband, yogurt and eggs, prepared to his preference. Wonderful! The riyad was beautiful, with luxurious rooms, a calming pool in the courtyard, bougainvillea spilling over from each level, beautiful architecture and lovely details in each room; I actually shopped in the souk for woven waste bins and baskets in which to store toilet paper, so that I could enjoy some of these features once at home. We were wanting for nothing; Even cotton discs were provided. In addition, the room was spotless and well maintained. The riyad has its own, gorgeous hammam, which can be used by couples, unlike the public ones, which are divided by gender. We had a fantastic steam, exfoliating scrub and then went up to the massage area on the roof top for a massage, which I highly recommend. The three members of staff were very friendly and helpful at all times and the owner, Gaia, was terrific, too. She was really supportive and available for advice as well as providing assistance in arranging tours to the desert and so on. The location was very good; we could walk to the souk and to many of the fabulous restaurants we enjoyed. The neighbourhood was very safe and, as Gaia pointed out, really benefits for being between the two royal palaces.

If I were to be picky, I would have liked the bed to creak less and the mattress to be a little less firm.

Gaia and her team are fantastic hosts. Lovely accommodation. Clean (including the pools) comfortable - perfect. We loved our room. It was quiet compared to much of the old city so really highly recommend. Nothing was too much trouble and Gaia took a lot of time explaining the area, best trips to go on, taxi transfers etc... She speaks a number of languages including perfect English. Lovely breakfasts, recommend the omelettes. There are bed toppers on all of the beds. I see from other hotel reviews in Marrakesh that this is recommended because locals prefer very firm beds. We've returned feeling like we've had a proper holiday, relaxed and refreshed. Thank you all for going that extra mile for us!

Amazing Riad with 5 rooms about a 20 min walk from Jemma El Fna square. Lovely large heated pool in the courtyard which we enjoyed using. Next to the pool is the dining room and a lounge area. Delicious breakfast was included which was slightly different each day we were there. Breakfast included Berber pancakes (like a large thin crumpet), fruit, yoghurt, and eggs (on request). We also paid for a three course meal there one night which was delicious. We had to order it in the morning. Beautiful roof terrace with Jacuzzi and plenty of sofas and beds to lounge on and soak up the atmosphere. Staff were so kind and helpful. We used their airport pick up service which made our lives much easier. We traveled with our 9 month old and the riad had a travel cot set up for us as well as a high chair. I had a hamam and massage which was amazing. The hamam was downstairs, and was big enough for two people and then I made my way to a lovely tranquil room off the roof terrace for the massage. The owner is a lovely French lady (also fluent in English) who was happy to advise on tourism attractions. There is also a pet tortoise and pet cat who was very friendly. We went back to Marrakech later in our Morocco trip and had to stay in a different riad as this one wasn't available, and it highlighted to us just how fantastic Riad La Villa Marrakech actually was. Highly recommend and can't wait to visit again.

I can't think of anything this riad needs to do to improve!

This is an excellent riad. It is located in the Medina, but away from the most packed and chaotic areas. It’s 20 min away on foot from the Koutobia mosque, very convenient. The room is very large with a bath and all the amenities, and a Very comfortable bed. The riad has a lovely rooftop terrace, and serves a nice breakfast - they mix it up day to day, but always have eggs, yoghurt and fruits, and some Moroccan pastries. Gaia, the owner really made our stay exceptional. She gave us amazing recommendations for restaurants and was very helpful with tips! I highly recommend and would book again if back in Marrakech!

The only slight negative (which did not in any way impact our stay) was that the water pressure in the shower and sink in the mornings took a minute or two to be at the needed level.

I highly recommend this riad. The staff and owner are very very helpful, and there are many amenities inside. We felt well taken care of. It is clean and well maintained. Everything is close by (7-15 minutes by walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa and other touristic destinations), both the city center and nearby restaurants. At the same time, it is very quiet, so you can relax. The rooms have everything you need and are very pleasant with a bathtub. It was a pleasant stay.

This riad is an oasis in the middle of the city. It's beautiful with many plants, many details, a heated pool and very nice rooftop with a warm jacuzzi and sun lounges. The room was very comfortable, but a little small with 2 pieces of luggage. The breakfast was very good.

It's not a big issue and I will not reduce my rating for this, but they only speak french at this riad. If you don't speak or understand much french, it will be a little hard to follow the questions raised to you. I would have expected to be able to communicate in english with the owners/staff. Our room had a separate toilet, but this room is very very small. We are both short people, but even for us it felt too small.

This was a quiet Riad run by a beautiful French couple. They were very kind and friendly. unfortunately we stayed here only for one night after a long 7 hour drive from tanger to Marrakech. This was our last stop and we had a morning flight back home. The host was very very welcoming and made us feel at home. The property is tastefully done and unlike many other Riads in Marrakech is very homely and warm. There are small small details which make it very personal. For animal lovers this is a must place to stay, the cat named Zwina who takes it upon herself to entertain and welcome you to the Riad along with her two Tortoise friends :) The heated pool in the property is very inviting and it was divine to wash off all the fatigue with a lovely evening swim. since we were staying only for one night we ordered dinner (which one needs to pre order as they get fresh produce and cook for you) it was nothing less than perfect. The table was set by the pool with candles and we had some of the best Tajine here. The hosts were kind enough to arrange an early breakfast for us before we left. The room we booked was a small one but that didn't matter as it was extremely comfortable and clean. The Riad is filled with books about Moroccan culture and architecture which was great to browse and expand your horizon. The parking is closely and easy to find, even though we got lost :) Overall I would definitely come back here for more. Highly recommended!

I didn't like the fact that we came here on our last day and had to leave so early.

We arrived late to the property, but we’re still welcomed so warmly by the staff and shown our rooms. The riad is gorgeous, so wonderfully decorated, with a perfectly sized pool to cool off after sunbathing on the rooftop terrace. Room was comfy and had every thing we needed - we didn’t spend much time in the room apart from to sleep in. Gaia and her husband welcomed us at our first breakfast, gave us some great tips for sightseeing and restaurants and made us feel really at home. The staff were also first class!

We missed the door a couple of times the first time we arrived, but it was probably just due to us being tired and it being night time