Quick Answer
Riad Turquoise in Marrakech is worth it, especially for couples and solo women who want to be immersed in the heart of the Medina. At ~$119/night for entry-level suites, the intimate six-room property delivers personalized service, a private terrace with a jacuzzi, and the best breakfast of our entire Morocco trip. A genuinely romantic and culturally rich stay.
At a Glance
| Location | 14 Derb Jdid, Marrakech Medina, Morocco |
| Price Range | ~$119–$875/night USD |
| Best For | Couples, anniversaries, solo women who want culture + comfort |
| Not Ideal For | Young families, travelers who need modern hotel amenities |
| Would I Stay Again? | Yes, already planning our return |
Why We Chose Riad Turquoise
The husband and I were doing eight days in Morocco for our anniversary, and I knew from the jump that I didn’t want to stay in a regular hotel. If you’ve been following along, you already know I’m a riad girl through and through when it comes to Morocco. Riads give you all the comfort of a hotel wrapped up in actual Moroccan tradition — and that’s exactly what we needed to kick off the trip.
Riad Turquoise checked every box: intimate (only six rooms), central location inside the old Medina, and that terrace with a jacuzzi sealed the deal before I could even finish reading the listing. We were comparing it to a few larger hotel options outside the Medina, but once I understood the city’s layout, staying inside the walls wasn’t up for debate.
Location: Is It Actually Convenient?
Really convenient — once you understand how the Medina works.
The riad arranged our airport transfer, so our driver was already waiting when we cleared immigration. The ride from the airport was about 15–20 minutes. Our driver was great — friendly, pointed out landmarks the whole way — and then we hit the wall of the old Medina. That massive, ancient wall with an archway wide enough for cars, motorcycles, donkeys, bikes, and people all moving through at once. That’s the moment I knew we weren’t in New York anymore.
From there, the van wound through streets so narrow they were basically alleyways, then stopped at the mouth of the riad’s street. We walked about two minutes to the front door; totally normal for riads in the Medina, and honestly, part of the vibe.
| Jemaa El Fna Square | 10-minute walk |
| Le Tanjia Restaurant | 5-minute walk |
| Palace El Badi | Right next door |
| Marrakech Menara Airport | 15–20 minutes by car |
A word on maps: Every map you get in Marrakech — from the riad, from guides, from anyone — is basically decorative. The Medina is a gorgeous, beautiful maze. Just embrace it. We figured this out pretty quickly and laughed about it for the rest of the trip.
The Room: Comfort, Cleanliness & Practicality
We stayed in the Grise Junior Suite, and it was a whole moment.
Layout & Space
The room felt genuinely spacious compared to other riads we stayed at during the trip. Enough room to actually unpack, move around, and feel settled — which matters a lot after you’ve been on a plane from New York.
Beds & Sleep Quality
The suite was beautifully decorated in deep gray and black with red accents. Romantic, editorial, and honestly so well done that the husband and I started talking about redesigning our bedroom at home. No joke.
Bathroom Situation
Hot water was consistent and plentiful — this is the thing people always ask about riads, and I’m happy to report it was not an issue at all. Clean, no complaints.
One Caveat
The TV wasn’t working during our stay. We really didn’t care — we were in Marrakech — but if unwinding with TV is your thing, just know that going in.
Amenities That Matter (Not Just Marketing)
| Private Terrace + Jacuzzi | Included with the Grise Junior Suite — everything for an anniversary trip |
| Sitting Area | Great for morning coffee or decompressing after a day in the souks |
| Welcome Gift Basket | A small but genuinely thoughtful touch on arrival |
| Gym / Spa | Not on-site — but honestly, the Medina is your experience. You’re not coming here for a treadmill. |
Service & Hospitality
From the moment we knocked on the traditional Moroccan door, the hospitality set the entire tone. Manager Georges answered quickly, the scent of amber hit us immediately, and we were brought to a beautiful sitting area and offered good ole Moroccan Mint Tea and pastries — a real cultural tradition, not something they do for show.
Georges went through a map of the Medina with us, explained how to get to the main attractions on foot, and genuinely made us feel taken care of. It didn’t feel like a transaction. For a six-room property, the service was personal in a way that big hotels just can’t replicate.
Food & On-Site Dining
Breakfast: The Best of the Whole Trip
And I stayed at multiple riads on this trip. The breakfast at Riad Turquoise was hands-down the best — full, fresh, carb-loaded, and made with care. The fresh-squeezed orange juice was incredible. The coffee genuinely made me question my loyalty to certain commercial brands. I’m not going to name names but you know what I mean.
But the best part wasn’t even the food — it was sitting on the terrace in the Marrakech morning light, overlooking the Medina rooftops, just the two of us, over unhurried conversation. That’s the kind of morning you replay in your head for years.
Dining Nearby
| Le Tanjia | ~5-minute walk. Great meal and great vibes. If you know about Moroccan Whiskey (that’s mint tea, lol), you already know why we were happy. Clip on my Instagram. |
| Jemaa El Fna Square | ~10-minute walk. The night market food stalls are non-negotiable. Go hungry. |
Beauty in the Bump
There’s a moment that happens when you travel somewhere completely unfamiliar and your whole nervous system has to recalibrate. Marrakech does that fast.
After a transatlantic flight, after navigating a new city, winding through streets so narrow you wonder how the van even fits — and then a knock on a carved wooden door and suddenly you’re sitting with a cup of warm mint tea and the smell of amber in the air. That was my exhale. That was the beauty in this bump.
Travel has a way of handing you back to yourself when you’ve been pouring into everyone else. Morocco did that for me — and it started the second we walked through that door.
We Went Back
Morocco had too much of a hold on us to be a one-time trip.
A year later, we went back — this time with our daughter (6 years old at the time) and my mother-in-law in tow for a 12-day family adventure. Completely different crew, completely different energy, and honestly? A completely different Morocco. We flew into Casablanca that time, which opened up cities we missed the first go-around — Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fez, Essaouira. We even made it back to the Skoura Oasis to revisit one of our favorite spots from the 2016 trip.
That’s how you know a destination is the real deal — when it holds up across different seasons of your life. The Morocco we experienced as a couple on an anniversary high and the Morocco we navigated as a multigenerational family making memories for a 6-year-old were two completely different trips. Both were exactly right for where we were.
If you want the full picture of what that trip looked like, I documented everything:
- Travel Itinerary: A 12-Day Family Vacation to Morocco
- Top Reasons to Take Your Kids to Morocco
- Hotel Review: Riad Zyo in Rabat
- Hotel Review: Lina Ryad & Spa in Chefchaouen
- Hotel Review: Riad Tafilalet in Fez
- Your Moroccan Shopping Guide: What to Buy & Where
Morocco keeps showing up differently depending on who you bring and what season of life you’re in. That’s the kind of destination I’ll keep going back to.
Value for the Price
Starting around $119/night, Riad Turquoise punches well above its price point for what you actually get: a prime Medina location, personalized service, and an experience no chain hotel can replicate. The higher-tier suites (up to $875/night) are fully worth it for a milestone trip.
What you’re really paying for:
- Being 10 minutes from the heart of Marrakech on foot
- A manager who actually takes care of you
- A culturally immersive stay that sets the tone for your entire trip
- The best breakfast of your Morocco visit
Would I pay full price again? Without hesitation.
Who Should Book Riad Turquoise
| Yes | Couples celebrating an anniversary or milestone birthday |
| Yes | Solo women travelers who want a safe, well-managed, intimate property |
| Yes | Travelers who value character and personalized service over corporate polish |
| Skip | Families with toddlers or young kids |
| Skip | Travelers who need reliable TV or streaming to wind down |
| Skip | Anyone not comfortable navigating the Medina on foot |
Final Verdict: Would I Book Again?
Yes — and we’ve already talked about coming back.
Riad Turquoise wasn’t just a place to sleep. It was the perfect introduction to Morocco: warm, beautiful, sensory, and genuinely hospitable in a way that makes you feel like a guest in someone’s home, not a number at a property. The Grise Junior Suite with the terrace and jacuzzi is made for a romantic escape, and the breakfast situation alone earns five stars.
If you’re debating between a riad and a hotel for Marrakech, I hope this settles it. Stay at a riad. And if it’s a special trip — make it this one.