I recently spent a week at the idylic RIAD SOFIA and I can only say highly positive things about this beautiful tranquil oasis.
The service was lovely, I was given a complimentary "Hamman" which was just wonderful after a long day wandering around town...I had a beautiful spacious room all to myself (I was travelling alone) with an open fireplace and an area to breakfast if you wish.
The rooms are very spacious..the bathroom beautiful! 2 sinks and a stone bath in an alcove...in traditional Marrocan style.
I loved retreating to my "oasis" in the afternoon for a rest and a tea..sometimes the maid would offer me free mint tea which was very nice.
I would definately return to this hotel. They also have another lovely place nearby which I stayed in one night called RIAD JULIA which is very similar in it's layout and design.
Both have rooftop terraces where you can lounge around or eat...
I felt extremely comfortable in both hotels, they were spotlessly clean, comfortable beds, very peaceful.
I would not really recommend it for children though as everything can be heard in the courtyard so it's necessary to not make too much noise in the courtyard.
A beautiful oasis in the middle of the Medina..and only about 10-15 minutes walk to the centre (Jemaa El Fna)
HIGHLY RECOMMMENDED!

In a city teeming with great riads, I took a chance on Riad Sofia based on the recommendation of an acquaintance. The riad is nicely decorated and the rooms are quiet and a nice size. However, the low quality of service was a marked contrast to all of the other riads and hotels I stayed in during my four weeks in Morocco. I was the only guest for one of my two-nights stay and was basically ignored the entire time - in fact, I had the distinct impression that I was the only person in the riad at times and even had to answer the door one night because someone kept ranging the doorbell and I was concerned that it might be one of the staff. A housekeeper who barely spoke French and no English handled my check-in and checkout because the manager never seemed to be around. I had to ask for clean sheets to be put on the bed (after finding numerous hairs when I turned down the bed), and the manager basically called me a liar until he saw the sheets for himself. The riad doesn't have or provide bottled water (even for sale), so you have to lug your own drinking water back to the room. And the manager was sleeping in the salon one night when I came downstairs to use the wifi (which doesn't work in the rooms). Although he got up and offered to move out of the room, I had the distinct feeling I was invading someone else's space. When I checked out, I was told the credit card machine was broken and when I asked if it was possible for someone to help me carry my bags to the main street to get a taxi on the day I left and was told that "this is not a service we provide." I moved to another riad in Marrakech after the second night (for a lower price), and it had a much better/safer location, closer to the Djemaa el-Fna, and the service was terrific. You're better off elsewhere.

I decided to stay in this riad as it had great reviews, and as a single traveller a lot of other riads were quite expensive for one person. This riad was definitely great value for money. All the staff were very sweet and keen to help and avoid me getting lost! It is about a 10-13 minute walk to Jemaa el Fna, even at night I felt quite safe on my own. The area the riad is located in is quite local, with kids and families so it was great to see a real part of Marrakech. Room was very comfortable, shower was a bit tempermental, but other than that I would definitely recommend this riad to the budget conscious traveller looking for a real piece of Marrakech.

I cannot reccommend this place highly enough. The Riad Sofia has been impeccably restored and is an oasis of calm in a city that is bustling with life. We were stranded during the volcanic ash disruption and Ziad the manager gave us as much access to his computer as was necessarry to re book our return. Lets face it there are worse places to be stranded. Hadija and Sahira were excellent housekeepers, the place was beautifully looked after and the food excellent. Friendly and hospitable describe perfectly the team that run the hotel Sofia. Our children Luca 8 and Scarlett 10 loved the pool and we would retreat from the heat of the roof garden to invigorate ourselves in the courtyard pool. We plan to return again and again..............................