To properly experience Marrakesh you have to stay in a Riad. Riad 58 is first class and ALL the staff and Paolo are very helpful.
Of course you have to work out how to find the Riad in the maze of little streets but it is not difficult and fun. At least you can rub shoulders with the locals ( literally!).Mohammed and Ismail were helpful in their advice and were willing to take you to local restaurants. Toufik the local driver is very helpful and always at the right place at the right time.
Cannot fault the Riad and would stay there again.
For visits, Ourika valley and Essaouaira are musts as well as the Majorelle gardens.
Restaurants, Tanjia, El Fassia, , Peppenero are first class - you get what you pay for.
Dancing displays in restaurants equal mediocre food and high price.

The arrival is daunting to a newcomer. After a journey through a maze of streets we had to leave the airport taxi in a dusty, bustling square, walk a few yards down a narrow street, and turn left into a narrower one to reach the imposing front door of Riad 58 Blu. The Judas gate which was opened to our ring revealed the entrance hall of a truely unexpected interior.
The riad's five bedrooms are arranged on three floors around a soaring and marvellously decorated courtyard with a pool into which we never plunged (well this was January). Here were tastes of many of the architectorial conceits we were to see in various palaces and museums during our first trip to Marrakesh. Mosaics are used to effect, as is the splendid moulded plasterwork. The roof terrace where breakfast is served is quirkier adopting a zebra motif.
Our ground floor suite, had a vestibule, sleeping area, sitting area and bathroom stretched across one side of the building. It was clean and very tidy until our luggage hit it and, as with the rest of the riad, was kept to perfection by the housekeeping team. The room had a safe, a minibar and a phone. There was no hairdryer and the lights were generally dim. But we asked for, and were willingly given, a brighter bulb to allow reading.
Breakfasts were plentiful including yogurt, many local breads, weak orange juice and strong coffee. We also had omeletes and, on request, fruit salad. We had our first evening meal at the riad: a three course affair consisting of Moroccan salad, a chicken tajine and fruit. Cost 250 MAD.
That meal effectively got over the first night nervousness at seeing such a different culture close up. The next morning Paulo, the owner, was there to greet us and conduct us to the old city's main square. With the manager, Mohammed, and his aide, Ibrahim, there was always someone on hand in the riad to answer questions and offer help. Trips to the Atlas mountains were arranged; hammans contacted for massage appointments; directions given; suggested prices for taxi rides made. We were made to feel that they wanted us to be happy during our stay. Paulo provided the transport to and from the airport in the price of our trip.
The riad is well placed to explore the old city. Place Jemma el Fna (the big square) takes about seven minutes on foot. From there the walk to the northern medina and Medersa Ben Youssef could take a lot longer as it takes you through the souks. Heading south to the Mellah and the Kasbah takes about 20 minutes as does the trip east to the Tanneries. All are walkable and there is plenty to see along the way. There is a restaurant off the square near the hotel but it was much more interesting to eat in el Fna which has many eating terraces and the famed night market.

I can undestand why the reviwer who stayed one night was not happy, it is a huge culture shock staying in the old city in Marrakech. We were very apprehensive when we first arrived, the maze of narrow streets, no sign posts, not knowing the place, not being sure of the locals. The first night we came home by time and did not go out, what a mistake!
The staff are great, Mohammed took us on a tour as soon as we arrived showing us how to get in and out of the Riad, how to get to the main central square, pointing out reasurtants. This did give us some reasurance but it is not until you start getting about on your own that you realise how wonderfull the place in.
Ishmael also speaks great English and did everything he could to help out backed up by two ladies making a team which do everything they can to make your holiday.
The next morning started with breakfast cooked to order served on the roof over looking Marrakech in the sunshine, a great start givning you confidence that everything will be allright.
A Riad is difficult to imagine if you have not seen one, you go down a series of alleys with high walls on both sides which get narrower the further you go, you then come to a door in the wall which gives very little clue as to what is behind it and you are wondering if you should go through. When you do through it is an incredible contrast and you could go for this alone.
Once you set off into the rabbit warren of alley ways your confidence grows firstly when you realise the locals are friendly and trustworty, at no time day or night did we feel even a little bit threatand. You have to watch for motobikes, trolleys, donkey carts as well as all the pedestrians all moving at once in the narrow alleys. They are all lit at night and we went out each night in the dark with no issues. You do get a bit of hassle from the stall holders and shop keepers but this is generally fairly light and not too persistant. This is more than balanced by generally tennagers offering advice and directions if you are looking lost.
Head for the big square where Mohammed has taken you to as so much seems to happen in and around this. It is a hive of activity day and night, watch out around 4pm when all the food stalls arrive and set up in a very organised manner ready to serve until midnight. There are several roof terraces which you can get to for the price of a drink and watch the unfolding events. Looking up is a good piece of advice for Marrakech, often you see an empy reasturant only to find a bustling roof terrace three floors up.
Reasutants are very plentiful but similar to UK prices, they vary from being good wholesome Morroccon food through to great dining experiences, we had some great meals. Alchohl is available in some reasurtants and bars but is at London prices.
Overall we really enjoyed our three nights in Marrakech.
Top Tip, if you want to travel about in Morrocco, we went to Essouria for two nights, there is a very good bus network run by SupraTours which has a bus depot just behind the Main Railway Station in Marrakech. 1st Class is similar to UK standards and Comfort Plus is better than anything I had travelled on before. It is an efficient service, reasonably priced, several departures a day which do seem to change often. Book the day before and all the taxi drivers know where supra tours are. I you want a day trip to Essouria, well worth it you can pay 40 euros for an organised trip on a mini bus, 20 Euros for Supra Tours Comfort Plus(one return trip per day), departing 9am retuning at 5pm(Jan 13) or 14 Euros for Supra Tours first Class(several trips per day)all return and stopping at the Oil Coperative on the way, but supra tours do not stop at the Goats in The Trees!!!

We are so glad that we chose to stay for our 4 day trip to Marrakech. Our flight was late so we only got into the city at about 10pm. Mohammed, the manager, let us settle in, then took us into the square himself so that we didn't get lost, and also showed us a great place to eat.
He couldn't have been more helpful, and the housekeeping ladies are excellent too!

Only a short distance from a lot of the main attractions in the city it is very easy to get to places (with a few directions from staff). But, it is far enough away to get a little peace at night.
It is very relaxing inside the riad and thew rooms are stunning. We stayed in the double room, which is at the top of the riad and beautifully decorated. We would get a different room next time, only because the bed was a little dodgy at times.

On the shared shuttle home (the riad does offer one but we had already booked ours) the other passengers were talking about their issues with their accomodation, but we really had nothing bad to say!

I will tell everybody I know to go to Marrakech, and I will tell them to stay here! You couldn't ask for better staff anywhere in the world!