Although difficult to find at first the Riad is a delight the moment you walk through the door. Hidden away within the local community at first impressions you may not be expecting much from the surrounding area but the Riad is its own little world within the hustle and bustle of the city. The staff are polite, friendly and welcoming from the moment you walk through the door willing to help you with any planning on what to do in the days that you stay at the Riad. On top of being very hospitable they take pride in their jobs and do utmost to keep the place clean and tidy regularly throughout the day. The managers of the Riad speak French and English very well and possibly other languages too.

A great emphasis is made to cater to the individual and make the Riad a temporary home for your family, rather than a bigger hotel that may just see you as a number. This is evident by the décor giving off a homely, warming, Moroccan feel accompanied by ambient music and the great service by the members of staff.

Accommodation wise we stayed in Kaoutar (on the top floor) and Salwa (on the first floor) both of which are very spacious giving enough room to move around without feeling cramped. Both equipped with an air con unit which also blew out hot air for those chilly nights when you want to warm up. Plenty of storage space, a blanket is also provided as well as complimentary oranges, and water on arrival, alongside toiletries which not only smell delightful but leave your skin feeling silky smooth. A bonus of which you can buy from the Riad as well as various oils and incense that the they use. They accept both Dirham and Euros. Shutters on the rooms are very atmospheric giving the option to let lots or little to no light into your room. Although close by together, you will find that you're nights are not disturbed by noises from other rooms or guests.

The facilities the Riad provide allow for a comfortable stay and relaxation if you decide not to go out for the day. On the terrace you have a lounging area beside a dining area where you can have breakfast upstairs if you wish. There is also 3 sunbeds that are comfortable but situated so that you can get sun all throughout the day, as well as being right next to the hot tub, which is very comfortable and relaxing, enabling you to dry off quickly. Beside the hot tub you also have a massage parlour big enough for one person so you can treat yourself if you wish. Although not used in our stay there is a small pool on the ground floor in the reception area which during the hotter days will be a relief from the hot sun.

Food wise the Riad provided a free breakfast everyday between 8am - 11am as well as lunch and dinner that can be bought costing around 6-15 Euros a meal. Breakfast is different each day but you will always have a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice along side bread, butter, jam, honey, soft cheese, and a drink of your choice between coffee, English tea, or Moroccan tea. Some of the breakfast options we had included pancakes, crepes, yoghurt and fruit cocktails, sweet cakes and tarts.

For the duration of our stay we rented a car to get around, free parking on the main road by the Riad was very easily accessible. We never struggled to find somewhere to park. The roads are actually roads and not dirt tracks as some may expect, all very smooth as they wind around the nook and cranny's of the city. Driving in Marrakech however is not for the faint-hearted or nervous. You need eyes in the back of your head!

The Riad is situated 10mins or so by car from the airport and about a 15min walk from the main square, 25-30min walk to the new city centre (the oxford street of Marrakech!). Located just inside the city walls next to the Royal Palace every major attraction is within an easy reachable distance by car, carriage, or walking. There are kiosks for basic necessities and a pharmacy less that 5mins from the Riad on the main road.

A few things people looking to stay here may wish to note beforehand...The Riad is home to a very timid and friendly cat called Max. He doesn't, as far as I'm aware, enter the rooms however he has full run of the communal areas. Those that aren't cat or pet people may not appreciate this. For us, having cats ourselves, it was not a problem and reminded us of being home.
As there is a Mosque a minute away from the Riad, call to prayer can be heard at various times, noticeably at around 6am when most are still in bed.
Although the rooms are sound-proofed from each other, you can hear people talk on the terrace and in the communal areas. This could disturb if you wish to lie-in or have an early night. Having said that the Riad has been full during our stay and people are generally aware and respectful of their noise levels knowing that others are around.

On a personal note, we waited for 10 or more minutes for a taxi on one occasion, as empty taxis did not come by we went to ask the Riad if they could ring and order one for us. Instead they gave us a lift to the main square without any hesitation. This was very much appreciated. Also, on two mornings of our stay some of our party wanted to stay in the rooms for various reasons until 2pmish. The maids still came by after they had completed their initial
cleaning duties to make the bed and replenish toilet paper and fresh towels. again this was very much appreciated as was their singing as they worked!

The Riad is delightful as is Marrakesh and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to experience Moroccan culture with a quaint and comfortable place to stay.

We were greeted at the airport by our taxi driver who took us to the riad. It was 10 euros for the journey which was very reasonable seeing as you would not be able to find the riad on your own from the main street without a little human offering their help in exchange for money!

The porte rouge opened into a beautiful hallway followed by the courtyard. It was lovely and quiet unlike the main street leading to it. We were greeted by Karen and her team. They were very welcoming and made us feel at home. We were shown the quickest route to the medina and to recommended restaurants which was very useful as the riad is not very central. You are also introduced to the popular mint tea which becomes a significant part of the trip! We arrived at around 8 pm and were given the choice of eating at the riad or venturing out into the square. We decided to stay at the riad and have our first tagine on arrival. Food was very good and value for money!

We booked the Narjisse which is on the ground floor however on arrival we were upgraded to a bigger room upstairs for the same price! Bonus! The rooms are beautifully decorated and very romantic! Our first night was an experience. You forget that Morocco is a muslim country and there is a mosque at every street corner. At 5.30am we were woken by the calling for prayer followed by the birds singing away! However the riad is still very peaceful and the staff do not rush you out the room to breakfast as there was no time to be at breakfast. We tended to slowly make our way downstairs for breakfast at 10.30am/11am. Breakfast consisted of fresh orange juice, coffee/tea, an assortment of sweet breads/cakes, yoghurt,jam,bread and a dash of rose water with most items! You get used to the floral tastes in moroccan food very quickly!

The riad has a terrace that is great for relaxing with a good book. There is also a lovely jacuzzi -definately recommended in the evenings after a long day of walking. Alcohol is also served at the riad and the staff are always available to serve you. Recommend trying moroccan wine - its cheaper than the foreign wines.

The riad was a great place to escape and hide from the hustle bustle of Marrakech and you certainly wind down when you return at the end of the day.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay despite the prayer calls and would recommend this riad to anyone wishing to experience the true Morocco!

Thank you to all the riad la porte rouge staff - we couldnt have asked for better service!

Beautiful Riad with extremely friendly and helpful staff.
Ideally located, a short walk from Marrakech centre and souks.
Will be going back!

We stayed for 5 nights in this lovely Riad - 4 in the small but very nice Narjisse, and one night in a bigger double room. From the moment we arrived all the staff made us feel incredibly welcome, with mint tea and an introduction to what to do in Marrakech. The Riad is beautifully decorated, exceptionally clean, and warm despite the cold January nights! Breakfast is varied and very generous, and it was lovely to have it in the sunshine on the roof terrace. We ate in the Riad one evening, and had a very tasty tagine - the prices are very reasonable and the food is lovely.

There were so many little touches that made the stay here really special. The owner always took the time to wish us good morning, and made every effort to help us, from booking trips to dropping us to the main square in her car when it was raining! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.