This is a nice Riad in the not so touristy part of the Medina which added to the experience. It is an intriguing 15 minute walk from Jamaa el Fna Square with plenty of motorbike dodging and funny encounters with the local hustlers. The Riad itself is clean and quiet. Ahmed was very helpful. The rooms are a little dark but comfortable, however the bathroom could do with being stocked better (i.e. when the soap/toilet paper runs out it's not replaced) The Plunge pool is nice and refreshing in the soaring 40C midday heat. The in-house Hammam is worth the experience. The breakfast was lovely but we were dissapointed on the last morning when we were told we would have something small left out for us because of our 7am departure only to receive nothing in the end. We would of preferred an honest answer when we arranged this the night before!

The good:
A nice helpful welcome on our arrival, showing us where we were, where things we wanted to see were located, directions etc. The rooms were nice and clean with a very comfortable bed, and nice Moroccan style bathroom. Riad itself was quite modern (more so perhaps than the photos suggest) though pleasant enough.

The not so good:
The riad is nice enough, but in my opinion a little more tired and more modern/less atmospheric than the photos suggest. There is a bedroom that one enters from the roof terrace so not ideal for having a natter in the evenings if occupied. The plunge pool was a little cloudy/milky coloured so not that inviting. Roof terrace was a bit tatty but ok.

Though the Riad is not that far from the djemaa el fna main square (around 15 minute walk) the road that leads there is unbelievably busy and quite frankly a bit of a pain to negotiate with motorbikes and throngs of people, often one comes to a total standstill at various bottlenecks along the way. Where the Riad is located seems to be quite removed from most tourist places, all the shops along the road to the square near the riad are local essentials, motorbike repair shops, household goods, small local food joints, etc. I've stayed in Marrakesh several times before and the journey to the square has been considerably shorter/less stressful to negotiate, this location made me appreciate these other locations that much more in hindsight.

Also a few things about the riad itself, I was quite disappointed when one breakfast I wasn't quite finished and went to the room to get something, came back and my breakfast had been cleared, no big deal I was almost done anyway. While waiting for my friends to finish theirs I ordered an orange juice and was pretty disappointed to find that I had been charged for this on the final checkout bill. Small I know but not really the best hospitality, if I'd asked for another breakfast ok, but an orange juice that costs, in the land of oranges, pennies to make pretty poor in my books. The riad we stayed in in Essaouira actually provided coffee, and half a breakfast for my friend who came over in the mornings from his riad elsewhere, no cost.

Finally on the last day when it came to paying we were told the card machine was out of order and we would have to go get cash to pay. In this day and age that seems pretty unacceptable to me, either have a spare card machine or and arrangement with another business to cover such eventualities, so as not to expect customers to incur costs withdrawing fairly large sums of money (there were 4 of us) and inconvenience of having to go to the main square to withdraw cash and come back again. Lucky we asked in plenty of time to go get monies. Also we specifically asked for breakfast the night before at 8am as we had a taxi at 8:30 to take us to the airport and were a bit annoyed to have got up, packed and come downstairs to wait for 20 minutes while the breakfast was organised, having to bolt it down to make our taxi.

It is only one week we're back from Morocco so that we still feel immersed in the magical atmosphere of the Marrakesh medina. Our stay was fantastic thanks to Riad Karmanda and its staff. Ahmed welcome ypu as you arrive explain you the city pillars: what, where and when you can live the best of Marrakesh. He also organize for you excursions (we went to Essaouira...marvellous!). Mina cooks for you divine meals: tajine, cous cous and everything you ask her. Karim wait for you every night with his sincere smile and always ready to share with you opinions and experience. Obviously the riad is wonderful too. Behind a small door you will find a perfect clean, comfortable and relaxing place where stay breaking the noise of medina.
The rooms are spacious and perfectly clean daily. We stayed in Ebane Suite and I love it. It was to the first floor and it is very quite.
The riad is just 10 minutes walking from the Place Jamaa al Fna. I think it is perfectly located in Marrakesh despite of closer riad to the Place where I suppose it is impossible sleep for the noise made by the street. So do not hesitate to choose this riad "it will be your house" as Mina said. I really recommend it and I hope to come back soon. You will not regret about it!!!

We spent 2 nights at the Karmanda and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We were welcomed with smiling faces from the start. Ahmed and the rest of the staff were fantastic in every way possible. Mina's home-cooked tagines were out of this world. In a city full of places to eat I would recommend those who stay at the riad to sample Mina's cooking.

We also had a brilliant and relaxing hammam after a hectic day.

Even after we had checked out we were made welcome with great mint tea and big smiles.

I thoroughly recommend the Karmanda and if I ever go back I will only stay here.