I have just returned from a short break in Riad Zineb, an oasis of calm and beauty in a very vibrant bustling city. The courtyard provides a very welcoming, cool and tranquil space, as do the rooftop terraces, after a day spent wandering the square, souks and alleys. We (six friends) had rented the entire Riad for ourselves but even if sharing with others there are sufficient places to relax in relative privacy. I managed to dip only my toes in the courtyard swimming pool - a very cooling experience. A post sightseeing G&T on the rooftop terrace took priority over swimming! The bedrooms are decorated in Morrocan style and the whole place is stunning,featuring mosiac tiles, cedar wood, The staff could not have been more discreet or helpful, providing a typical Morrocan meal on our first night, arranging taxis from/to the airport. The accommodation is immaculately kept and nothing was too much trouble for the staff or the owner. The only small downside is that the Riad is situated in the very old part of the city. To reach the Medina, restaurants, cafes etc you have a walk of around 20-25 minutes through very narrow alleyways heaving with people selling a huge variety of wares. There are mopeds, bicycles, cars, carts drawn by donkeys, horse drawn kaleches sharing the space too. The upside of course was that I saw a side of real life that I would have missed had I been staying in a more central, "sanitised" part of the city. If you arrive in the evening, to reach the Riad, you also have a walk of about 20-25 minutes after being dropped off by your taxi. However your luggage is taken to the Riad in a cart, by a very attentive guide who often stopped to wait for those of us who trailed behind. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Riad Zineb to my friends. If you're looking for a real Marrakech experience - this is it.

We struggled a bit to find the place when we arrived at night - our taxi dropped us off outside the medina and a man put our luggage in a cart to bring us to the hotel, he didn't know where the hotel was so we stood gaping at Saturday night in the main square. This was, to say the least, an exciting introduction to Marrakesh. We also weren't informed in advance that the taxi should have been paid through the hotel and so we got a little ripped off by the taxi driver.
Khadija was there to greet us and help us get oriented in the medina. Once you walk it once or twice, getting to the main square is actually quite simple and not as labyrinthine as it first appears (the souks on the other hand...). She also brought us excellent breakfasts by the pool every morning. I think there was a problem with the heater though, the pool was a bit too cold to swim comfortably in. The courtyard area was beautiful to sit in, and the rooftop terracing even better. There were also nice lounging areas outside the bedrooms.
The place is new, and you can tell they are still working out a few kinks, but for us it was an lovely start to our two weeks in Morocco.

Riad Zineb has recently opened but is owned and run by people with experience in this business. We were looking for a place to really relax on our holiday, and that was also convenient to much that Marrakech has to offer. And we found it. The Riad is 10 minutes walk through the labyrinth of streets that make up the Medina. The rates included a taxi ride to the Riad where we were met by our hostess for the week, Kadija. Nothing is too much trouble for her, she is the epitome of Moroccan politeness and kindness.We were given a map to aid our adventures, and a number to call at any time in case of troubles. The rooms were beautiful, if basic. Dont bother with a computer, the idea is to relax. No television, no internet access. A pool and a roof top terrace to wind down with. All what we wanted. May not make it the ideal hotel stop for people with little kids though. Breakfast was also included in the rates, and was freshly prepared and served by the pool each day. Delicious. We will be back!