This fantastic riad has just 4 rooms so you get excellent (and a very personal) service. The rooms are well appointed and spotless! All are ensuite with an excellent shower, Valérie (the owner) ensures that your trip will be memorable and safe! She gives each customer a local mobile phone so that you can call her if you have any problems whilst on your travels (e.g. if you get lost in the souks!). Every time you want to go somewhere particular she'll draw maps to show the best way of getting there (without getting lost!) or will organise a local taxi from one of her 3 trustworthy contacts (Abdou was great). A huge continental breakfast is part of the price and we challenge anyone to finish it - the homemade yoghurt and jams are a delight (as are the pancakes!). With advance notice you can also have an excellent dinner cooked by (the ever smiling) Saâdia which was one of the best meals we had in Marrakech. All of the staff (Valérie, Saâdia, Izza and Halima) are excellent and very welcoming.
Valérie also helped with organising trips - the highlight of our stay was a day trip to the Atlas mountains - she organised a good English speaking driver (Hussain) who organised an excellent English speaking guide (Omar). Our 3 hour walking trip (good shoes/hiking boots recommended) ended with a great lunch on the terrace of a local hotel, Kasbah du Toubkal, in the village of Imlil - the best view (of the Atlas mountains) that you could possibly have for lunch.
In all we spent 6 nights at the Riad which gave us plenty of time to explore Marrakech and the surrounding area with Valérie's help. The Riad is located in the Medina so great for exploring Marrakech - rather than the new town which is a little sterile. Riad Cherrata is excellent for couples, a small group of friends, or even if you are on your own. We can't think of a better place to stay!
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO VALÉRIE, SAÂDIA, IZZA AND HALIMA!

This cosy little riad was fantastic! Right in the heart of the Medina you are close to all of the souks and terraced restaurants and most things are well within walking distance. Valerie, the riad (guest house) proprietor, is nothing short of fantastic! She made sure we had a map and a mobile phone and she also helped to organise all of our activities which included quad biking, a spa evening and a table at a plush restaurant. Breakfast was delicious, all homemade breads, yoghurts, pancakes and pastries. (You can expect to eat a lot of bread in Marrakech). This is definitely a place for couples - married couples especially, as most guest houses will not accommodate non-married couples sharing a room. The pictures and the reviews speak for themselves and are all accurate. I will be recommending Riad Cherrata to all of my friends and family and of course to you guys too!

We have just returned and the hotel and staff were amazing. The hotel is about a 5 minute walk from the main square and souk and is far enough away for it to be very quiet at night. The staff were amazing, we were met by a waiting driver (which was all arranged by the hotel and is highly recommended). On our arrival Valerie gave us maps, a mobile phone and made us aware of all the essential information. We were also given tea and cakes. Our room was amazing ultra clean and the breakfast was brilliant all home made. I can't rate this hotel highly enough.

We were privileged to spend a week in the wonderful Riad Cherrata in the Medina, where service and attention to detail is balanced perfectly with a warm, relaxed atmosphere; a combination that almost all top end hoteliers could only dream of emulating. Valerie's recommendations, maps and guidance during our stay was invaluable in us getting the most from our visit to this extraordinary City, whilst saving us huge amounts of time (a dream for short visits) and probably a fair amount of money on taxis, carriages, excursions, restaurants, shops and souks (seriously worth considering when you settle your bill and contemplate what service to add). The ever present Saadia was so welcoming, even when we knocked on the door at some inhospitable hour following a late dinner at Bagatelle and drinks at Le Comptoir. Her breakfast is a reason to visit Marrakech on its own (eliminated the need for us to stop for lunch). Conclusion: if you need a 'camel leather clad' lift, stay at Mamounia, if not, stay at Riad Cherrata and experience Marrakech as it should be experienced, with a little insider knowledge from Valerie; you can always pop over to Mamounia for a gin and tonic in the gardens. David and Natalie (13th to 21st January 2013).