We picked The Riad tanja after having read the reviews on Trip advisor and the place was rated as number 1. Booked the menzah suite for a 1 night stay during our 6 night stay in Tangier.
The entrance lobby was untidy with rugs pused to one side which i presumed incorrectly was because they were going to clean, it also had a bad drain smell, which luckily didn't filter to our bedroom. The place looks quite tired and in need of fresh paint and a good clean. Yes our suite was Ok but I was disapointed and at the same time releived I haddn't chosen one of the other rooms. The restaurant looks marvelous, however the waiter was insistent we sat where he wanted us to. As it was our Anniversary night, We choose to sit down a few steps in the lower part of the restaurant away from other tables. After having been spoilt with the quality of food at the Moevenpick hotel for the rest of our stay, I would say the food at riad Tanja was pretty mediocre. We may have ben more impressed with the food had we not eaten in better places in Tangier. Also we were ovecharged for our room by about 250 dirhams (25 euros) they had emailed me to say the room would be 134 euros initially. We diddn't quibble about the overcharge, but would not return here. During our stay in Tangier we popped into Riad La Tangerina which was far superior , has a lovely roof terrace. It is spotlessly clean and well decorated, with very friendly and helpful staff. Looked at all the bedrooms there and my favourite was the senior room in blue, and looking at their website much cheaper! we have just recommende the Riad tangerina to a friend who is staying there next week so we lok forward to hearing is reports on the place.

In my opinion, some of the below reviews are a bit over the top. Okay, the place is very cute. Nice decor. Rooms are quite big, and the view over the medina is very nice.

Service is friendly, granted, and the restaurant IS popular with the locals.

HOWEVER, you should know that this is basically a vamped-up-hostel-and-restaurant, not a "hotel" per se. You will not find any of the amenities you might expect from a hotel; no fitness centre, no in room phones, no hotel bar and so on and so on... So, if those kinds of features are what you need - look elsewhere!

In terms of service, as written above, it is nice. BUT for me, sometimes disturbingly slow and unprofessional. Some basic hotelier training would be in place, since a smiling face does not solve every problem a guest might have.

Another thing is the location - right above the petit socco and fish market, you will find it extremely smelly if you open the windows. And, if you are a woman, you might find the area quite uncomfortable to walk through during all hours of the day.

The restaurant? Pretty. But with an over-priced "tasting menu" consisting basically of the usual tajines and cold sallads. No, it is NOT a gourmet restaurant, and you will not find any tastes you will not be able to find in much lower priced restaurants all over town.

All in all - "OK". Nothing more. Nothing less. Expected so much more from all the reviews...

Imagine you are traveling Morocco and unexpectedly you find yourself in a place where Moroccan Wedding Party is taking place and it is happening right next to your room. This is what you can expect when staying in Riad Tanja. Since the Riad’s restaurant is so highly rated, many Tangiers high-class residents choose it for their special events. We were lucky to be there during one of those moments. Moroccans are extremely friendly and will go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable. The staff at the hotel although not speaking much english went out of the way to help and fulfilled every little whish we had.

BTW Congratulations Nabeel and happy Honeymoon.

Stayed here for two nights in April 2007 with my wife and 2 year old daughter and it was simply amazing. The room, El Minzeh suite, was enormous. And had a row of lovely yellow shutters opening with views across the Medina. The location was very handy, just inside the medina (very romantic green door) and moments from Grand Socco, Cinematheque Tanger and the souks for shopping. The staff at the hotel are charming and incredibly welcoming. We felt like we were staying with friends. The breakfast was extraordinary: many tagines brought out with jams and honey and butter inside. And local Moroccan breads and drinking yoghurt. We had a dinner there too. They had a musician playing traditional Moroccan music. And a terrace, with cushions, overlooking the medina. The whole hotel has exquisite decoration: for Morocco lovers, like us, the room itself was a dream. Poufs and a table. Amazing tiles, rugs, furniture. A woman from the kitchen brought us Moroccan mint tea to the room when we arrived, a real treat. Since Moroccans love children, it goes without saying that the staff at Riad Tanja made a wonderful fuss of our daughter who was smitten with the place and ever since, says "I want to go to the green door house in Morocco". We would stay there again without question. Clean, charming, very exotic, lovely staff and well located. And the food is really, as mentioned above, out of this world. A truly spectacular place to stay.