A review of our fantastic stay at Riad Dar Dialkoum during our recent visit to Marrakech.

Hotel Review: Riad Dar Dialkoum

May 8, 2017Louise7 min read2 comments
Hotel Review Riad Dar Dialkoum

Visiting Marrakech?  You must stay in a riad!

Staying in a riad was one of the highlights of our stay and truly gave us that Moroccan feel

Marrakech has a wide variety of accommodation options to suit all budgets.  You can choose from the ultra-luxurious riads, fancy hotels to the mid-range riads or basic guest houses.  We knew we wanted to book ourselves into a riad as we loved the more intimate setting and Moroccan decor.  Riads are traditional Moroccan homes built around a central courtyard.  Many have been renovated to become comfortable guest houses/hotels.

Booking

With so many riads to choose from in this city it was a bit overwhelming trying to decide on the best one.  Did we want one right in the heart of the medina?  One that was more affordable?  One with a pool?  After sorting through our options we decided on Riad Dar Dialkoum and were so happy we did!  What brought Riad Dar Dialkoum to the top of our list was the wonderful reviews of how warm and welcoming the hosts/owners are and we certainly found this to be true!

We booked directly through their website at www.dardialkoum.com

We usually prefer to book directly with a hotel and often find the best rates this way.  Riad Dar Dialkoum also had a great deal if you book 3 nights you get 10% off AND a free pick up from the airport.  Knowing that taxi drivers in Morocco can be known to rip off tourists, this free transfer was a definite plus.  After a long trip, the last thing we want to do is fight off aggressive/dishonest cab drivers.

The rates were quite reasonable.  The total for our 3 night stay was €217.50 and this included delicious daily breakfasts.  It was not the cheapest option in Marrakech but for the level of service and comfort we received it was definitely a good deal.

Location

Even though Riad Dar Dialkoum is not the most central riad, we found the location to be just perfect for us.  It is close to the old city walls so it is easy to walk to the new town or walk the other way to Jemaa el Fna, about a 15-20 minute walk.   We quite enjoyed wandering through the little alleyways of the Old Town to find our way to the bustling centre and then later returning to the more peaceful outskirts in the evenings.

To avoid getting lost, download an offline map to your phone and use your GPS to get around (no data needed).  This is what we did and we did not get lost once!  Super helpful and definitely recommended.  Riad Dar Dialkoum is deep within the medina and if we did not have GPS there is no way we would have found our way.

After the first day we got our bearings and walked all over, even late at night at midnight, and never felt unsafe. The alleys can feel pretty deserted late at night but there were always a few locals around (and lots of stray cats!) so we never felt uncomfortable.

Rooms

Riad Dar Dialkoum consists of only 7 rooms so when you stay there you feel like part of the family.  Our first two nights we stayed in the Aicha room.  Even though it is the smallest room in the riad, it was very lovely and did not feel cramped.  We loved the fresh flowers throughout the room and the decor was just lovely.  The owners, Laurent and Muriel, take care to decorate with freshly cut roses all throughout the room and riad.  Definitely a nice touch.

Aicha Bed at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Roses at Riad Dar Dialkoum

The rooms also had a bowl of fresh fruit which was replenished each day.  We loved this!!  Definitely nicer than a mini bar.  We often snacked on the fruit when we returned to our room for a break from exploring the city.  There was also a large bottle of complimentary water in the room – something else we greatly appreciated.  The room had AC and free wifi with a strong connection.  The toiletries in the bathroom were also nice.

Fresh roses and fruit at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Lantern in Aicha Room of Dar Dialkoum

Complimentary Water Riad Dar Dialkoum

Aicha Bathroom Riad Dar Dialkoum

On our last night Laurent upgraded us to a nice suite (the Soraya Room) at no extra cost!   It was absolutely lovely and a greatly appreciated surprise!!  The Soraya Room is a large suite and is very romantic.  We loved the large bathroom and unique shower/tub, complete with fresh cut roses.  The Moroccan lanterns throughout also added to the romantic atmosphere.

Roses and fruit in Soraya Room at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Bed in Soaray Room at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Towel Art at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Lovely atmosphere of Soraya Room in Riad Dar Dialkoum

Shower tub of Soraya Room at Riad Dar Dialkoum

We loved the old-style locks and keys.  Check out Ryan locking up our room!  The only problem was the gigantic metal key was a bit large to carry around in his jeans pocket 😉

Old style locks at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Experience

The owners were amazingly warm and friendly.  They truly are fantastic hosts and take care to make all their guests feel welcome.  Laurent and Muriel took the time to meet each guest and chat with them to get to know them.  In all the places we’ve traveled to we have never encountered such genuinely caring hosts who truly want their guests to have the best possible experience.

Laurent and Muriel put effort into every little detail to ensure a fantastic stay.  We loved the welcome letter we received upon arrival and the detailed map of Marrakesh.  They were always happy to help with anything.  For example, our luggage was lost by our airline on the way to Morocco and we needed to reprint our boarding passes for our departure.  Laurent printed them for us no problem and checked on our flight status as well.

Not only were the owners wonderful, but the helpers and cooks were lovely as well.  There was a lovely woman, named Amina, who served us food everyday with a warm smile and greeted us every time we returned to the riad.

 

Food

The daily breakfasts were a highlight of our stay.  Every morning we were treated to a different spread of delicious options.  Amina was so kind and hard-working and always served us up a great breakfast consisting of cheeses, yogurt, fresh fruits, local pastries from the markets, pancakes, eggs, etc.

Breakfast spread at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Breakfast at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Breakfast spread at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Best of all, the coffee was to die for!!  Laurent explained to us that coffee is very important to him and he makes sure to serve a great cup of French-style coffee. Until now I still miss his delicious coffee.
On our first night we ordered the welcome dinner which was called the Discovery Menu.  It started with a cold orange soup which was quite unique and unlike anything we had had before.

Cold orange soup at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Then came some Moroccan salads, saffron rice and then a chicken tagine for the main.  The tagine had preserved lemons which was uniquely Moroccan in flavour.

Moroccan Salad at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Eggplant at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Chicken Tagine at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Dinner in the courtyard of Riad Dar Dialkoum

For dessert we had fruit and some pastries and finished off with some Moroccan mint tea.

Dessert at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Love tea?  Check out La Mamounia Afternoon Tea while you are in Marrakech!

Dinner was lovely served in the courtyard under the orange trees, with the plunge pool all lit up.  Any time we dined in the courtyard it was always a nice experience.  We absolutely loved the atmosphere and hearing the birds chirping around us.

Dinner in the courtyard at Riad Dar Dialkoum

We chose to take our breakfast on the rooftop one morning and that was very nice as well.  Very peaceful up there and you get to look out onto all the rooftops of Marrakech.

Rooftop Breakfast at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Rooftop Breakfast at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Rooftop Breakfast at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Rooftop Breakfast at Riad Dar Dialkoum

Inner Courtyard Riad Dar Dialkoum

All in all, this riad is a fantastic choice for a stay in Marrakech and we would certainly stay here again if we are lucky enough to make it back to Morocco! One of the top places we’ve stayed at in all our travels around the world.

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Check out our other Marrakech posts:

Marrakech Itinerary: The Perfect 3 Days in Marrakech

Marrakesh: 12 Do’s and Don’ts

Imlil Day Trip: The Best Day Trip from Marrakech

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