Riad Zamzam Hotel & Spa Marrakech

“Our stay at Riad Zamzam in Marrakesh was exceptional from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel genuinely welcome and well cared for. The riad itself is stunning. Once you step inside, it’s calm, beautifully designed, and a complete contrast to the busy energy of the surrounding Medina. A special thank you to Hafid, who was incredibly welcoming and attentive throughout our stay. He went out of his way to ensure everything was comfortable and smooth for us. Abdo was also fantastic, always friendly, approachable, and ready to help with anything we needed. Their hospitality made a real difference and added a personal touch that you don’t always find. For anyone visiting for the first time, it’s worth noting that the streets leading to the riad may feel a bit rough or unexpected if you’re unfamiliar with the area. That’s completely normal in the Medina and nothing to worry about. Once you walk through the doors, you’re in a peaceful, beautiful space that feels worlds away. Overall, this was a memorable stay and we would absolutely recommend Riad Zamzam to anyone visiting Marrakesh. The combination of warm hospitality and beautiful atmosphere makes it an easy choice.”

“Whilst we had many issues with Riad Zamzam, the most disturbing issue however was safety. We were attacked in the street directly outside the riad in an attempted robbery. My nephew had to rugby tackle the attacker and injured his hand badly. When we informed the staff member on duty, he laughed. No concern. No offer of ice. No first aid. Nothing. On another occasion, one of our guests arrived in tears after being followed in a menacing way, and another one of our guests was harassed on his return to the Riad. There is no security outside the Riad and Lisa and her husband were frankly rude about this, asking who would pay for CCTV or security. Well the answer is you should in order to protect your guests. Basically we never felt safe walking to or from the riad at any time of day. As for the other issues, where does one start! The photos don’t fully match reality. Since the recent change of ownership, many of the soft furnishings and rugs are gone. The place needs proper maintenance and management. The staff are kind people, especially the kitchen and cleaning ladies, and the night porter works incredibly hard. The GM is very sweet and seems to be kind. But kindness doesn’t equal competence. The entire place is completely disorganised and poorly run. Breakfast was chaotic every morning, which may be because of the full buy out and they are a new team with no leadership or training. Bills were wrong multiple times. Rooms had issues — no hot water, missing shower heads, a bathtub that doesn't fill, heating that didn’t work (in February), leaving rooms cold and damp. Lunch after ordering it at 13:00 took three hours to be served with no apology. A friend, staying in another room, the next day pre-ordered at 11am for 2pm her lunch, when it arrived, she couldn't even get a knife through the meat and she sent it back. They put the charge on my room and it wasn't even my order! For the children, they offered to collect burgers and charged us 400 MAD (€40). They came back with four small McDonald’s burgers and two small fries. On one hand it was kind that the manager went to get this, but charging €40... That says everything. There were so many issues from the inflated costs and additional charges, to the total lack of communication in the months of planning this trip, that it took away the joy and caused a lot of stress. Lisa, the owners sister, was so absent and left it weeks/months between replies that I started to think I had booked somewhere that had closed down! I managed to finally get a reply from the owner and asked if Lisa was even in Marrakech that week and he said she was, and so I told them I would fly in to meet her in person and see the venue with my own eyes. Only when I arrived, she was not available as she went shopping, then there was a private party that week so I couldn't view it. I spent the days sitting in a hotel waiting for Lisa to meet with me and show me the Riad. When I asked the staff, they told me we were the first private group booking, so who knows what was the truth... In the end I had to go home as she never showed up. I finally got to meet her on the day I held an event at the Riad. Bluntly she was totally useless and on review of the final bill, I feel she is also dishonest. I stayed in four riads on this trip. This was by far the worst — badly managed, disorganised, overpriced, and shockingly indifferent when something serious happened. I would absolutely not recommend Riad Zamzam.

“Abdo and Hamid were incredibly welcoming and assisted us with everything we needed as tourists. They were very friendly, helpful, and always provided service according to our requirements. The breakfast was amazingly delicious and filling, and they happily offered extra whenever we needed it. Abdo welcomed us with Moroccan mint tea and sweets, which was such a thoughtful and warm gesture. It made us feel at home right away. I left Morocco with wonderful memories and an unforgettable experience. I would love to visit again in the future.”

“I came for the spa and left wanting to actually stay. The Hammam was a wonderful experience, if you're looking to feel brand new and genuinely clean this is for you but over the top luxury this isn't it, I preferred the middle ground experience to the raw traditional, it was clean and great towels/robes. The hospitality of the guys at the front especially Ebdo was so so comforting, bunch of advice, always wanting to do more and conversate about the area.”

“We actually loved the location which was in a more residential area. Best part of the stay was the hammam on site & massage. Rooms were spacious & comfortable. Recommend upstairs as downstairs can smell a bit musty. Nice staff- very helpful. Breakfast is basic. Feels like a traditional stay & we appreciated that.”

“We really enjoyed our stay. The riad is beautiful and located very close to the centre of medina. Jumping in the swimming pool was the best way to refresh after a long day. The staff is very kind and helpful. Fully recommend :)”