Riad Kniza is a small, luxury riad on Derb l Hotel in the Bab Doukkala district of the Medina, among the best-reviewed hotels in Marrakech. The booking page gives a guest rating of 9.8 from 418 reviews, with perfect scores for cleanliness and for staff and service, and lists the property as a five-star luxury class. The riad has a rooftop terrace overlooking the Medina and a restaurant, an outdoor pool, a steam room, massage treatment rooms, a garden, a coffee shop and a gift shop. A free continental breakfast is included. Rooms are individually decorated and range from Deluxe and Superior Double Rooms to Junior and Senior Suites and a Royal Suite of nearly thirteen hundred square feet, with premium bedding, air conditioning, sitting areas, cable TV and 24-hour room service. Reviewers praise the staff, cleanliness, location and breakfast, and some mention the rooftop dinner.
Who it suits
Couples and travelers who value service, a quiet courtyard and a place that feels like a private home. It is not a big-resort experience, and pets are not allowed. It suits culture-minded guests who plan to spend their days on foot in the Medina and return to a tranquil base.
Location math
The booking page lists about a three-minute walk to Place Bab Doukkala, seven minutes to Dar el Bacha Palace and the Bacha Coffee house, eleven to Marrakech Plaza and Le Jardin Secret, and thirteen minutes to Jemaa el-Fna. The Majorelle Garden is within about a mile. The airport is about fifteen minutes by car. As with most riads, taxis cannot reach the door, and one guest advised arranging pickup in advance and warned that luggage is carried through a market. The airport shuttle is available for a fee.
Practical notes
Check-in is from two in the afternoon and checkout is at noon. Self parking is available for a modest daily fee. Reviews include praise for the staff and the breakfast, with one guest feeling the property had seen better days and another finding rooftop dinner service slow. Ask about the dinner menu and reserve in advance if you want to eat on the terrace. Spa services such as massage should be booked on arrival or before, as one guest advised booking early.
Roundtrip airport transfers and parking carry surcharges. Spend a little time planning your evenings: the rooftop restaurant is a pleasant place for a first dinner after arrival, while the nearby Bab Doukkala area has cafes and small restaurants within a short walk. Guests who book a massage or the steam room after a day of sightseeing tend to find it a good counterweight to the lanes, and the garden and coffee shop make a quiet spot to plan the next day.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool
- ✓Rooftop terrace and restaurant
- ✓Steam room and massage rooms
- ✓Free continental breakfast
- ✓Garden and coffee shop
- ✓24-hour front desk and concierge
- ✓Airport shuttle on request
- ✓Walk to Dar el Bacha
Good questions
How is Riad Kniza rated by guests?+
The booking page shows 9.8 from 418 reviews, with perfect scores for cleanliness and for staff and service.
Can taxis reach the riad?+
Not directly. One guest advised arranging pickup in advance and noted luggage is carried through a market. Ask the riad to meet you.
Is breakfast included?+
Yes. The page lists a free continental breakfast.
