Riad Hikaya

Riad Hikaya -'hikaya' meaning 'story' in Arabic - is a luxury boutique hotel located in the royal quarter of the medina, called the 'Kasbah', an easy walk from the main square, Jemaa al Fnaa, and the city's other famous landmarks. It took more than four years of meticulous restoration by local craftsmen and artisans, employing both age old techniques and materials, to transform the riad into what it is today. The harmonious blend of ancient tradition and contemporary comforts, coupled with an emphasis on quality and personal service, create an unforgettable and unique experience.

This riad is available as part of any tailor made holiday with Rediscover the World.

Accommodation: The riad offers seven double bedrooms, all ensuite, and all handcrafted to the highest possible standards of comfort by local Marrakshi artisans. The ambience is one of tradition, elegance and timelessness, complemented by 21st century comforts.

All rooms are equipped as standard with the following:

• Private ensuite bathroom
• Remote controlled air conditioning and heating for the cooler months
• Fresh fruit & mineral water
• Fresh flowers
• ''Sens de Marrakesh '' toiletries
• Babouche - his and hers
• Flat screen tv / satellite channels
• Nightly turn down service with rose petals
• Ipod docking station
• Free wifi internet access

Room descriptions:

• Hubb - the Arabic word meaning love, is located on the ground floor and opens onto the pool. The beautifully upholstered canopy with traditional hanging 'shwissiyaat' - tassels - that adorn the bed enhances the romantic feel of the room. Vintage berber carpets and Moroccan wedding tent fabric that hangs on the walls complete the rich feel. The spacious bathroom includes a large monsoon shower and a hand crafted copper bath for the most luxurious of bathing experiences.

• Hanan - the Arabic word meaning sympathy, is located on the first floor of the riad offering a view over the courtyard and pool. It features a hand sculpted wooden bed in the berber tradition which is framed by a sumptuously upholstered canopy with hanging tassels. Hand painted ceilings and mood lighting add to the romantic feel. the room is tastefully furnished with soft kelim armchairs, handmade silver mirrors and antique carpets. The spacious bathroom, finished in tadelakt and zelij with zowaqq motifs adorning the walls, is the perfect place to soothe mind and body after a busy day in the souks.

• Karama - the Arabic word meaning dignity, is one of the smaller double rooms but neverthless beautifully proportioned with a spacious, handcrafted and highly decorative bathroom. A zowwaq painted and hand sculpted 'muqarbas' - a traditional, geometric patterned bedhead - along with a canopy fashioned from desert silk, muslin and 'shwisiyyaat' - hanging tassels - brings a touch of romance and theatre to this charming room. Antique carpets and velvet chairs complete the luxurious feel. The large bathroom, from its handpainted. mirrored feature wall to the sumptuousness of the zelij, domed shower, creates the perfect environment in which to cleanse and revitalise.

• Ikhlas - the Arabic word for sincerity, is located on the first floor of the riad overlooking one of the central courtyards and pool. An elegant, textured canopy of handmade fabric, muslin and traditional tassels - frames the bed bringing warmth and romance to this wonderfully light and spacious room. The room, with tadelakt walls throughout, is furnished with antique berber carpets, copper mirrors, zelij tables and a copper sofa upholstered in a fabric derived from the cactus plant known locally in Marrakesh as 'desert silk'. The stylish bathroom, with its hand painted zowwaq walls, red zelij floor and beautifully sculpted tadelakt and zelij shower, offers a relaxing space to soothe body and mind after a busy day in the souks.

• Sharaf - the Arabic word meaning honour, is situated on the ground floor of the riad opening on to the smaller, mirror lined courtyard. This room, the largest of all in the riad, features an antique berber door that complements the handcrafted, wooden bed styled in the berber tradition. Hand painted plaster motifs decorate the walls. Cactus silk curtains adorn the tadelakt walls and traditional shutters. Zowaqq hand decoration features on the carved ceiling. An oversized, kelim armchair and sofa complete the opulent feel. The hand-painted and zelij tiled bathroom includes a silver, monsoon shower and a sunken tadelakt bath for the most luxuriant of bathing experiences.

• Rahma - the Arabic word meaning compassion, is situated on the first floor of the riad overlooking the smaller, mirrored courtyard. The traditional bed, fashioned from tadelakt and zelij, is framed by a hand carved 'muqarbas', or bedhead, with an ornate zowwaq finish. Cactus silk curtains line the tadelakt walls and frame the artisanal, wooden shutters. Hand painted plaster motifs, soft kelim armchairs and vintage Berber carpets complete the luxurious feel. The bathroom offers for your relaxation a sunken, hand painted tadelakt bath and a monsoon shower crafted from zelij and maillechort, a metal favoured by Marrakshi artisans which in English is known as nickel silver.

• Amal - the Arabic word meaning hope, is situated on the first floor of the riad overlooking the smaller, mirror lined courtyard. A traditional canopy made from cactus silk and muslin along with hanging tassels - adorns the king size bed. Soft, kelim armchairs, vintage carpets and an antique silver writing desk creates a comfortable ambience. This feeling is enhanced by the large teardrop shaped, tadelakt fireplace. The staff will light you a log fire during the cooler months. The spacious bathroom is finished in tadelakt and zelij tiles. Take a soak in the wonderfully deep copper bath or have a luxurious, monsoon shower.

Facilities: The Riad offers all year round swimming with its heated pool and the roof top jacuzzi, cloaked in a bedouin tent for added intimacy, soothes aching limbs after a hard days shopping in the souks. Pamper yourself in the hammam - and let Laila, the in-house masseuse, give you a traditional Moroccan massage using natural products.

The two roof terraces, planted with orange, lemon, grapefruit and pomegranate trees, offer superb, open views onto the snow capped Atlas mountains. Enjoy a leisurely, sun-lit breakfast. Sunbathe under a clear blue African sky or relax in the cool shade of the Caidale pergolas. As evening falls, prepare to dine as the sun sets to the accompaniment of the evening call for prayer.

Spa

Indulge yourself at the roof top spa with hammam, heated Jacuzzi and treatments room. Laila, (in-house masseuse) will tailor your massage to suit your personal needs. Facials, pedicures and manicures are also available to complement the relaxing effect of your hammam and massage. A traditional moroccan experience at the spa which encompasses the following elements -

• Firstly, spend 30 minutes in the hammam to really warm up the skin which helps to maximise the effects of the massage.
• Your body will be then be enveloped in 'savon noir', or black soap, which is 100% plant based and made from olive oil, ground olive pits and eucalyptus. This has the effect of nourishing, soothing and cleaning the skin.
• The third step is called 'gommage', or rubbing, whereby the body is rubbed with crepe de chine - hard spun yarn - to exfoliate the skin and to remove impurities. Your skin will be left feeling silky soft.
• Finally, your body will be enveloped in 'rassoul', a desert mineral softened with rose water. this will soothe and moisturize your skin.

What better way to relax, de-stress and rejuvenate.

Dining at Riad Hikaya

Choose from a wide range of traditional Moroccan dishes such as harira, couscous, chicken and lamb tagine with almonds, preserved lemons or apricots, tangiya, sea food pastilla and spicy sardines.

Breakfast is included and they offer a relatively informal lunch menu and a full three course dinner menu. Guests are requested to choose their preferred dishes in the morning in order that the kitchen staff can source all ingredients fresh from the market that day. In this way, the excellence of your dining experience is assured. Should guests have any particular dietary requirements or prefer a pared down version of the full dinner menu, the cook will be only too happy to prepare whatever is required.

Dining is, of course, available on the roof terrace which in addition has its own tagine oven and grill. Enjoy the delights of Moroccan cuisine whilst soaking up the exotic and unique atmosphere of the Kasbah.

The Kasbah

Riad Hikaya is situated in the the royal district of the medina called the Kasbah. The two royal palaces of Marrakesh are situated at either end of this district, hence its royal connection. The Kasbah is located in the southern part of the medina and is only a fifteen minute walk from the main square, Jemaa al Fnaa. The Kasbah itself is a very lively, working district with a plethora of cafes, restaurants, hammams, shops, stalls and markets where your haggling skills will be well and truly put to the test. The Kasbah also features the Saadian Tombs which date back to 1578 but were only discovered in 1917. The added advantage of our location is that taxis and even horse drawn carriages, known locally as 'caleches', can pull up right to the door, a real rarity in the medina and which significantly adds to the comfort of guests.

Transfer Time from Airport:

• 15-20 minutes (private transfer).

Contact us now to book this recommended riad for any dates.

• Small & Friendly
• <10 rooms
• Pool
• Restaurant
• Spa
• Ideal for families
• Ideal for couples
• Ideal for fly drives

"Everything worked like clockwork. The drivers and guides were punctual, very kind and informative. We had good advice about the places we stayed from them and the riad staff. We enjoyed everything about the trip. Thank you very much!"

S Walker-Stokes, March 2019

"Riad Hikaya went above and beyond to look after us during our stay. The staff were superb, nothing was too much trouble. This set a high standard that the other two hotels struggled to follow."

S Johnson, UK, Oct 2018

"Riad Hikaya is so beautiful, John the owner is a delight and the staff are wonderful... the food at the riad was excellent both for dinner on the three evenings we ate there and for breakfast and the touches with water, fruit, nuts, sweets and dried fruit in the room were much appreciated."

J Dean, UK, Sept 2018

"We loved the Riad in Marrakech. It was gorgeously decorated with plenty of delicious food and the staff amazingly kind, sincere and friendly. The Riad owner welcomed us warmly with mint tea and sweets on the day after our arrival and gave us detailed explanation of all that there is to see in the city."

S Klein, Spain, July 2018

"Just to let you know we have safely arrived home and had a great holiday! Riad Hikaya was fantastic. John was brilliant. Good location etc. Transfers all on time and excellent. All information was brilliant. No issues at all."

M Rose, UK, Oct 2015

"Riad Hikaya was first class"

D Moorhouse, UK, May, 2015

"We just wanted to thank you for organising our trip. The holiday was fantastic and wouldn't have been possible if not for you. Marrakesh to Shrewsbury by train seemed like a mad cap idea with all the different elements and travel arrangements. However it didn't phase you at all, you just got it sorted and it all went like clockwork. Thank you again. Tru & Chris x"

Tru & Chris Smith, UK, January, 2015

"We really enjoyed our trip to Morocco, the connections, accommodation and guides were all meeting or exceeding our expectations. All connections and bookings went as planned or otherwise advised on the trip. In particular we must give praise to our guide from Imlil in the High Atlas Mountains- Mohamed (?) would have to be one of the best in the business, a genuine man with a lovely family, great companion and excellent skills. His awareness of the surrounding conditions and our abilities ensured that we were always safe but also able to enjoy the experiences. On our first meeting it was the feast of Eid, which meant that original plans needed to be adjusted. Mohamed arranged for his brother to collect us and take us to his mothers house for a share of the traditional feast of lamb, a remarkable day for us. We will in future and have already recommended your group to others. Thank you from both of us."

R & T Kenyon, Australia, January, 2015

"The transfers all worked fine, although the drive from Immouzer to Essaouira was by a local (Agadir) taxi and so the quality of vehicle and driving was not as good as the other transfers but it all worked fine and the driver was courteous and stopped for photos etc. The other drivers were all good and drove safely. Our guide for the afternoon in Marrakech seemed a little offhand but he was quite knowledgeable etc. He of course took us to his friend to try to sell us carpets and to another, a herbalist, for hard sell, which we didn't much appreciate but realise that is part of the experience! It didn't help that we were a bit tired that first day having had a very early start! Immouzer worked out well. We did a guided walk one day (very helpful guide, Mubarack, one of the hotel staff) and a donkey ride on another. Hotel Atlas was very good but in some respects the service was a bit lacking for what claims to be a 5* hotel."

P Nias, UK, October 2014

"We are at the Hikaya and the welcome, both from Said, your rep, the driver and from John and staff at Hikaya has been really good."

P Nias, UK, September 2014