Name: Riad Bab Chems
Address: 6 Derb Hajra Derb Dabachi,Derb Hajra, Marrakesh, Marrakesh, Marrakesh, 40000, Morocco
Rating: 8

Air conditioning

24-hour reception

Terrace

General

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Internet

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Spanish

English

Italian

French

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Pets Not Allowed

Pets

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Room amenities

Medina

Rahba Kedima

Dar Tiskiwin Museum

Djemaa el Fna

Dar Si Said Museum

Museum of Moroccan Arts

Ben Youssef Madrasa

Mouassine Mosque

Maison de la Photographie

Bahia Palace

Majorelle Garden

Ensemble Artisanal

Koutoubia Minaret

El Badi Palace

Saadian Tombs

Bab Agnaou

Cyber Parc

Theatre Royal

Menara Gardens

Marrakesh Menara Airport

Oasiria Water Park

Riad Bab Chems

Marrakesh

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

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king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

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not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

Loved this Riad, feels like you are at home.  Your host Amina is the sweetest lady. Always helpful and willing to help. 
The rooms are clean, practical, have all you need.
Location is great, close to the center plaza and restaurants, but still in the middle of the medina.

In the heart of the medina

Best Riad I stayed in in Marrakech. Extremely helpfull owner, even tough my french and spanish are minimal (and I speak no arab) we managed to understand each other. Owner was super friendly and cheerful. She also helped us book a (nice)taxi to the airport (at 4:45) and even got up in the middle of the night to provide us with some breakfast. Riad is beautiful, the room was very comfortable and the breakfast delicious. Perfect ending to our stay in Marokko. 10/10 would definitly recommend.

Perfect

We THOUGHT we had a transfer to our hotel from the train station but that didn’t happen. Possibly a language issue. No biggie, there are taxis to the left of the beautiful station when you walk out the door. We were staying at a local riad inside the medina walls so the driver dropped us outside of the Jemaa el-Fnaa market (taxis weren’t allowed at that hour) and assured us it was only a few minutes walking. We made that a LOT longer because of course we doubted ourselves and had to finally call the riad to come out and get us. Rookie mistake: Arrive early so your taxi can get you closer to your riad. The market is open in the early hours to taxis and vehicles. Check before you go to know the specific times and know your riad phone number before you go.

To get to Riad Bab Chems you cross Jemaa el-Fnaa market by staying on the right hand side. You will pass directly in front of Cafe du France (keep it on your right). Keep walking, the market will narrow to a road. You will keep walking until you get to the pizza place on the left directly across from the juice place. Make a right here, this is Derb el Hajra. Riad Bab Chems will on your right (1 minute) directly in front of the first archway.  

 Our criteria was location, price point (cheap!) and authenticity. We loved the pictures of the riads with rooftop terraces and tile covered inner courtyards. The fact that is also comes with breakfast is a boon as well. This riad felt very authentic and included a lovely host. It’s not the fanciest place but the location can not be beat. We spent most of our Marrakech time in and around the Jemaa el-Fnaa market so it was an excellent fit for us. 

Pro tip: Be prepared to pay in cash (MAD) for your entire stay at check in! There will be mint tea and it will take a minute to fill out the forms (all visitors get their own).  You will need your passport.

Breakfast was delicious local bread/savory pancakes, fruit, coffee and pastries. It is served downstairs, not on the rooftop which was slightly disappointing but not a deal breaker. Grown children had the first floor room and we were on the top most floor. These rooms are plenty spacious for two people. I have to say I enjoyed the beauty of the Call to Prayer — except for the dawn one. haha

There are a total of 7 rooms in this riad. It is run bed and breakfast style with no room service so be prepared to make your own bed. The roof top experience and open courtyard was very charming. At this price, don’t expect fancy but it is SO CLOSE to the market that coming home for nap time during the heat of the day was super easy.  

Our host spoke several languages but we did have some communication issues. She is definitely strongest in French.   If you are looking for a budget stay in an incredible location, this is it.

Budget stay, Perfect Centralized Location

If I could give this place a zero, I would. We booked two rooms in October for our visit in December. After an 8 hour drive from Fes, we reached this place. What should have been a lovely experience turned into a nightmare. My sister’s family and my family had booked this place from separate countries. Our families met up in Morocco and after a delightful visit to Fes, we were excited about Marrakech. When we arrived, we were told that between our two families, we had only two rooms (we had booked four). The concierge, Aleena, spoke no English, only French and Arabic. After her talking in French and us talking in English, and showing her our confirmation, we were still getting nowhere. She kept calling people and yelling in Arabic and French. If you ever want to feel unwelcome, have someone yelling at the top of their voice about you to other people. She summoned our Moroccan driver, who came out of the goodness of his heart to act as interpreter. She called Booking.com and I gave them our confirmation numbers. She blamed them, they said there was no problem with our booking. I don’t know what happened, but in the end she opened a spare bedroom and said she could give us a third bedroom. And that was all she was going to do. We were so exhausted and also felt we would never get through to her, that we took the third room and hustled all the kids in there. This third room would have been nice if it hadn’t been a storage room. All manner of knick knacks and creepy kids’s clothes were there. And to top it all, there was a stench in the room like some animal had died. I was gagging in there. 

The breakfast provided in this place is very minimal. The only good thing about it was the fresh orange juice. Other than that, there was a mean little dish of jam, some stale muffins and a plate of crepes. EVERY DAY!!! We had been having such a lavish breakfast as our riad in Fes, that this was a great disappointment. No local specialties like olives ever made an appearance. 

The rooms were nice, but in four nights, our towels were never changed and the bathroom and room was not cleaned. Apparently the hotel had a charming terrace and could provide meals and massages, but of course we were never told about any of it. The wifi too is terrible. We mostly had no service at all. 

I’ve travelled all over the world, but this was my worst experience ever! These people should have a sign outside the door saying only white, French speaking people need come. And oh, did I mention that while we were there, other (white, French) people were welcomed like it was their house, helped to fill out forms, allowed to smoke inside etc etc. Made to feel completely at home, while we were barely tolerated. The ugliness goes on and on...

There are many, many nice riads around this area. Avoid this one at all costs. 

Totally disgusted!!! 

Worst experience EVER!!!!! 

This place is run by a Morrocan couple that can speak French as well.unfortunately I can’t speak Moroccan or French but not a problem, they made me and my parents feel incredibly at home.
The rooms were great and very comfortable and again the owners couldn’t do enough for us. There were a few rickety bits but it honestly added to the nature of the experience.
The location is great for the main square, great for the souk and very easy to get to.
The place was quiet and felt very homely.
Having staid in Riad bamboo previously I knew the location was good but what bamboo added in class, Bab Chems gave in a genuine family run feel.

Great Riad and incredibly friendly

Lamentablemente nuestra experiencia en este Riad ha sido pésima, lo único positivo que tiene es el diseño que realmente es típico marroquí. 1.- no aceptan pago con tarjeta, por lo cual tuvimos que ir al cajero a retirar 520€ para pagar. 
2.- la habitación apestaba, no tiene ventana para ventilar la habitación por lo que huele a encerrado siempre, todos los días al llegar a la habitación el olor era insoportable. El descanso en una habitación maloliente fue un calvario, 5 días durmiendo mal de los cuales los dos últimos no dormí nada. 
3.- la calefacción no servía, la señora nos dio un calefactor portátil que calentaba la habitación pero lo teníamos que estar moviendo entre el baño y la habitación. 
4.- el desayuno todos los días era lo mismo (pan, panqueque, mermelada, café y bollo). 
5.- para poder ducharse con agua caliente, había que esperar un montón, salía muy poca cantidad de agua y se terminaba rápido. 
6.- en uno de los lavamanos salía un hilito de agua. 
7.- no incluye gel de ducha ni champú, solo había una pastilla pequeña de jabón para las manos.
7.- la calidad es pésima por 60€ la noche. 
8.- el wifi no llega a las habitaciones, solo hay conexión en la planta baja. 

En conclusión: nos arrepentimos de habernos quedado en este Riad y nos sentimos estafados.

Unfortunately our experience in this Riad has been terrible, the only positive thing that it has is the design is really typical Moroccan. 
1 .- do not accept payment by card, so we had to go to the ATM to withdraw € 520 to pay.
2.- The room stank, has no window to ventilate the room so it smells like always locked, every day when you get to the room the smell was unbearable. The rest in a smelly room was an ordeal, 5 days sleeping badly of which the last two did not sleep at all.
3.- the heating did not work, the lady gave us a portable heater that heated the room but we had to be moving between the bathroom and the room.
4.- the breakfast every day was the same (bread, pancake, jam, coffee and muffin).
5.- to be able to shower with hot water, you had to wait a lot, there was very little water left and it ended quickly.
6.- in one of the sinks a trickle of water came out.
7.- does not include shower gel or shampoo, there was only a small pill of hand soap.
7.- The quality is terrible for € 60 per night.
8.- The wifi does not reach the rooms, there is only connection on the ground floor.

In conclusion: we regret having stayed at this Riad and felt cheated.

Habitacion putrefacta - Rotten room

Was more like a B&B than a hotel with only one lady there running the riad. Was decorated & furnished in a rustic Moroccan style and was nice although basic. Was in a great location for the Medina. Was good value for money. There wasn’t much choice for breakfast so had to eat at airport afterwards. Although the lady was friendly she seemed a bit put out by me being up early for my flight. 

Basic but clean near to Medina

We stayed here for six nights in December-January. The riad had very nice decorations and furniture, both in the room and the common area. It was a little bit dark and cold, candles and some lanterns had made the riad cosy and more welcoming.
We were pleased with the breakfast, small pancakes, bread, jam, fruits and freshly orange juice and coffee was a good start in the morning.
The riad had a nice roof terrace and even this time of the year you could spend some time in the sun.
We missed some local information; maps, information about excursions etc. Our host was nice and helpful, but was not able to give us information, there were no leaflets or other written information anywhere in the riad and our host spoke as good English as I spoke French. So for coming guests a helping folder in English will help to find out important and local things.


Riad Bab Chems

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