Riad Chi-Chi
Marrakech, Morocco
A very chic little riad tucked away in the central medina, with soothing rooms, a cool roof terrace and unbeatable prices
Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac in the heart of Marrakech's
souk-land, this is the near neighbour and younger sister of
Riad Ariha, whose combination of Zen-cool bedrooms,
impeccable service and unbeatable value makes it one of our most
popular riad-hotels in the city. Riad Chi-Chi (don't be put off by
the name) has all of these attributes and, being newer - it opened
in 2009 after a year's painstaking refurbishment - the advantage of
better availability. For now, at least.
It doesn't take long to realise that it is in every way the equal
of beautiful Ariha. 5 immaculately crafted bedrooms (2 on
the ground floor, 3 on the first), finished in calming creams with
accents of bright colour, look out - some of them through intricate
wooden lattices - to a central courtyard with its tiny petal-strewn
pool and cushioned b'hou (sitting alcove). Up top, a terrace
with a canopied chill-out area, bathed in blue-green light at
night, offers roof-level views across the medina to the peaks of
the Atlas mountains.
Reviewed by Michael Cullen
Last updated 23 January 2012
Highs
- This is a faultless restoration, from the screened menzeh (bay window) to the domed bathroom of the 'Ivory' room
- The service, led by Beryl (twin sister of Barbara at Ariha), promises to be every bit as helpful as its sibling hotel
- The suite, Indigo, has plenty of space for 3, thanks to its sofa'd sitting area
- We love the location, in a quiet cul-de-sac away from the crowds but close to the Musée de Marrakech, the Medersa Ben Youssef and the souks
- There's a firelit salon for cosy winter stays
Lows
- Like all riads, the bedrooms are narrow and the 2 ground floor ones lack a bit of privacy
- The courtyard pool is tiny - just big enough to dip yourself in - and only open in summer
- The roof terrace looks a little sparse for now, but that will change as the potted plants grow
- Bear in mind you're 10 minutes' walk from the Djemaa el Fna, and a few minutes' from the nearest road access
