Riad Anayela Marrakech is one of the best riads in Marrakech with a pool, in my humble opinion. With some of the most luxurious rooms I've ever stayed in and a delicious breakfast, this was my favourite riad that I stayed in in Marrakech (out of the three I stayed in). I stayed here for one night and this is what I thought:
1. Riad Anayela Marrakech Review: Check-In
Riad Anayela picked me up and guided me through chaotic Marrakech - this transformed my journey from what would have been confusing into super comfortable. It made me wish that I'd stayed with them on the first day that I arrived (so they could have guided me from the airport lol), as opposed to the third day, when I already had a vague sense of my way around some of the streets, or at least enough sense to understand I could stay in Marrakech for years and would probably always be confused. Long story short, I was so happy they picked me up.
Stepping out of Marrakech and into Riad Anayela was like stepping into an oasis of calm and beauty. [Read more: 3 days in Marrakech] There was a welcome gift of dates and milk (which I asked not to have because I don't drink milk, and so instead they came back with fresh orange juice, which was kind). I could not stop staring at the pool, it's so beautiful! Check-in was efficient and then I was showed up to my room.
2. Riad Anayela Marrakech Review: My Room
My room was great. To greet me was a delicious spread of nuts, dried fruits and dates, which were all really tasty and so beautiful, spread out on a silver platter. My bed was gigantic and very comfortable - I had the best night's sleep ever there. It was also covered in rose petals, so romantic!
The whole place had beautiful arches and decor - lots of silver and oak and traditional Moroccan pieces. I wanted to put them all in my bag and take them home, but didn't because I was a professional blogger on a professional job, plus I was only travelling with hand-luggage.
I was really blown away by the bathroom, there were more rose petals, two sinks and the most gigantic bath I've ever seen in my whole life. For reference, I am 160cm, and whilst I'm not sure this photo does the bath's size justice, hopefully you can gleam it from my face:
3. Riad Anayela Marrakech Review: Rooftop
Riad Anayela has one of the most beautiful views in the whole of Marrakech. It's the perfect place to hang out at any time of the day, but sunset is particularly special.
I went up to watch the sunset and was absolutely stunned.
4. Riad Anayela Marrakech: Pool
I absolutely loved the pool at Riad Anayela, it was so beautiful! I spent ages here getting some great insta-good shots! The water isn't heated, because it's Morocco and you want a cold pool, not a hot one - it's a shock to the system to jump in, but 100% worth it.
5. Riad Anayela Marrakech: Location
Riad Anayela is situated in a very residential part of Marrakech, which is perfect to see how people really live in Morocco, aka not just the tourists. As for the tourist sites though, they are still well within walking distance, Jemaa el fnaa (the famous square) is only 25 minutes walk away, and there are plenty of souks and shops within 10 minutes walk. Like all riads in Marrakech, Riad Anayela is relatively hard to find, but they have some good solutions for this: firstly, they picked me up and took me to the riad on the first day so we didn't have to struggle to find it for the first time loaded down with my bags.
And whilst they were picking me up they pointed out some useful landmarks for me, which made it easy to find the riad after that. They also lent me a phone so we could call them if we ever got lost. I used maps.me (a great app which shows you where you are, using GPS not wifi), so I didn't actually need or use the phone, but it was so great to have it. Note, in Marrakech, it's common for people to ask you if you're lost and then take you to where you want to go (possibly) and then definitely charge you for it - you don't need to do this if you have a map and/or the phone. We were followed by some children to Riad Anayela, who then asked us for money, Riad Anayela was there for us to help us translate. If you can afford to get to Morocco by plane and stay at a nice riad (especially a Riad as nice as Riad Anayela), you can afford to be generous with locals. Sometimes bloggers, or people in general, like to say that you are part of a problem, e.g. you make locals dependent on charity or make them grow up thinking that whities are walking atm machines. But until these bloggers and people can offer me a better solution than 'being firm with them and uncharitable' then I don't care, please give as much as you can.
And whilst they were picking me up they pointed out some useful landmarks for me, which made it easy to find the riad after that. They also lent me a phone so we could call them if we ever got lost. I used maps.me (a great app which shows you where you are, using GPS not wifi), so I didn't actually need or use the phone, but it was so great to have it. Note, in Marrakech, it's common for people to ask you if you're lost and then take you to where you want to go (possibly) and then definitely charge you for it - you don't need to do this if you have a map and/or the phone. We were followed by some children to Riad Anayela, who then asked us for money, Riad Anayela was there for us to help us translate. If you can afford to get to Morocco by plane and stay at a nice riad (especially a Riad as nice as Riad Anayela), you can afford to be generous with locals. Sometimes bloggers, or people in general, like to say that you are part of a problem, e.g. you make locals dependent on charity or make them grow up thinking that whities are walking atm machines. But until these bloggers and people can offer me a better solution than 'being firm with them and uncharitable' then I don't care, please give as much as you can.
6. Riad Anayela Marrakech: Breakfast
In other news, breakfast at Riad Anayela was my favourite breakfast in Marrakech and definitely the most vegan-friendly Marrakech option. At Riad Anayela I had the most delicious bread I had in Marrakech - by far! I found a lot of bread in Marrakech to be kind of bland (sorry), but this stuff was delicious. There was also fresh orange juice, the best coffee I had in Marrakech, jams, fruit, granola and best of all olive oil - I love olive oil and bread even more than I used to love butter and bread.
Conclusion: the Riad Anayela Marrakech Review
All in all, I loved my stay at Riad Anayela it was my favourite place in Marrakech and I highly recommend it.
To book your own stay head on over to their website www.anayela.com or find them on hotels.com
Disclaimer: Travelling Weasels were invited as guests of Riad Anayela but as always all opinions are our own, we never have (and never will) recommend something we haven't personally tried and loved because that would be uncool.
ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
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