Anayela

A truly special experience. My husband and I were blown away by the beautiful riad AnaYela. It was an oasis of calm among the bustling streets of the lively medina. It was lovely to stay somewhere that wasn’t a big hotel. With only five rooms at the riad, AnaYela was very quiet and sometimes felt like we were the only ones there (in the best way, because it was lovely to come back to total tranquility after navigating the busy souks in the heat all day). This also meant the staff were able to deliver very personal and meaningful interactions with all of the guests individually, which was so nice! A big thank you to the wonderful Mehdi, Hisham, Abdul and Ali who went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of and treated like family (the team singing happy birthday to me in Arabic was something that will stay in my heart forever). Mehdi was very helpful at planning a great itinerary for us and recommending / booking activities so that our time in Marrakesh was full of fun things to do, but not over-packed or stressful. They had a private car and driver (Ayoub) who took a lot of care of us and we really enjoyed spending time with him. We highly, highly reccomend eating your meals here. The lovely chef Fatima prepares the most exquisite meals with the freshest local ingredients and we can say that the food at the riad was better quality and a better experience than any of the other meals we tried in Marrakesh. Probably because you could tell how much care and emotion had been put into crafting these meals. She is a true artist. The decor is absolutely beautiful as well, and each item has been painstakingly either handmade or chosen with care to deliver an authentic Moroccan experience. Overall, I couldn’t think of a single thing they could improve. Highly, highly recommend and when we come back to Marrakesh, this is the only place we will stay, because it feels like home.

The riad is tucked away in the medina and very unassuming from the outside, Hisham met us at the car and took us to the riad. It was one of the best experiences we've had at a hotel, we were there for 3 nights and every single person was incredibly friendly, welcoming and helpful throughout the stay. The room was very spacious with a massive bath. Breakfast was included and was amazing. Additionally we had lunch and dinner on one of the days. Lunch was good and the dinner deserves a special mention - it was easily the best meal we've had in Marrakesh. Overall it was one of the best places we've stayed at and definitely a highlight from our trip to Marrakesh.

We stayed at AnaYela for 3 nights. The property is beautiful and off the beaten path. The food was delicious and the team is exceptional!! We particularly loved our cooking class with their chef Fatima. The hotel also helped us arrange everything we needed. This is a special place.

I have lived on 4 continents and traveled to over 50 countries and I cannot remember a time when I was treated so rudely by a hotel owner. I was told, quite rudely, the day before my trip "system somehow ate your reservation" and they could not accommodate our reservation made months earlier, except for 1 night. We had arranged our entire Moroccan trip and the course of our self tour of multiple cities around the availability of AnaYela because it looked beautiful. The owner lives in Germany, Andrea, and she was not only unprofessional but uncaring that we would be arriving without a place to stay during a Moroccan holiday week where it was now impossible to find a place. She initially offered that she would put us up in one of her lesser riad's but then she said, ooops, sorry we are full there and discontinued communication. My husband and I both work and we were racing around to get ready for our trip and now suddenly we were left without a place to stay. This was pretty stressful to have hours before our trip and could not find accommodation. We eventually and luckily found a place. The next issue was that our excursions, some of which were booked through AnaYela, did not know where to pick us up. In Marrakech we had to waste precious vacation time trying to get in touch with different companies. Do yourself a favor and stay a reliable riad where the owners don't lose your reservation at the last minute.

We absolutely loved our stay!! The staff is fantastic and make you feel at home and taken care of. The food is incredible and the tours the set up for us, which were super last minute because I hadn’t had enough time to plan out last leg of our 2.5 week trip, were outstanding! We did a walking tour of Medina, a trip to the Atlas Mountains and the Berber Village, a 3 hour Hammam spa experience, and a sunset camel ride followed by traditional Berber music and dinner with a fire show after in the Agafay desert! It could not have been a more perfect trip! Highly recommend.

This was the greatest place I’ve ever stayed. It is a palace, and an oasis in the middle of the desert. It’s a hidden gem in the narrow streets of the Medina. You will experience the local life just by doing the 20 minute walk to and from the square. It actually can feel intimidating at first, but if You hire a guide through the hotel you will have no problems. They will assist you with anything you need. The staff are so amazing and personal. There are only five rooms so chances are you will have the hotel to yourself for a couple of those nights during your stay. The food is amazing. I had dinner there every night. I also had breakfast every morning and they make it whenever you wake up so you’re not rushed. Everything was 3+ courses. The hotel itself is immaculate and very ancient yet posh feeling. Golden stone and everything is carved out of the rock so your hotel room feels super fancy yet very beautiful and old. I had an amazing time every day doing something new and getting to know the staff and getting to know the neighborhood. Make sure you go upstairs and have tea on the rooftop a few nights. And a fire in your fireplace. This was the best place I’ve ever stayed and I can’t wait to go back.