Riad Abaca Badra

The Riad Abaca Badra is typical riad hotel, housed in a two-floor Moroccan mansion with an interior courtyard with a leafy tree, tile floors, Moroccan art and wall-mounted ceramic plates, arched window frames, and carved-wood doors. Stairs lead to a mezzanine level overlooking the courtyard. On this level is a sumptuous guest lounge done in rich red and gold, featuring gold Zellige tile work, and offering a chessboard and bumper pool table for guest use. Guests also gather on the rooftop terrace, a pleasant space with Moorish lattice paneling and potted plants. The terrace also features a hot tub, sun loungers, and Saharan-style tent. The Abaca Badra isn’t quite as nice as some of the other riads in Marrakech, but it’s quite comfortable and charming. The French couple who own and manage the property distinguish themselves with their warm and friendly service. The riad attracts leisure travelers, mostly couples, who want an intimate and affordable stay within walking distance of Jemaa el Fna square. 

Riad Abaca Badra is in the Rmila area of the Medina, tucked away on a cobblestone side street in an area mostly filled with other riads. Guests are dropped off at Place Dar el Bacha square, and then walk about five minutes to reach the riad, which is sometimes difficult for guests to find right away. A full-service hammam spa is a short walk away, and shops, market stalls, restaurants, and cafes are also a short stroll from the riad. Jemaa el Fna square and Koutoubia Mosque are both about five minutes by taxi or a 15-minute walk. The 14th-century Ben Youssef Madra (the oldest madras in Morocco) is a little less than 10 minutes by taxi or a little less than a 20-minute walk. Majorelle Garden is five minutes by taxi or 20 minutes on foot, and the Maison de la Photographie (House of Photography) museum is 10 minutes by taxi or a 20-minute walk. Marrakech Railway Station is a little more than 10 minutes by taxi. Marrakech Menara Airport is a little less than 20 minutes by taxi from the riad. 

Guest rooms at the Riad Abaca Badra are a bit dated in their look, but they have an attractive Moroccan feel, and feature rich colors like blue, soft pink, red, orange, and green. Decorative Moroccan art and tile, Arabesque wrought-iron windows, painted wardrobe doors, and Zellige (mosaic tile work) embellishments on the walls add to the allure. Rooms are clean and well-maintained, and come in at  215 square feet (20 square meters) to 301 square feet (28 square meters) in size. Amenities are quite limited in the five rooms, with no TVs, electric kettles, or mini-fridges, but all come with air-conditioning, small safes (won’t fit a laptop), and free Wi-Fi. Each room also has a sitting area, and the two rooms on the ground floor open directly to the interior courtyard. Bathrooms have an attractive and colorful look, with Moroccan tile and metal wash basins. All come with hairdryers, toiletries, and showers, but no bathtubs. Rooms are generally quiet, but the ground-floor rooms can get a bit of noise from the breakfast in the courtyard in the morning.

As a small riad property, the Riad Abaca Badra has a limited set of property features. A breakfast buffet is included in the room rate, and it gets good notices from previous guests for its spread featuring made-to-order eggs, crepes, pastries, homemade yogurt, fresh orange juice, and tea. Lunch is not available, but dinner is served each night, and it offers affordable and thoughtfully prepared Moroccan fare like tajine, pastilla meat pies, couscous, and grilled items from the rooftop terrace. Wine (including local wines), beer, and cocktails are served, and free chilled water is available to guests throughout the day. A rooftop terrace features a Saharan-style tent space, sun loungers, and hot tub, and it’s a popular guest gathering spot. The hotel also has a public computer and free property-wide Wi-Fi. The staff is available 24 hours a day, and is helpful at arranging tours and excursions and offering directions and advice for sightseeing. The building has no elevator, so guests with mobility issues should request a ground-floor room. Staff will also assist with carrying luggage up the stairs. Nearby public parking is available for a fee.