We loved La Terrasse des Oliviers.... I had spent a bit of time surfing the web finding a place vibrant full of colour with a quirky edge & somehow my idea & flavour of a Morrocan experience. Upon first entering the Riad we were overwhelmed by the warmth of hospitality and complete lovelyiness of it all....even though it is fairly small in terms of accomodation there are 3 completely different chill out areas all offering unusual decorative touches....always something to look at!!! The rooms were fab and our bathroom amazing I felt completely at home.
My partner & I had ventured to Marrakech with another couple and as we have all travelled quite a bit found the location great as not in amongst the madness of the souks & tourist area but situated the north end of the Medina. The walk into the main square Jemma el-Fna was probably about 20 minutes and most certainly a different experience everytime....always a photographer's great photo opportunity around the next corner!!!
As for the service Jacque (the manager) Youssef Malika & Rachida were simply fantastic...incredibly friendly always smiling and no request or question was ever a problem.....they all helped to contribute towards a wonderful break away!!!!
Lastly any body choosing to stay here simply must spend one evening sampling and enjoying Malika's delicious food....not forgetting the amazing spread for breakfast.....scrummy yummy Terracce Des Oliviers!!!

There are a gadzillion riads (same as “ryad”) in Marrakech, and gadzillions of dars. (While most use the proper terminology, some may not, so beware. “Riad” means “garden”, which means the inner courtyard will be open-air; “dar” means “house”, so perhaps a better option for the dead of a desert winter.) Make no mistake: Riad La Terrasse des Oliviers is a true “riad”, with an absolutely gorgeous inner courtyard that combines traditional Moroccan style with a touch of modern chic. The use of stone in the architectural design insures that said courtyard remains cool, even when temperatures outside or on the rooftop terrace are soaring above 40°C.

But not only is Terrasse des Oliviers really pretty, it’s got the most cordial staff we’ve ever met. It’s a small team – Malika (cook), Rachida (housekeeping), Youssef (all around man: server, night guardian, guide), and Jacques (manager) – and everyone is always ready with a “bonjour” or a helping hand. The food is excellent and served with a smile (including a welcome pot of mint tea, a delicious breakfast spread, and evening wine on the terrace – unfortunately we didn’t have the time to enjoy dinner at the riad). The place is kept spotless and the attention to detail is definitely there!

The thing to remember for those unaccustomed to Morocco travel is that a riad is not a luxury resort. Every team member has a lot of hats to wear, so don’t expect magic. For instance: you may need to ring the doorbell a time or two, and you may need to wait in the alley for a couple of minutes until someone can make their way down the stairs or wash their hands in the kitchen.

Another thing to remember is that Morocco is a developing country. The wifi will be spotty. The water pressure may not be what you get at the Ritz. There will most definitely be men on motorbikes with sacks of squawking chickens flying down the main medina avenue at 25 km/hour right when you’re trying to cross the street. Part of the charm of Terrasse des Oliviers is that it is away from the tourist chaos (down near Jemma el-Fna and the souks) and in the real-life bustle of the Marrakech medina. It’s a little oasis amid the madness of schoolchildren, bicycle repairmen, and various street vendors.

Other pros: beautiful candlelight throughout the riad in the evenings, delicious (homemade!) breakfast cake, staff always easy to find but never hovering, fantastic-smelling bath products in the rooms, super comfy mattress and pillows.

Other cons: Hmm, not a lot. The shower wasn’t the best, but we put that down to water systems in Morocco (though other guests disagreed with us on that point). Because of the open layout of the riad, any obnoxiously loud guests could easily ruin the experience for others (there were no children staying at the same time as us, and I would recommend the riad implement a no-kids policy if it hasn’t already), but we got peace and tranquility for both nights of our stay.

Verdict: Go with the right expectations and you’ll be blown away.

This was our second visit to the Riad, and if anything, it was even better than our first visit. The staff are all very helpful and friendly, especially when they were trying to understand our very poor French! Jacques, as always, was also extremely helpful. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend this Riad, the location is perfect for the medina, and the food is also lovely.

We will be returning again!

The riad was simply beautiful, but really made the stay perfect was the hospitality received from Jacques who was always on hand to provide much needed advice. He was also very good about us changing our dates of stay, and helped us organise a trip to the Atlas mountains.