I recently stayed at the Riad Puchka in Marrakech. My overall impression is that the hotel is wonderful and in a great location. However, I was overcharged for items on multiple occasions, and as a result, I would advise travellers to be very diligent when paying for their bill. Overall, I would stay here again.
Location of Hotel
Riad Puchka is located in the Medina, about 5 to 10 minutes walk from Jemaa el Fna square. Within the Medina, the hotel is located on one of the side streets and down a small and winding alley. This may sound intimidating bit it is actually quite safe. Because of this location, it provided a quiet sanctuary from the noisy and hectic pace of the Medina. One thing to note, vehicles cannot access he hotel’s door front. The closest they can get is about 50 meters away due to the hotel being located on a narrow street inaccessible by vehicles.
I felt that the Riad Puchka was the perfect location. Not too far from the square, but far enough to provide an escape from the hectic outside world.
Staff
Staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Here is a perfect example: On the first night of arrival in Marrakech, we wanted to visit Jemaa el Fna to have some dinner. For a western tourist, finding the square in the dark and night would be near impossible. The staff member, who was operating the hotel alone, locked the main door and walked us to Jemaa el Fna, about 10 minutes away. He also gave us a map and phone number in case we got lost.
Other staff encounters were equally wonderful. Staff cleaned our room daily and provided delicious complementary breakfast each morning. They helped with travel arrangements, allowed us to use their printer, and were generally able to answer questions and meet all our needs.
The one exception to this, however, is the staff member who either deliberately tried to scam us or was just careless in what he added to his bill. Please see this article on Marrakesh scams for more details.
Rooms and Amenities
When entering the hotel, it is like walking into another world. Leaving behind the dirty and dusty streets of the Medina, you walk into a courtyard that is tranquil, lush, and stylish. The hotel, like most riads, is built around a courtyard. At Riad Puchka, the courtyard has a lounge area, breakfast seating, and a small swimming pool. The decor is traditional Moroccan style, made of intricate mosaic design from small tiles. This is a true oasis from the fast paced Medina.
We stayed in the Royal Suite, an 800 square foot room on the second floor. The first thing that impressed me about the room were the doors to enter. The doors (there are 2) are about 12 feet tall, made of wood, with beautiful Moroccan carvings. Inside the room, the decor is consistent with the courtyard: bright colors and detailed tile work. The room was large, incuding 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a living room with a majestic fireplace, and the windows (wooden shutters) overlooked the courtyard.
Other notable amenities at the hotel included: free wifi and breakfast. The wifi was not great in the room, but fine in the lobby. Breakfast was wonderful. Each morning, we were greeted with a pot of hot coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, crepes and bread.
Airport Pickup and Drop-off
Riad Puchka offers a hotel pick-up and drop-off service, which we took advantage of. For around $15, the driver will be waiting for you at the airport and take you to your hotel. The service we received was prompt and affordable. This is definitely a convenient way to get to the hotel from the airport.
The Royal Suite at Riad Puchka occupies most of the second floor, including the 2 bay windows in this photo.
This is the entrance to the Royal Suite at Riad Puchka. Note the intricate design on the doors at the room entrance.
I love the thick brass bathroom fixtures. The mirror, sink and faucets are all thick and solid brass.
This is an enormous and beautiful bathtub.
Complimentary breakfast includes crepes, bread, orange juice and coffee.
This is the view from the Royal Suite, overlooking the pool and courtyard.
The courtyard of the Riad Puchka has a nice breakfast and pool area.