Image courtesy of Ryad Dyor
Marrakech is a feast for the senses: Tiled courtyards hidden behind carved wooden doors, palm-lined avenues leading to grand resorts, and a medina that pulses with color, scent, and sound. It’s a city where you can spend the morning bargaining in the souks, the afternoon poolside, and the evening on a candlelit rooftop with the call to prayer in the distance.
For travelers looking for style, atmosphere, and thoughtful amenities without venturing into the ultra-luxury bracket, Marrakech delivers. Here are my favorite hotels under $500 a night, with rates varying by season.
Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech
Image courtesy of Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakech
Set just outside the city, with the Atlas Mountains rising in the distance, Fairmont Royal Palm feels more like a countryside estate than a traditional Marrakech hotel. The scale is part of the appeal: 570 acres of olive groves, palm-lined paths, an 18-hole golf course, and wide-open views that make it easy to forget the Medina is only 20 minutes away. Interiors channel classic luxury with Moroccan touches—soaring ceilings, marble accents, dark woods, and patterned tiles.
Rooms and villas are generously sized, many with terraces overlooking gardens or the mountains, and marble soaking tubs come standard. Dining spans international breakfasts, Mediterranean and Moroccan flavors, and Italian classics, while Le Bar is a glamorous stop for evening cocktails. The spa is a major draw, offering traditional hammams, indoor and outdoor pools, and a full menu of wellness treatments.
Fora’s Accor Preferred by HERA partner perks include a $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Ryad Dyor
Image courtesy of Ryad Dyor
Hidden deep within the Medina in the Sidi Ben Slimane quarter, Ryad Dyor is the kind of place you’d never stumble upon by accident—it’s accessible only on foot, which makes arriving feel like you’ve uncovered something special. Made up of two interconnected houses, the riad feels surprisingly spacious for a property with just 10 rooms, offering a calm counterpoint to the energy of the souks outside.
Interiors are eclectic and layered, mixing Moroccan craftsmanship with European and Far Eastern antiques, colorful textiles, and curated artworks. No two rooms are quite the same. A petite courtyard plunge pool provides a welcome cooldown, while the rooftop terrace is ideal for late-night drinks or slow breakfasts above the city. There’s a small hammam for massages and simple spa treatments, plus multiple lounge spaces. There’s no formal restaurant, but home-style Moroccan meals on the rooftop can be arranged with advance notice.
Nobu Hotel Marrakech
Image courtesy of Nobu Hotel Marrakech
Set in the upscale Hivernage district, Nobu Marrakech brings the brand’s signature glamour to one of the city’s most upscale neighborhoods. Every room here is a suite, designed with a mix of modern Moroccan craftsmanship and Nobu’s sleek, Japanese-inflected aesthetic—warm woods, plush textures, and generous balconies. The vibe is unmistakably social, with spaces designed as much for gathering as for staying.
At the center of it all is the ground-floor Nobu restaurant, serving its iconic Japanese-Peruvian menu alongside a buzzy cocktail lounge. Below, the vast Pearl Spa—one of Nobu’s largest worldwide—centers on a mosaic-lined indoor pool, with hammam-style rituals and serious wellness credentials. Up on the rooftop, a circular pool deck, sweeping Atlas Mountain views, and sunset cocktails often give way to DJ-led evenings.
Fora Perks include a $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Riad No. 37
Photo by Clemente Vergara
Tucked inside the Medina, Riad No. 37 is quietly unlike any other riad in Marrakech. From the outside, it blends into the maze of the old city, but step inside and you’ll find a distinctly Scandinavian take on Moroccan design—cool neutrals, warm woods, and clean lines that let the intricate plasterwork and carved details take center stage. With just eight rooms and an adults-only policy, the atmosphere stays calm and intimate, a true contrast to the bustle outside.
Rooms vary in layout but share a calm, tactile feel, with tadelakt plaster walls and a strong focus on comfort. Two small pools—one in the courtyard, one on the rooftop—offer a refreshing pause between souk explorations, while fireplaces warm cooler desert evenings. Meals are a highlight: the kitchen blends New Nordic ideas with Moroccan ingredients, served family-style at a communal table or privately on the terrace. It’s understated, thoughtful, and perfect for travelers who want something quietly distinctive.
Fora Perks include a welcome amenity, a welcome drink, and complimentary laundry services.
Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial & Spa
Image courtesy of Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial & Spa
Set in the upscale Hivernage district, Sofitel Marrakech Palais Impérial feels more like a full-scale resort than a traditional city hotel. Just outside the medina walls and a short stroll from landmarks like Jemaa el-Fna and the Koutoubia Mosque, it strikes a balance between resort-style calm and easy access to the city’s main sights. The setting is theatrical in a good way—leafy gardens, mosaic details, dramatic arches, and interiors that mix Arab-Andalusian motifs with contemporary touches.
The rooms and suites are airy and well-sized, with balconies that look out over the hotel’s gardens or toward the Atlas Mountains. The property feels expansive, with multiple pools, a full-scale spa complex, and several dining options ranging from Moroccan to international. It’s well-suited to travelers who want a full-service hotel experience—spa afternoons, poolside lounging, and long, leisurely evenings—without being too far from the energy of the old city.
Fora’s Accor Preferred by HERA partner perks include a $100 hotel credit, daily breakfast, and an upgrade and extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Splurge pick: La Villa des Orangers
Image courtesy of La Villa des Orangers
If you’re willing to stretch the budget for something truly special, La Villa des Orangers is one of Marrakech’s most discreet and elegant stays. Tucked behind a heavy carved door just outside the medina walls, this Relais & Châteaux property unfolds across two early 20th-century mansions wrapped around serene courtyards—one centered by an unusually long heated pool, the other by a softly burbling fountain beneath orange trees.
Rooms and suites lean classic Moroccan, with ornate plasterwork, carved wood details, and modern marble bathrooms that feel more spa than riad. Dining is intimate and refined, with Moroccan and French dishes served in candlelit salons, garden patios, or wherever you choose to settle. A rooftop terrace adds another layer, with a second plunge pool and views across the old city toward the Atlas Mountains.
Fora Perks include a $100 hotel credit, a complimentary welcome drink, extended check-out, and an upgrade whenever possible.