Riad Papillon

Welcome to Riad Papillon a boutique hotel full of Character, located in the most fashionable part of the Medina of Marrakech near to the Pasha Glaoui Palace. There is a fantastic ground floor patio with dipping pool. The patio courtyard has comfortable seating areas in which to have breakfast, take tea, use our free Wifi, or just enjoy the peace and tranqulity of this oasis in the vibrant Medina. You can even book a delicious three course Moroccan dinner to be waiting for you on the night of your arrival.

The sitting room is a traditonal ‘Bhou’ on the first floor, open to the patio and courtyard. The floor is tiled with warm beige bajmat and zellige of Fes buttons. In the corner is a tadelakt fireplace. Perfect for a group or family holiday Riad Papillon sleeps up to 11 people in five luxurious guest rooms.

Riad Papillon has a stunning and atmospheric roof terrace complete with fountain, barbecue and sun-loungers. It is a wonderful place to take breakfast or while away a balmy evening. There is a designated smoking area on the roof terrace, we request that guests please respect others by not smoking elsewhere in the Riad. If you want to stay in an exotic hotel, Marrakech is the ideal location. The Red City opens its heart to you at Marrakech Riad Papillon, your home from home in the heart of the Medina.

Seasons at Riad Papillon:

Email enquiries are also dealt with during the weekend

Eating at Riad Papillon

Breakfast at Riad Papillon is a real treat. Your room rate includes a delicious Moroccan Breakfast which will be served at the time of your choice! The breakfast varies each day and can include traditional Moroccan crepes (Baghrir and Mesman), croissants and pastries, Marrakech Medina breads (from the bakery at the end of the street), local honey, jams (fig, strawberry and rose jams are our favourites), omelettes and other egg dishes, yoghurt, nuts and fresh fruit salad as well as freshly squeezed Marrakech Orange Juice, tea and freshly brewed coffee. For more adventurous guests wishing to explore local foods the Riad can prepare on request White Harira, Matloaa Berber Bread, or Bissara the Marrakech variant of ‘Foul’.

The food we serve at lunch and dinner reflects the seasonality of available produce. We offer a range of traditional Moroccan dishes like Tagine and couscous. We can usually meet special dietary requirements such as gluten intolerance or vegan diets especially if we are given prior notice. We charge 200 dirhams per person (about £16/ Euro 18) for a three course evening meal and 100 dirhams per person (£8/ Euro 9) for lunch. Each meal is shopped for and prepared individually to accommodate guests preferences, for this reason we request that you please discuss your lunch and dinner requirements with the Riad staff ideally one day in advance.

Why not pre order an evening meal (200 dirhams per person) for the night of you arrival? The Moroccan way is for the whole party to order and share the same meal served out of traditional dishes. We recommend a selection of Moroccan salads followed by Tagine (Lamb with Cumin, Chicken with Lemon, or Beef with Prunes) served with local breads then for desert a seasonal fruit salad.

Lucie, one of the owners of Riad Papillon, is vegetarian so you can order with confidence our equally recommended dinner of vegetarian Moroccan salads followed by the classic ‘Seven Vegetables Couscous’ then fruit salad and local pastries. Let us know your menu choices when you make your reservation and your delicious supper will be waiting for you in the Riad.

Riad Papillon

The most important attraction in Marrakech is the square, you should visit both in the day and at night because the atmosphere changes a lot. We would also reccomend the Marrakech museum and the adjacent Ben Yousef Medersa as well as the Majorelle gardens and possibly the Saadian tombs in the Kasbah district. None of these things need to be booked and of course you should leave time for the famous souks which are open at night as well as in the daytime.

We can arrange two tours for our guest to explore the Medina of Marrakech with horse carriage :

Morning tours:

it take approximately 2.5 hours starting after breakfast, ideally at 9:30 or you can decide the time .we will escort you to meet the Caleche at Dar el Bacha. The suggested route takes you inside the Medina walls with optional stops at the Bahia and Badii palaces, then out to the Gardens Koutoubia drive around the wall and get the Majorelle gardens.The Cost is 400 dirhams to pay the riad excluding the very modest entry fees for the palaces and the Majorell Gardens. The Caleche would normally return with you at Dar El Bacha .

Evening Tours:

This is one it takes only 1.5 hours from the early evening. the tour of the Medina as the sun sets.a highlight will be crossing the Jemma al Fnaa square little tour in new town ,the Caleche will return at the same place Dar El Bacha where we will meet you. The cost is 350 dirhams.

The Caleche can take also take you to restaurant if you are booked to have dinner in new town (Al Fassia,comptoir darna,grand Cafe de la poste,chez pascal,...etc ) the cost is 350 dh. But iif you are booked to have dinner at BO'ZIN which is half hour carriage ride from Marrakech then the cost is 400dirhams. (On return you would have to take a taxi which is not included in the rate)

We can also organize excursions outside Marrakech. The most popular destinations are the Waterfalls on the Ourika Valley in the Atlas Mountains or at the seaside village of Essaouirra

Ourika valley- the breath of Marrakech

Nestled away in the middle Atlas Mountains a 45 minute drive from Marrakech lies the enchanting Ourika Valley.

When you think of skiing, Marrakech is not one of the countries that first comes to mind, however it does indeed take place in winter in the Atlas mountains, it is however during summer that the Ourika valley truly comes to life, this is due to a number of reasons. One of them being that the valley acts as a cool refuge from the heat of other parts of Marrakech during the hottest parts of the year. Another reason is that during the hotter parts of the year greater parts of the ice in the Atlas mountains begin to melt and the famed waterfalls of the Ourika valley spring to life and the great wonders of nature that they represent can be seen in all its glory.

The seven waterfalls are one of the most famous places to visit in the whole of Morocco and certainly a very powerful reason to visit the Ourika valley and indeed Morocco in general. As the waterfalls originate from ice melt water high in the Atlas their waters are very cold, so any individual looking for a cooling dip on their ascent up the valley best be brave and ready for a serious temperature drop. It is however all part of the fun as the temperature outside of the water means that one dries very quickly and that the cold water serves to greatly refresh those who swim in it.

Essaouirra

It is one of the number one destinations for Marrakchi to take a break from the heat of the inland areas, and rightly so as the city is a wonder to visit. It is in many ways the opposite of Marrakech in that it is a sleepy, provincial and coastal city, but this is not in any way to its detriment.

Indeed if one is visiting it from Marrakech the change can be very refreshing as particularly during the hot North African summers it can be very pleasant to go somewhere cooler for a brief period in order to wind down, indeed Essouira fulfils exactly such a role in respect to Marrakech as after a while spent in Marrakech, Essouira can provide an interesting variation and a refreshing short break. As well as the reprieve that Essouira can provide from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech it is also a major historic centre who’s ramparts have been in place for hundreds of years and traces of the town itself go back into prehistoric times.

Riad Papillon