Riad Maipa

We have just returned from a 4 day trip to Marrakesh staying at Riad Maipa We had the most amazing time Lilliana & her husband Emmanuel were incredible. From the moment we were collected from the airport we were so well taken care of. Lilliana & Emmanuel go above & beyond We stayed in the most beautiful room, the toiletries were such amazing quality & we were gifted with some traditional Moroccan slippers The various teas & coffee in the room were delicious The decor was spectacular, the lamps, cushions & sofas were so beautiful The room was cleaned daily & was absolutely spotless, fresh flowers & fresh fruit made us feel so welcome & spoiled The staff at Riad Maipa are so wonderful Unis looked after us everyday, bringing us snacks & refreshments to the sun terrace & sharing some beautiful stories of his family & homeland & always had a beautiful smile Brahim looked after us at breakfast time, attending to our every need Brahim was very interesting explaining so much of the Berbar culture to us The breakfast at Maipa is more of a banquet, it is incredible, I felt like a Queen Delicious fresh juices, my favourite was the cucumber, lemon & apple, yoghurt & fruits, fresh homemade breads & pastries, cheeses, hams & honey & every morning a delicious cooked plate, omelette, rosti, flags beas & eggs I am a vegan & I can honestly say I have never been taken care of so well & been given such a variety of delicious plant based options Soya or rice milk, a selection of plant based cheeses & soya yoghurt & a delicious hot dish to follow The cook Fatima is amazing & the food presentation is exceptional The Riad itself is absolutely beautiful, restored respectfully & authentically using traditional practices & local craftsmanship One of the highlights of our visit was soaking up the Moroccan sun on the roof terrace savouring the Moroccan tea & sipping iced water from cut glass tumblers listening to the call to prayer & the singing of the birds Then cooling off in the jacuzzi! The attention to detail was amazing The location of Maipa in the Medina is perfect if you want to be in the heart of daily life Step outside & you are in the ancient labyrinth of winding narrow streets We had so much fun meeting the locals, bartering for souvenirs & treasures We had an amazing lunch at the rooftop restaurant Dardar which is definitely worth a visit especially at sunset but you do need to book well in advance We also had a traditional Hammam and massage at the Hammam Rosa Bonheur which Lilliana very kindly arranged for us We also did a walking tour with Abdul that we booked via tripadvisor it was a half day and was an excellent way to get a feel of the culture and tradition, the visit to Bahia palace was beautiful & wondering through the souks was great fun & the invaluable advice of ‘always walk on the right!' There are many cafes & restaurants in the medina but if you are a vegetarian or vegan the Mandala Society is a little gem The chai latte with oat milk & raspberry tart was delicious whilst watching the bustle of the streets below It was my birthday whilst we were in Marrakesh & it was so wonderful to receive a beautiful plate of delicious vegan sweets in my room & some Moroccan tea to take home Thank you Lilliana & Emmanuel & all of the amazing staff at Riad Maipa You honestly are the best hosts we have ever met We didn’t want to leave but will most certainly return All our love Jacqueline & Tracy xxx