[Dec. 2025] On this trip to Morocco, we stayed at a riad almost every night.
The same goes for our first night in Morocco in Rabat.
We arrived at Riad Gyo, located just around the corner from the main street in the Medina (old town).
I knew that a riad is a converted hotel from a wealthy person’s mansion, but our guide in Marrakech later told us that a riad always has to have a courtyard with a fountain in the centre.
It also refers to a large house with several floors, not just a single story.
Many riads have pools in the courtyard, but this is apparently purely for tourists, and a fountain is the norm.
Our accommodation in Rabat had a pool, not a fountain.
When we arrived, we were served mint tea and biscuits on a sofa by the pool.
I had heard that Moroccan biscuits were delicious, and they were indeed.
However, as we travelled, we came across biscuits with unique flavours, which I think people either love or hate.
I personally wasn’t a fan.
This riad was relatively modern.
Our room was on the ground floor, facing the pool.
It was small and not very decorative.
I wasn’t sure the plan of the building, but there seemed to be a more traditionally decorated rooms beyond the breakfast room.
Our room was a little damp, and after returning from a rainy night walk, we hung our jeans out to dry, but they were still barely dry by the next morning.
For breakfast the next morning, we had a deep-fried folded flatbread (I think it’s called Msemmen), baguettes, pancakes, jam, olive oil, cheese, and honey.
And American coffee, which my husband hates and calls “black water.”
I gradually learned later that this was a standard breakfast at accommodations in Morocco.
