House Rules

A house, not a hotel

Riad di Siena is a home with memory, held each day by the women who care for it. This is wabi-sabi: old walls, worn floors, things left as they are because they are beautiful that way. And this is dyafa, the Moroccan art of receiving a guest. We ask only what any home asks: a smile, a thank you, a little care in return.

If you prefer things new and polished, we are not the right house for you.

Breakfast

Included, served in the courtyard of the main riad from 8:30 to 10:30 AM (last orders 10:15). Breakfast at 8:00 AM, or a breakfast box for early departures: tell Zahra by 1 PM the day before. Allergies or special diets: tell us early; gluten-free bread or lactose-free milk need a day's notice.

Heat and cool

Every room has air conditioning that also heats, plus a portable heater. In a summer heatwave Marrakech reaches 45°C and more: the AC softens it, it cannot erase it. Close windows and doors while it runs, and switch off the AC and lights when you go out.

Water and housekeeping

Water is precious in Morocco, and in dry spells short cuts can happen; they pass. Towels and bins are refreshed daily; rooms are fully cleaned every three nights, or daily on request. Nothing in the toilet but paper: the pipes are as old as the house.

Linens and towels

Our sheets and towels are cotton, washed and cared for by hand. Please keep makeup, henna, self-tan, hair dye and shoe polish away from them: these stains never come out. Linens or fittings damaged beyond normal use are charged at replacement cost.

Pets

Well-behaved pets are welcome, at no extra charge. Please tell us before you arrive. Any damage a pet causes (furniture, linens, cushions, doors) is charged at repair or replacement cost.

The Medina's other residents

An open courtyard lets in the sky, and sometimes a small visitor: an ant, a beetle, now and then a cockroach. The house is cleaned every day. If one bothers you, tell us and we'll see to it.

Wi-Fi

Fibre throughout the house. Thick walls can soften the signal, and storms can slow it now and then. Take it as an invitation to look up.

House rhythm

Quiet hours from 11 PM to 8 AM. No visitors after 6 PM, out of respect for local custom. Smoking on the rooftop only. Mattresses are firm, the Moroccan way. The medina has its own music: the call to prayer, the life of the street.

Your belongings

Keep cash, passports and valuables locked in your luggage when you go out. We are not legally or financially responsible for valuables left in your room or in shared spaces. Luggage storage is a courtesy, not a custody service. Anything missing must be reported before you leave the riad, so we can look into it together while it can still be verified.

Arriving and leaving

Check-in from 3:00 PM; please send us your arrival time before you travel. Check-out before 11:00 AM. Your luggage can wait in the living room of the main riad until 5:00 PM.

Who to ask

The team is here every day from 8 AM to 5 PM; we are not a hotel and have no night reception. Zahra looks after you before and during your stay, and evening messages are answered the next morning. Booked guests receive an emergency number for nights.

If something breaks or stains, just tell us. We embrace imperfection; honesty keeps the house whole.