Riad Zitoun Area Marrakech

Riad Zitoun is the name of two parallel arteries in the southern medina: Riad Zitoun el-Kedim ("the old riad of the olive") runs from near Jemaa el-Fna southward, and Riad Zitoun el-Jadid ("the new") branches off toward the Bahia Palace. Together they form the spine of the medina's most riad-dense corridor, a neighbourhood packed with converted courtyard houses turned guesthouses, small artisan workshops and local food stalls — with almost no souvenir touts.

Yes — it is arguably the best-positioned neighbourhood for first-time visitors. You are a 10-minute walk from Jemaa el-Fna and the main souks to the north, and 3–5 minutes from the Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace and the Mellah to the south. The streets are quieter than those right off the main square, which means you get medina atmosphere without the worst of the evening crowds. Riads here tend to be mid-range to boutique, so it suits travellers who want character without paying five-star prices.

El-Kedim ("old") is the longer, more northerly of the two streets — it connects directly to Jemaa el-Fna and carries more foot traffic, including some motorcycles. El-Jadid ("new") branches south-east and is narrower, quieter and more residential; it ends near the Bahia Palace. Staying on el-Jadid generally means slightly more peace and quicker access to the southern sights. Staying on el-Kedim is marginally more convenient for the square. Both are walkable to everything.

The corridor puts you within easy walking distance of the Bahia Palace (one of Morocco's finest examples of 19th-century courtyard architecture), the ruined El Badi Palace and its stork-topped ramparts, the Mellah Jewish Quarter with its spice souk and ornate balconies, and the intimate Maison Tiskiwin Berber collection. The Saadian Tombs — the city's most-visited buried royal necropolis — are a further 10 minutes' walk south. Jemaa el-Fna and the souk district are 10 minutes north.

The main entrance to the Bahia Palace is on Avenue Imam El Ghazali, which runs parallel to and just east of Riad Zitoun el-Jadid. From most riads on el-Jadid, the walk takes 2–4 minutes. From el-Kedim it is around 5–8 minutes depending on which alley you cut through. If you are specifically visiting the Bahia, staying on el-Jadid puts you closer and also gives you more of the surrounding local neighbourhood rather than the tourist flow heading to the square.

There are several, at different price points. Nomad (contemporary Moroccan, rooftop terrace) is the most acclaimed in the immediate area — book ahead. Mechoui du Prince serves whole slow-roasted lamb out of a hole-in-the-wall at lunchtime and sells out fast; arrive before noon. Café des Épices on Place Rahba Lakdima just north is reliable for light lunches and fresh juices. Most riads also offer excellent set dinners in their courtyards — worth doing at least once, as eating in a lantern-lit riad courtyard is genuinely special.

The main streets — el-Kedim and el-Jadid — are easy to follow, but the side alleys (derbs) that lead to many riads are genuinely maze-like. Most riad receptions will meet you at a landmark (usually the nearest fountain or tiled doorway) on your first arrival. Download an offline map on Maps.me or Google Maps before you go; both map the medina derbs reasonably well. Allow 10–15 extra minutes on your first walk in with luggage, and avoid peak hours (6–8 pm) when motorcycles make the main arteries chaotic.