What Is IZZA Marrakech? The "House of Friends" Explained
IZZA — pronounced as in the original Berber name of the woman who first owned the land — is one of the most singular hotel experiences in North Africa. Hidden behind an unmarked carved door in one of the Medina's labyrinthine laneways, it comprises seven interconnecting historic riads linked by three private courtyards, and has been welcoming guests since its 2023 opening after an extraordinary eight years of restoration and design.
The property calls itself a "House of Friends" — and that ethos permeates everything, from the warmth of the staff to the sharing-plates philosophy at rooftop restaurant Noujoum. IZZA is not a chain property or a hotel group. It is a privately owned, passionately curated sanctuary in the heart of Marrakech's Medina.
In 2024, IZZA was awarded the Michelin Key, confirming what travellers had already discovered: this is among the most remarkable places to stay in Morocco.
"IZZA is superb. It is the antithesis of what is offered in large luxury hotels. It has style, it has beauty, it has individuality, it has delightful staff and it has a location right inside the Medina."
— John Head, Google Reviews, December 2024
Ready to Book Riad IZZA Marrakech?
Rooms from £180/night including à la carte breakfast and airport transfer on arrival. Direct bookings unlock an exclusive 45-minute hammam or complimentary cocktail.
Location: Inside the Medina, Steps from the Souks
IZZA's full address is 46, Driba Laarida, Sidi Ahmed Soussi, Medina 40000 Marrakesh, Morocco. It sits deep within the Medina — the ancient walled city of Marrakech — accessible only on foot or by motorbike through narrow terracotta-hued laneways. This is part of its magic.
The souks, the vibrant market quarter, are within easy walking distance, as is the iconic Jemaa el-Fna square. The hotel's city guide, Mustafa, is on hand to orient guests and reveal Marrakech's most compelling corners beyond the tourist trail.
IZZA's reception can send a staff member to meet you at a nearby landmark on your first arrival — the alleys can be disorienting. Simply call ahead: +212 (0)6 61 95 62 46. On subsequent trips, locals are always helpful and will call the hotel on your behalf if you get lost.
The 14 Rooms & Suites: Named After Freedom Seekers
Every room at IZZA Marrakech is named after a creative figure who was part of Bill Willis's legendary Marrakech social circle — musicians, artists, writers, socialites and patrons who found freedom and inspiration in Morocco's ancient city. No two rooms are identical; each interprets a distinct personality through Moroccan craft materials: zellige tiling, tadelakt plaster, arabesque plasterwork, hardwood shutters and hand-cut mosaic borders.
All 14 rooms include a private bathroom, daily housekeeping, 24-hour front desk access and living among the artworks of the Museum in the Medina collection. There is no minimum stay requirement.
The signature suite, named for Yves Saint-Laurent, positioned high above the elegant 10m swimming pool with panoramic Medina views.
Inspired by Grace Jones, featuring a copper roll-top bath, bespoke Parisian textile bedhead and custom taupe zellige floor tiles.
Named for Marianne Faithfull. A private spiral staircase leads to a terrace overlooking the central courtyard — perfect for sunrise coffee.
Inspired by Jack Kerouac. Custom jade-green terracotta herringbone floor, hand-laid zellige borders and a deeply relaxed on-the-road atmosphere.
Named for composer and author Paul Bowles, with sophisticated design and thoughtful details including a private outdoor terrace.
The most spacious offering — a double-storey apartment honouring the original Berber owner, with private courtyard and direct terrace access.
Named for artist Leila Alaoui, featuring sky blue and dove-grey zellige, a stepped bath and separate walk-in rain shower.
Inspired by Italian style icon Marella Agnelli, a large corner room in taupe, ivory and earthy tones with Italian lighting and hardwood shutters.
Additional rooms include Allen (inspired by Allen Ginsberg), Pierre (Pierre Bergé), Brion (Brion Gysin), Cecil, Talitha (Talitha Getty) and Christina.
Amenities & Facilities at IZZA Marrakech
Noujoum Restaurant: Dining Under the Stars in Marrakech
IZZA's rooftop restaurant, Noujoum (meaning "stars" in Arabic), is a destination dining experience in its own right. Meals are served on a sprawling terrace entwined with ancient vines, overlooking the Medina rooftops — a setting that is as theatrical at sunset as it is at midnight under the stars.
The culinary philosophy centres on local, seasonal and sustainable Moroccan produce, merging traditional cooking techniques with European and Mediterranean flair. The sharing-plates format is deeply aligned with IZZA's House of Friends ethos.
What to order at Noujoum:
Breakfast highlights include egg Royale with saffron hollandaise, smoked salmon on brioche, fresh juice presses, and the remarkable msemen flatbread with Amlou — a crushed almond and argan oil butter. At lunch and dinner, shared plates run from IZZA's signature couscous and chicken tagine to crab and leek croquettes, seared beef fillet with chimichurri and braised duck ravioli. The pastry chef's dessert menu draws consistent praise from guests.
| Service | Hours (Daily) |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | 07:30 – 10:00 |
| Lunch | 12:00 – 14:30 |
| Dinner | 19:00 – 22:00 |
| Bill's Bar | 10:00 – 22:30 |
Non-staying guests can reserve a table at Noujoum via book.eatnow.ma — the rooftop is worth visiting for dinner alone, even if you are not staying at the riad.
Museum in the Medina: 300+ Artworks in Residence
What sets IZZA apart from virtually every other riad in Marrakech is its role as a functioning contemporary art institution. The Museum in the Medina (MITM) — accessible by appointment — is a founding member of IZZA's House of Friends. Guests live among over 300 carefully curated artworks installed throughout guest rooms and public spaces.
The collection spans contemporary Moroccan photography and painting alongside one of the world's most significant physical exhibitions of printed NFTs and generative digital art — works by Refik Anadol, Tyler Hobbs, Matt Deslauriers, Sebastião Salgado and others hang alongside Moroccan photographers such as Leila Alaoui and Hassan Hajjaj. For art collectors and design professionals, IZZA operates on a completely different level from any other property in the region.
To visit MITM without staying, contact the hotel directly: [email protected]
The Spirit of Bill Willis: Why IZZA Exists
IZZA's entire identity is rooted in the legacy of Bill Willis — an American interior designer and socialite who arrived in Marrakech in the 1960s and never left. Willis became the city's pre-eminent creative force, designing homes for Yves Saint-Laurent, the Getty and Agnelli families, and hosting legendary parties attended by Mick Jagger, Grace Jones, Jack Kerouac and Marianne Faithfull.
He is credited with pioneering the synthesis of traditional Moroccan decorative techniques — tadelakt, zellige, carved plaster, arabesque geometry — within contemporary interior design. That synthesis is the DNA of every room at IZZA, and his memory is honoured through Bill's Bar: a vibrant, irreverent space lined with photographs, artefacts and relics of the bohemian life he embodied.
IZZA Marrakech Room Rates & What's Included
Room Rates — All Include Daily À la Carte Breakfast
Smaller double rooms
Suites & apartments
✦ Direct Booking Exclusives (book at book.izza.com)
- ✓ À la carte breakfast daily
- ✓ Airport transfer on arrival
- ✓ 45-min hammam or spa treatment
- ✗ OR complimentary cocktail (choose one)
- ✓ No minimum stay
Essential Information for Booking IZZA Marrakech
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 46, Driba Laarida, Sidi Ahmed Soussi, Medina 40000 Marrakesh, Morocco |
| Phone | +212 (0)6 61 95 62 46 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | izza.com |
| Direct Booking | book.izza.com |
| Room Rate Range | £180 – £720 per room per night |
| Included in Rate | Daily à la carte breakfast + airport transfer on arrival (direct bookings) |
| Minimum Stay | None |
| Check-in / Check-out | 15:00 / 12:00 |
| Number of Rooms | 14 (doubles, suites and one apartment) |
| @izzamarrakech | |
| Award | Michelin Key (2024) |
| Opened | 2023 |
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Explore The Full Hotels & Riads GuideFrequently Asked Questions About IZZA Marrakech
Yes. IZZA comprises seven interconnecting traditional riads — the classical inward-facing Moroccan courtyard dwelling — restored and linked into one cohesive property. The word "riad" derives from the Arabic "ryad," meaning garden, and by design there are no external-facing windows, following the Islamic tradition of privacy and inward reflection.
Rates range from £180 to £720 per room per night. All rates include a daily à la carte breakfast. Direct bookings at book.izza.com also include an airport transfer on arrival plus a 45-minute hammam treatment or a complimentary cocktail.
Yes. One of IZZA's three private courtyards features a 10-metre swimming pool. A second courtyard has a cleansing foot-bath pool, and a third has a refreshing wall-fountain.
For the ultimate experience, the Yves suite offers a pool view and sleeps up to three adults. For romance, the Marianne room features its own private terrace overlooking the central courtyard. For maximum space and privacy, the Izza Apartment has its own private courtyard and direct terrace access from a double-storey layout.
Yes. Noujoum, IZZA's rooftop restaurant, accepts reservations from non-staying guests via book.eatnow.ma. This is one of Marrakech's most praised dining experiences in the Medina and can be enjoyed independently from the hotel.
IZZA is located within the Medina, within walking distance of Jemaa el-Fna square and the main souk quarter. The hotel's city guide can escort you on your first outing to orient you in the Medina's streets.
Why IZZA Is Considered the Best Riad in Marrakech
Marrakech has hundreds of riads. IZZA stands apart for several converging reasons that no other property in the city can replicate:
Scale with intimacy. Seven historic buildings linked into one creates a property of rare spatial complexity — 14 rooms, five staircases, three courtyards, panoramic rooftop terraces — yet it never feels like a hotel. It feels like a home.
World-class art. The Museum in the Medina positions IZZA alongside the great destination hotels of the world. Nowhere else in Morocco do you sleep among 300+ curated artworks spanning Moroccan photography, NFT prints by international artists and AI-generative works.
The Bill Willis legacy. The riad's thematic cohesion — built around the bohemian counter-culture of 1960s and 70s Marrakech — gives it a narrative identity that generic luxury properties cannot manufacture.
Michelin recognition. The Michelin Key is a rigorous, independent standard. For a Marrakech riad, it is the highest possible third-party endorsement.
Direct booking value. At £180 to £720 per night with breakfast, airport transfer and a spa session included, the value proposition for direct bookings compares exceptionally well against five-star hotel alternatives in the city.
Book Your Stay at IZZA Marrakech
Michelin Key · From £180/night · Breakfast Included · Free Airport Transfer on Direct Booking
IZZA Marrakech · 46, Driba Laarida, Sidi Ahmed Soussi, Medina 40000 Marrakesh · +212 (0)6 61 95 62 46 · [email protected] · izza.com