Dar Ayniwen Garden Hotel & Bird Zoo

The hotel is a lovely green oasis in an area of sandy soil and palm trees north of Marrakesh, with most rooms in small buildings around the grounds. We were upgraded to a suite (Tiwalin 1) which was very spacious and stylishly furnished. Breakfast was served by the pool, and it was very good if a little unvarying - the yoghurt was delicious. Whether the hotel is right for you or not depends on how you you want to spend your time. It would be perfect for days in the sun by the pool, but we wanted to do sightseeing and this meant hiring taxis each day, which the hotel manager Aziz was very happy to arrange for us. We had already stayed for 3 nights in a riad and wanted a change to some fresh air and green space. We hadn't realised on booking that it was quite so far out of town, but it certainly gave us the relaxing outdoor space we were looking for. We had a delicious dinner of fish/prawns on the second evening. The problem was that the small number of diners made the atmosphere a bit awkward, and we didn't return on nights 3 and 4. Overall a it was a luxurious and characterful hotel, with smiling and attentive staff, which we would be happy to recommend.

I am a little reluctant to write this as I would love to keep this exquisite place to myself… But equally, Dar Ayniwen thoroughly deserves a glowing review. The property is located in the Palmeraie, a palm grove to the east of Marrakech, dotted with boutique hotels and gated private homes. Upon arrival, after a short drive from the airport, I was warmly welcomed by manager Aziz and, fresh mint tea in hand, I was taken on a tour of the hotel’s beautiful gardens. I say ‘hotel’ - in fact staying at Dar Ayniwen feels more like being an honoured guest in a private home (which it once was.) An upgrade to the beautiful Tiwaline 1 suite awaited me - and what a room! Adorned with antiques and featuring a separate living room, a domed marble bathroom with walk-in shower and a supremely comfortable bed, it was truly a home from home. On the ground floor, at the side of the main house, Tiwaline 1 opens to a shady riad style garden complete with tortoises and a very vocal Siamese cat! My 2 night stay was intended as a quiet period of relaxation prior to the arrival of a relative in Marrakech for some more energetic leisure pursuits. And it couldn’t have been more perfect. A comfortable sun lounger was placed in the spot of my choosing on the expansive lawn near the (heated but still refreshing) pool for an afternoon of much needed sun. (26 degrees was an absolute joy after cold, grey late January England!) When I brought a soft drink from the fridge in my room, a glass was delivered with a little table. This is just one example of how the (superb) staff strike just the right balance - attentive but unobtrusive. And as a solo traveller and first time visitor to Morocco, I felt thoroughly looked after. Meals are taken in a charming, cosy tent with an open fire. (There’s a terrace for balmier evenings). Breakfast is a tasty combination of fruit, pastries and Moroccan pancakes, brought to your table. Dinner - ordered in advance to ensure the freshest ingredients can be sourced on the day - was honestly the best food I have eaten in a hotel. The beef tagine was utterly sublime. On my first evening I was welcomed into the tent by owner Stéphane. Merci/shukran Stéphane for sharing your family home with your guests! For a treat I had booked a spa treatment, but Amina, the hotel’s beautician, was unwell on the day I had booked, so the hotel arranged a transfer for me to and from a local hammam and spa about 10 minutes away, which I found via google. (I hope Amina is much better now.) After two blissful nights cocooned in this peaceful paradise, I left Dar Ayniwen feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on whatever Marrakech had to offer! Thank you to Stéphane, Aziz, Ismael, Rashid and everyone who works so hard to make Dar Ayniwen such a welcoming place. They have truly nailed 5 star service in a boutique setting. I shall most certainly return!

We stayed here several years ago as two families traveling together. The service was excellent. The room was quirky but also charming and well maintained. The restaurant served delicious food. The gardens, animals and pool are beautiful as mentioned in many reviews. The hotel can arrange various trips for you so you can dip in and out of the city itself. My only negative was the room, with some quite thick furnishings, could feel a little stuffy at times.

I have been to many resorts and this definitely tops off all of them! I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to relax on vacation. The room was very clean, the staff is so nice and amazing at what they do. The chef is excellent, the food was on point every single time. The heated pool was nice and big. The resort itself is so beautiful, lots of pretty pathways amongst the nature and tall palm trees! Management is on top of everything, they truly try their best and pay attention to small details to make your time at Dar Ayniwen like no other. Everyone was so nice right from the beginning all the way to the very end. What an amazing experience this was, I wish we had stayed longer. We cannot wait to return to Marrakech!

Dar Ayniwen is truly a magical way to visit Marrakech. We have been coming to Dar Ayniwen for eight years. Although we have stayed at some large luxury hotels in the city, we much prefer Dar Ayniwen. It is a way to have a beautiful and relaxing experience in Morocco and at the same time have easy access to the excitement of the Medina, with transport back and forth arranged at any time. Stephane and Aziz make sure the service is perfect. It is great to be back after the pandemic and see that everything we have loved about Dar Ayniwen is there again, including the food and wine. There is nothing much better than breakfast by the pool, listening to the birds -- and the birds at Dar Ayniwen remain amazing. It is our daughter's favorite place away from home. We highly recommend Dar Ayniwen to anyone traveling to the Marrakech area for couples or families.

We had an incredible stay (our third!) in February ‘22. Aziz and his team were so welcoming and made our stay just wonderful. Tasty food and excellent service. The extra paperwork needed and checks at the airport were daunting, but were fine in the end. Still dreaming of our breakfasts by the pool. A truly magical stay!