The Central House Marrakech review: our verdict
A pool in the heart of a hostel right in the medina: The Central House plays this card in a white riad just a few minutes' walk from the Ben Youssef Madrasa. Around the green-tiled water, there are sun loungers and the ground-floor bar; up top, a rooftop bathed in sun where the neighboring minaret stands out. The rooms, six-person dormitories or private rooms, are spacious, understated, feature zellige flooring, and offer well-preserved privacy.
It is the perfect base for a budget traveler who wants to do everything on foot, or for a group of friends who prefer a clean, well-run place to an overpriced riad. The restaurant also welcomes souk strollers at noon, around beautiful salads, and the staff speaks all languages. It is not the hostel for easy meetups: no activities are organized to get to know each other, and a solo traveler is likely to stay alone.
The trap: mistaking the pool for a real swimming pool, it is more for refreshing than swimming. The best slot: the rooftop in the late afternoon, when the light falls on the medina's terraces. Note: laundry is done yourself on the roof and is charged for.



