Riad Soleil d'Orient

This Riad is a delightful place to stay. It is not in the old part of the town and, from the outside, looks quite ordinary. It is approached down a narrow alley, through a small traditional doorway, and suddenly you are inside an oasis of tranquilly and charm. There are trees in the large, cool, central courtyard which is beautifully decorated. The rooms are on the first and second floors and are also delightfully decorated. Because there were no suitable restaurants nearby we decided to eat in the Riad. It was a good choice. The food was excellent and they easily coped with the fact that half our party were vegetarian and one gluten intolerant. It is a delightful place to stay.

Beautiful riad. Outstanding service. Delicious food. Great massage services. What more can one want? The riad has a large and beautifully manicured courtyard. The room and bathroom were nice and had all the amenities one might need. Nicely decorated. But nothing out of the ordinary. I had dinner at the riad. Their lamb tajine was one of the most delicious tajines I had while in Morocco. Their breakfast was a typical Moroccan spread. The location was walking distance to all the sites to see in El Jadida. There was no parking on the rather narrow street. They had parking available at a site nearby. Although, with the winding alleys to get there, even though the distance from the riad was short, I kept getting lost. That is not common for me.

If this Riad were in France, people would be coming to it just for the evening meal. Other guests had already said to us “Just wait until you taste the cooking”. Our anticipation increased when we read (roughly translated) “Dinner available by reservation only: menu made with fresh ingredients bought from the market on the day”. This is normally a very good sign; we were not disappointed. There must be a chef of genius in the kitchen; no choice, just (just!) starter, main course and dessert representing the fusion of the best of French cuisine with the best & freshest of Moroccan ingredients. Lonely Planet guidebooks are rather dismissive of El Jadida suggesting doing the sights in an hour or two and the moving on. We combined the sights with an overnight stay at Riad Soleil d’Orient and benefitted not just from delicious French cuisine but also from the care and thoughtfulness with which Mme Laurence has carried out her vision for the riad: the bright courtyard with a fountain & a fig tree, the upstairs dining room with an open log fire, the 1st floor sitting room with books, chess set, dominos, playing cards, CDs & player. Our (marble floored) room showed the same care: heaters in case the Atlantic winds blew at the town, a large shower with plentiful (solar powered) hot water and the generous provision of not merely shower gel and shampoo but also conditioner, cleanser & cotton wool pads and body lotion. Special mention must be made of the friendly and helpful staff; in particular Abdou who kindly walked us to the Portuguese fort & port (but, yes, the Riad provides a handy map) and later, in a smart uniform, served the delicious dinner, and finally helped us with our bags the next morning. Incidentally Riad Soleil d’Orient is the first riad we have found where you can actually drive up to the entrance. El Jadida was not - at least when we visited it - a prepossessing town, but it has the potential to develop into a resort. Riad Soleil d’Orient is ahead of the curve.

Unfortunately I had only one night here. It is beautiful, quiet, and relaxing. It is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the larger, more popular imperial cities. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed. Great attention to detail. Even the bathroom towels are divine. One of the best places I encountered during my 15-day Moroccan tour. You are within walking distance of the old Portuguese town and souks. I chose to eat dinner in the town, and I left before sunrise the next morning. So I did not experience dining inside the riad. I had an adventurous, fast-paced vacation itinerary. I purposefully planned the last 2-3 days to be slower paced with time for rest and recovery. Knowing what I know now, I would have spent an extra day at Soliel for R&R.