About Us
About Riad La Cigale
Our Heritage A family home since 1600, Riad La Cigale became a guesthouse in 1992 when two Italian designers transformed this 17th-century residence into an intimate retreat. Our five distinctive rooms blend traditional Moroccan architecture with modern comfort.
2025 Renovation Owners Masha and Steven renovated our courtyard, salon, library, and terraces with a French-Moroccan designer, adding custom furniture, traditional hssira coverings, and a magical curtained terrace perfect for sunset dinners overlooking the Atlas Mountains and Koutoubia.
Your Experience Just five minutes from UNESCO-listed Jemaa el-Fna, yet peacefully secluded. Unwind to vintage jazz from Steven's vinyl collection while our team guides you to Marrakech's finest souks, restaurants, and hidden gems.
Dining & Culture Start each day with our hearty Moroccan breakfast. Our chef prepares authentic tajines, tangias, and couscous on request. Join our cooking classes to master traditional spices and dine by candlelight on our rooftop terrace.
Wellness Relax in our traditional hammam with authentic treatments, argan oil massages, and rejuvenating black soap rituals.
We look forward to welcoming you to our Marrakech home.
Masha and Steven
Even before they met, fell in love, and came to Morocco together, Masha and Steven were inveterate travelers. Between them they had travelled in 69 countries, in every possible style: Masha had been a geographical researcher in the deserts and mountains of central Asia, Steven had been on missions for the United Nations in Europe, Africa and Asia, and of course, each of them had travelled for sheer pleasure, first as backpackers and later at the world's most luxurious hotels. After storied careers, Masha as a journalist and popular radio host in her native Saint Petersburg and Steven as an award-winning theater director, published essayist, and international lecturer and consultant, they both agreed that when, finally, it was time to settle down, Marrakech was the only choice. They chose to create at Riad la Cigale, in the Medina, just the kind of traditional and sustainable retreat that they themselves hoped to discover.
Yassmine (Manager)
Riad La Cigale is managed by Yassmine, a proud Marrakchi who is passionate about her heritage and culture and is the perfect host to welcome you to both Marrakech and Morocco. Yassmine has been part of the la Cigale family since 2023, starting out as night manager and working her way up to the General Manager. As a result, she understands and can respond to any guest need or desire, day or night – from late check-in to early breakfast to last-minute plan-changes. In addition, Yassmine speaks fluent English, French, Turkish and Arabic, and, in her spare time, studies physics at the University. Her passion is to introduce visitors to the secrets and wonders of Marrakech, and to ensure a rejuvenating experience for our guests upon their return. And, in addition, Yassmine will gladly help you plan your visit beyond Marrakech, to the mountains, the desert or the beach – you need only ask!
Mina (chef)
Mina has always had a passion for cooking. Since she was a little girl, she loved spending time in the kitchen, always watching her mother while she cooked and trying to learn from her. Little by little she developed her own love for food, especially for making pâtisserie and sweet things. You can really feel how much she enjoys it when she works, because she puts her heart into everything she prepares. Mina has been part of Riad La Cigale since 2015, and during all these years she became like family in the riad. She prepares not only the breakfasts and the multi-course candlelit dinners, but she also bakes all the bread. Mina takes great pride in creating delicious cakes and desserts for our guests with love and care. Her way of mixing tradition with a touch of creativity makes her pâtisserie really special, and it is one of the reasons why our guests always remember their stay with us with sweetness.
Our Staff (Mina, Yassmine, Said, Houda)
"What makes this riad so special is the staff. Said, Jasmin and Mina are incredibly kind and go out of their way for the guests. Even though he was a new employee, Said did everything he could to accommodate us." Robyn (Booking.com - September 2025 )
"The staff is absolutely adorable, always attentive and welcoming, which makes you feel at home from the very first moment." Steppy (Google maps - September 2025)
"Yassmine and Said were incredibly attentive and so so kind. I arrived early in the morning, and although my check-in was only scheduled for later, my room was ready soon. While I waited, Said made me some delicious mint tea and offered me some Moroccan sweets. Yassmine gave me a detailed explanation of what I should go and visit in the city and gave me some great recommendations and a useful map." Bella (Booking.com - September 2025)
"Yassmine and Mina were the most welcoming staff you could imagine - so hospitable and helpful. Yassmine gave me lots of good advice about things to do and see. I absolutely loved my stay at this Riad and would highly recommend it. It's in the heart of the bustling Medina and yet so quiet, cool and peaceful inside. My room was nicely air-conditioned and the bed and pillows were wonderfully comfortable. Had a fabulous hammam at the Riad plus Mina taught me how to cook a olive and lemon chicken tagine. Delicious!" (Booking.com - September 2025)
"What truly sets this place apart, though, are the incredible hosts. They go above and beyond to make you feel at home, starting each day with a warm smile and a delicious traditional Moroccan breakfast, freshly prepared with care. Their hospitality is genuine, and they're always ready with helpful recommendations and tips on where to go, what to see, and where to eat. If I ever return to Marrakech, I'll absolutely stay here again - and even if I don't, I'll be sure to come by just to shello to the amazing people who made my stay so memorable." Omar (Google maps - August 2025)