My new Marrakech ‘home’
The Jona has been my Marrakech home for forever (well, since 2014, anyway), but times have moved on and I have (finally!) – on my most recent trip in April 2019 – escaped the self-imposed confines of the Medina. I was just so comfortable there, but it was kind of preventing me from exploring further afield. For anyone visiting Marrakech for the first time, I would, if asked, demand that you stay in a Riad, they are truly special places, but there comes a time when you simply need a change. After, perhaps 15 or 16 visits, I think that I’m allowed to make the leap!
The 2Ciels is a modern, beautifully fresh and bright boutique hotel. It has a highly regarded and excellent fish restaurant, Patron de la Mer), a ‘Club’ bar, two plunge pools (ground floor and rooftop) and a fab rooftop bar, Lola Sky Lounge. Service in Morocco can be painfully slow (‘Morocco time’, I’ve heard more times than I care to remember), but it was really swift at this bar, so no having to wait 45 minutes for a glass of wine!
Adding to that, the food in the restaurant is well above Moroccan norms and I had a lovely meal of John Dory in Patron on my last night. What was also great was that they were showing the football (sorry, Liverpool fans, it was Messi’s night) in the conservatory area. One of the most civilised environments in which I’ve watched (some of) a game!
However, as good as the restaurant is, more pleasing to me was that the breakfast buffet is FAB! The options are plentiful, with eggs cooked to order and accompanied by everything from sausages/meatballs to tortilla, quiche to crudites, and fruit to cakes (including a quite delicious looking chocolate tart). Everything seemed to come from the kitchen in small batches and, as such, everything was really fresh.
It’s really hard to comment on this without sounding a bit vommy, but what a brilliant team the hotel has. The reception team were AMAZING, really exceptionally kind and helpful (even when I was being a bit of a nuisance when I couldn’t decide whether to stay at the hotel on my last day or go to the Beldi as planned). They were all totally above and beyond. And just as wonderful were the Lola Sky Bar team (who laughingly found it rather curious that I ordered a coke rather than a wine one day – my reputation goes before me!).
Pricewise, the hotel is on a par with the Jona, if not cheaper, and massively cheaper than, say, the Radisson up the road, which I popped into when passing one day; it was nowhere near as nice, yet about three-to-four times the price (and once again confirming my dislike of big chains). The 2Ciels is incredibly good value and I hope that they don’t realise and put the prices up accordingly. I paid about £85/night for a big double room (kingsize bed), balcony, and lovely big bathroom. I didn’t take great photos but here’s an idea
Located in Gueliz and is about a 20-30 min walk to the square and Medina, and is really convenient for some excellent restaurants; the bars and clubs of Hivernage are also very close by (not really my cup of tea, so can’t – as yet – comment on any of them!). Ultimately, it’s well placed for both old and new.
I totally, totally recommend the 2Ciels. Unless it’s your first trip to Marrakech, in which case I demand that you get yourself to the Jona!
OUED EL MAKHAZINE STREET, CORNER OF IMAM CHAFAI STREET, 40000 MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
Marion in Morocco 