Oh, the Jona! Sixteen times I have stayed here and now, to me, the Jona is entirely synonymous with Marrakech. It has long been my happy place, where the moment I enter I feel happier and calmer and just generally better. I’ve mostly just stayed here for a very short break and ‘little and often’ has done the trick.
When I was looking for somewhere to stay on my second trip in 2014, I had a much better idea of what I was looking for:
- I wanted somewhere that was going to be easy to find (on this trip I was coming with a girl friend and wanted to ensure that we wouldn’t end up lost in the medina at midnight after a few glasses of wine). I knew enough about Marrakech now to be able to pick a good location.
- I wanted somewhere with a pool on the roof; a great number of riads have their pool on the ground floor but, lovely as they are, I don’t want to be running up and down stairs in a bikini every time I want to cool off.
- I wanted somewhere that would serve me wine!
Riad Jona ticked all the boxes.
It’s actually two riads – Jona and Paula – which are opposite each other in the alley and connected by a rooftop bridge. I can’t say that I really have a preference, or at least not now that the Jona rooms have all been done up. Previously I found that the Paula side was a bit more contemporary, but there’s little in it now.
Without doubt, my favourite part of the riad is the roof terrace; it’s filled with beautiful plants and trees and is just so peaceful (eating breakfast up there is a little challenging as the wasps are sods, but I think it’s worth the hassle of them as it’s a simply gorgeous way to start the day).
The rooms, as I’ve mentioned, have mostly been recently refurbished and manage to combine comfort with style, and the traditional with contemporary touches (I’ve noted that a fair few bits of decor are courtesy of Zara Home!). Be aware that the standard rooms are on the ground floor, off each central courtyard, which can be a little noisy and quite off-putting if you’re using the loo and there’s just a window (and curtain!) between you and someone having their breakfast! I think it’s worth paying the bit extra for a superior on the first floor, and the junior suites on the roof on the Paula side are really lovely (can’t remember what they’re called – sorry!).
Breakfast is always very good, and slightly different each day, but very carb heavy (but, you know, holiday). You can eat either in the dining areas inside, or on the roof terrace. At times, if they’re a bit short staffed they may try to say that it can’t be on the roof that day, but generally it really can.
There’s not much of a lunch menu but they do some really good mini burgers and merguez sausages, served with tomato/onion salad and bread. But order a while before you think you’ll be hungry as ‘Moroccan time’ often comes into play! I believe that the food in the evening is very good indeed, but I prefer to always eat out, so am unable to comment really.
Want to be careful how I say this, as don’t want to imply that the guys currently working at the Jona aren’t as good or as nice as those in years gone by, because they really are lovely, but I can detect a slight decline in the time they have for you, and I think that this is coming from the management. Historically they’d sit and chat for ages, which is how many have become friends and how I’ve learnt much about the country and culture, but there’s just a bit less of that. Or, perhaps, they’re just sick of me!
The Jona is located in my preferred part of the medina, it’s very close to the square and the palaces, and seems a bit cleaner to me, too. Quite possibly as it’s the more touristy end. I think that it’s harder to get lost in this part and I have never felt unsafe walking back to the riad very late at night on my own. Granted, I am a bit bloody minded, but I really wouldn’t worry about safety here.
I love the Jona, I’d absolutely recommend it and I know that I will always return from time to time…
Riad Zitoune Kédim, 34 Derb Jdid, 40040 Marrakech Medina, Morocco
Phone: +212 (0)5 2442 7349
Phone from UK: 020 3468 2251
Marion in Morocco 