If you are visiting Morocco and looking for a traditional riad in the medina of Marrakesh, then Riad Jona might be a good place to book for your accommodation.
When it comes to choosing accommodation in Marrakesh, you are often spoilt for choice, and this riad represents a very traditional style of Marrakesh accommodation focused on atmosphere rather than hotel-style luxury. We stayed for two nights and found it worked best as a short city stay if you want character, a rooftop to unwind on, and a more local feel rather than polished luxury.
Overview
Riad Jona is a traditional riad in Marrakech, tucked away in the heart of the city, offering a calm base away from the constant buzz. While it’s marketed as a 5-star riad, in reality it feels more like a comfortable mid-to-upper range stay with charm — not flawless, but pleasant enough for a few nights.
This is a good option if you’re visiting Marrakesh for the first time and want to stay inside the medina. If you’re wondering “Where should I stay in Marrakesh“, a riad like this offers a very different experience compared to modern hotels, and is one of the most popular types of accommodation in Marrakesh.
Why We Chose Riad Jona
In terms of accommodation, we would recommend booking your hotel through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Trip.com to get the best rates. On this occasion, and for all hotels in Morocco we booked our Marrakesh Riad via Trip.com.
We booked Riad Jona Marrakesh mainly because we wanted to stay in a traditional riad during our time in Morocco, and Marrakesh felt like the best place to do that on this trip.
Location and price were also key factors, especially compared to other riads in the area. The photos showed a property full of character, and the rooftop terrace immediately stood out — always a bonus in Marrakesh after long days of walking.
Reviews were generally positive, with a few mixed comments, which we took as a sign of a realistic rather than over-hyped stay. We share more about our experience below.
How to get to Riad Jona
We arrived by train from Casablanca, which made getting to Marrakesh straightforward and comfortable.
From Marrakesh station, you’ll need a taxi for the final stretch to the medina. The journey is easy, but as with most riads, the last few minutes are on foot through narrow streets.
If you’re arriving via Marrakesh Menara Airport instead, a taxi or pre-arranged transfer is the easiest option and usually takes around 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic. Having directions from the riad (or arranging a transfer) makes arrival much easier, especially if it’s your first time in Marrakesh.
Hotel address: 34 Derb Jdid, Marrakech, Marrakesh-Safi, 40040, Morocco
Discover Riad Jona
Check-in Experience
We arrived late in the evening, and check-in was friendly and relaxed. As we entered the riad, we were invited to sit down and complete some paperwork, which felt unhurried and calm after a long travel day.
Once check-in was completed, a member of staff showed us to our room and explained how to use the tablet in the room, including how to make sure the door was properly locked.
It wasn’t especially fast or polished, but it felt warm and personal — very much what you’d expect from a traditional riad rather than a city hotel.
Lobby
The lobby and central courtyard are beautifully done and immediately give you a sense of what a riad is all about. A riad is a traditional Moroccan house built around an internal courtyard, designed to offer privacy, shade, and a calm retreat from the busy streets outside.
At Riad Jona, the courtyard sits at the heart of the property, with a small fountain in the middle that adds to the peaceful atmosphere.
The furniture felt carefully chosen, with comfortable sofas and armchairs arranged around the space in a way that encourages you to sit and slow down. Soft, neutral colours, plenty of cushions, and intricate decorative details made the area feel warm and inviting rather than overly styled.
Everything was tastefully decorated and thoughtfully arranged, creating a relaxed space we were happy to spend time in during the day.
Hotel Room
We stayed in a deluxe room, which was comfortable enough for a short stay. The room had a double bed with two bedside tables, a wardrobe that was sufficient for storage (with a safe inside), and a reasonably comfortable armchair.
There was also a full-sized mirror, which was particularly handy, along with a small table we used for bits and pieces.
The décor felt traditional and in keeping with the riad style, with some lovely details — a traditionally styled lamp, wooden doors on the wardrobe and bathroom, and pictures of local people that added to the overall character.
Space was reasonable, and while it’s not a room designed for spending long stretches of time indoors, it worked well for a city stay. The bed was comfortable, and nights were generally quiet.
Check Prices: Riad Jona
Bathroom
The bathroom wasn’t large and had a very simple layout. As you enter, the sink and mirror are directly in front of you, with the shower on the left-hand side and the toilet on the right.
The bathroom is separated from the bedroom by wooden double doors, which fitted nicely with the overall riad style. In terms of amenities, toiletries were provided, along with cotton buds and cotton pads, and there was also a hair dryer available.
Unfortunately, the drainage was really bad. Even compared to other places we stayed in Morocco — including the Sahara desert camp — the drainage and water pressure here were noticeably worse, which doesn’t fit the 5-star positioning of the riad.
Having a shower became an inconvenience, especially after Paul had already used it, as the water didn’t drain properly. I had to be very careful with how much water I used to avoid flooding the bathroom and potentially the bedroom.
Honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to having a shower here, which was disappointing.
Rooftop
The rooftop terrace was our favourite area overall. There is a small rooftop pool (which we didn’t use) as well as plenty of sunbeds, making it an inviting space during the day. There are also tables set up on the rooftop should you choose to dine at the riad.
We mainly spent our evenings here, enjoying the calmer atmosphere above the medina rooftops. On one evening, we even brought up some sweet treats we’d picked up from a well-known bakery in Rabat and enjoyed them up on the terrace.
The plants dotted around the rooftop added to the overall atmosphere and softened the space, contributing nicely to the décor. It’s not flashy, but it’s a genuinely relaxing area and a real highlight of the riad, especially after long days exploring Marrakesh.
Like what you are reading? Why not join us for other journeys by subscribing to our newsletter:
Breakfast at Riad Jona
Breakfast is served from 8am, which turned out to be slightly inconvenient for us. On our first morning, we had an early trip booked to the Ouzoud Waterfalls and needed to leave the riad by 8:05am.
We asked whether breakfast could be served around 15 minutes earlier, but this wasn’t really possible.Once we saw what breakfast consisted of, we were a little puzzled as to why this couldn’t have been prepared more quickly.
Breakfast included a small pot of granola, a fruit salad, and orange juice, served with coffee. This was followed by two types of bread with butter, olives, cheese, and a selection of marmalades. That was it — and portions were quite modest.
Overall, it felt underwhelming and didn’t meet our expectations of a 5-star riad. It was enough to take the edge off, but nothing more, and definitely one of the weaker aspects of the stay.
Final Thoughts
Riad Jona in Marrakesh Morocco is best suited to couples, solo travellers, and families who want a traditional riad experience rather than full luxury. While it’s often marketed as Marrakesh luxury accommodation, in reality it sits somewhere between character-led comfort and mid-range accomodation in Marrakesh rather than true five-star luxury.
Check Prices: Riad Jona
It has character, a lovely rooftop, and a good medina location, but it doesn’t fully live up to its 5-star rating — particularly when it comes to breakfast and bathroom drainage.
For a short city stay where location and atmosphere matter most, we’d consider staying again, especially if the price is right and expectations are set realistically.
Ready to book? Below are some recommendations to get your trip started:
- Flights – we use flight aggregators such as Skyscanner and Google Flights to find the best options. You can find more information about finding cheap flights here.
- Accommodation – would recommend booking your accommodation through an aggregator such as Booking.com or Trip.com to get the best rates. We also use TripAdvisor to read reviews.
- Transport – consider DiscoverCars for car renting or if you rely on public transport, you can use Omio for trains, coaches, ferries, airport transfers and even flights.
- Activities – a great option is GetYourGuide, Klook or Viator for tours, excursions, experiences and tickets to many tourist attractions.
- Travel money – we have Starling Bank accounts (UK residents only) with 0% fees on FX and a good Mastercard exchange rate. Revolut is another good option.
- Travel insurance – check SafetyWing for travel medical insurance that works for you and your specific needs.
- Internet abroad – with Airalo or Nomad you can access a wide range of eSIMs (digital SIM cards) available for different countries and regions.
- Luggage storage – if you need to store your bags whilst exploring the destination, you can use Radical Storage to find your closest luggage storage and enjoy your journey until the very end.
As an Amazon Associate and member of various other affiliate programmes, some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Like what you’ve read? Subscribe to our blog by adding your email address below. You’ll be the first to hear about new destinations and articles we publish!
Are you interested in travelling? Check out our Facebook page and other social media for regular tips and recommendations on how to travel and where to go!
