After a heady day getting lost in the medina, bartering in the souks and dodging snake charmers, you’ll almost certainly find yourself in need of an escape. And Riad Jaanamen is just the place. As you veer off down a dark alley and enter through a conspicuous side door, you could never imagine that what hides inside could be so beautiful, so peaceful, so zen.
The riad is set around a courtyard with exotic plants that shoot up to the heavens. Birds swoop overhead, and there’s a dipping pool for cooling off in. It all feels very tropical. Next to the courtyard are 2 salons decorated with designer lamps, an enormous fireplace, a towering mirror and trinkets from around the world. Italian owner Leonardo Giangreco, who used to live here with his family, has style in his genes and clearly spent his time in Marrakech scouring the souks for treasures. His collections decorate the 5 resplendent rooms, which each have their own quirky design themes. When you tire of wandering the souks, hide away in your chamber with a Moroccan mint tea and a plate of sticky pastries, then head up to the roof to loll on the loungers with a cool beer in hand. Divine.
Highs
- Unique, romantic suites with vintage furniture, modern art pieces and marble bathrooms
- The oasis-like courtyard with palms, bamboo and climbing ivy
- Delicious breakfasts that include healthy smoothie shots and homemade yoghurt; traditional Morocco dinners are also available on request
- Impeccable service from the staff; the vibe is relaxed and very friendly
- Brilliant location in the heart of the medina, yet tucked away to block out all noise from outside
Lows
- The pool isn’t really for swimming in, more for cooling off toes
- It's a little quiet in the riad for dining in, but this might be a welcome break from the lively restaurants of the medina
- Bees were a bit of a nuisance at breakfast, but this is a seasonal issue and staff are working hard to sort the problem
- Although kids are welcome, the romantic atmosphere of the riad means it's not ideal for little ones
Best time to go
We think Marrakech is at its finest in springtime, when the orange blossom is out, the sun is usually shining and the temperatures are perfect for walking around in. Autumn is also great thanks to good weather conditions. Winter can be a lovely time of year, and very cosy when the fireplaces are lit. July and August are hot and probably best avoided.
Our top tips
On the way back from exploring the Jewish Quarter, call in at Kosybar for a quick tipple. It has a big open-air roof terrace and is particularly lovely at sunset.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 5 independent reviews from i-escape guests
The staff at Riad Jaaneman were excellent, very helpful with lots of tips and advice. It feels more like staying with a family than a hotel experience. Clean sheets, nice breakfast.. we didn’t discover the rooftop until the last day.. could see the sunset there with a beer rather than a busy rooftop bar. Great location for the souks and everything. Do research before you arrive, plot on maps, make notes as Wi-Fi isn’t anywhere in the old medina and you need a plan. The map the host gave us was invaluable. The secret garden and photography museum were well worth a visit, but you must book in advance to go to the Jardin Marjorelle. Getting through passport control took over 2 hours but our taxi waited. Be at airport on return at least 3-4 hours before departure. Overall our trip was fantastic!
Wonderful Riad in the heart of the Medina. Tucked away but perfectly located near bars, restaurants and the Souks. Romantic, quiet and tranquil. Fantastic service and delicious breakfasts. Thank you for making our Marrakesh stay so lovely!
The Riad was very easy to find in the medina (unlike some!). I was very kindly greeted at the taxi on arrival by the Manager and directed to the Riad. Great location on the edge of everything and yet still extremely peaceful/quiet. Room was lovely and spacious (Partenope). I had one dinner on arrival as I arrived late and the food was good and plentiful. My flight was delayed and so this was quite late (9:45pm) and yet they had a lovely table laid out for me in the courtyard. Service at breakfast could be a little slow - possibly a result of it being quite a small, quiet establishment so the pace is a little different but staff were very friendly. El fenn was good for lunch and close by - similar to a Moroccan soho house. The booking process was very easy. Arranged transfers directly and had prompt reply.
Lovely stylish riad, conveniently located at the edge of the medina. Our room with private courtyard and waterfall was amazing but just needed a little tlc. However, it was the service that made our stay as Mohammed and the team couldn’t have done more. If you do stay don’t miss the El Bacha coffee house across the way from the riad. Riad El Fenn is a short walk for lunch and/or dinner and we loved Nomad for lunch in the medina.
From the moment we arrived at Riad Jaaneman we felt so lucky to be there. Down a small alleyway - tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the thriving Media - we found ourselves in an oasis of calm and tranquillity. Muhammad and Muhammad were so welcoming and went out of their way to make us feel welcome and relaxed - nothing was too much trouble. The food was delicious - especially the breakfast which we ate everyday on the roof terrace. Homemade yoghurt with honey and fig jam, freshly made pancakes and much more - setting us up for the day. We were a family of 4 - 15 & 16 year old children - and we all slept in one room. Very reasonably priced and extremely comfortable. Brilliant location - close to everything that Marrakesh has to offer. We will definitely be back again! Thank you
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