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Marrakesh has arguably the largest selection of restaurants in Morocco, which serve equal parts Moroccan and international cuisine at varying price points. Restaurant dining, once reserved mainly for the wealthy or very special occasions, is now part of the norm for virtually all Marrakshis. Options vary from inexpensive snack bars, cafés, and fast-food restaurants to the more pricey French bistros, sushi bars, and sophisticated Moroccan fine-dining options. In restaurants where alcohol is served, meal prices tend to be high as licenses are expensive. Home entertaining, however, with lavish meals to impress visitors, is still very much part and parcel of the old Marrakshi way of life. To get an idea (albeit a rather expensive one) of traditional yet sumptuous Moroccan entertaining, treat yourself to an evening at one of Marrakesh’s popular riad gastronomique restaurants in the medina. Morocco is a Muslim country, so don't assume that all restaurants will serve alcohol. Licenses are expensive and, inside the medina especially, are very hard to come by.
You can also eat well at inexpensive sidewalk cafés in both the medina and Guéliz. Here, don't miss out on a famous local dish called tanjia, made popular by workers who slow-cook lamb or beef in an earthenware pot left in hot ashes for the whole day. Food is cooked and served from an outdoor street-kitchen with shared tables, but it's a hearty meal with locals for around 30 DH.
Most restaurants in Marrakesh tend to fall into two categories. They're either fashionable, flashy affairs, mostly in Guéliz and the outlying areas of Marrakesh, which serve à la carte European, Asian, and Moroccan cuisine, or they're more traditional places, often tucked inconspicuously into riads and old palaces in the medina. Both types can be fairly pricey, and, to avoid disappointment, are best booked in advance. They also tend to open quite late, usually not before 7:30 in Guéliz and 8 in the medina, although most people don't sit down to eat until 9 or 9:30. In recent years a third dining category, the dinner-cabaret, has become a popular format, attracting tourists, expats, and well-heeled Moroccans for their entertainment value, if not necessarily for their cuisine.
There's no set system for tipping. Your check will indicate that service has been included in the charge; if not, tip 10% or 15% for excellent service.
Serving some of the best à la carte Moroccan food in the city, the affordable menu here includes tasty tagines, tender brochettes with saffron rice, couscous topped with caramelized onions, succulent tangia, and sweet-savory pigeon pastilla. There's an extensive choice of Moroccan wines, too. The restaurant can be noisy and crowded with slow service if there are large party bookings.
The Spanish-Moroccan chain, which has restaurants in Casablanca and Rabat, opened this location in 2016. Fresh fish is shipped in from Agadir or Casablanca each morning, and the authentic tapas selection includes classics such as tortillas, shrimp with garlic, patatas bravas, and the more adventurous Galician octopus. The well-chosen wine list includes mostly Moroccan and French wines, but there is a small selection of Marques de Riscal reds, whites, and rosés. There is a main restaurant, but the pleasant outdoor terrace has stools at the bar that are perfect for a quick informal tapas snack, and guests can drink alcohol on the terrace, which is unusual for Marrakesh. The atmosphere is lively and convivial in the evenings, but lunchtime is a more laid-back affair.
Not much English is spoken so come prepared with your phrase book.
The seasonal menu at +61 reflects the laid-back Australian lifestyle, and all the produce is organic and grown within 30 minutes of Marrakesh. Cocktails and wine are served on-site. Reservations on weekends a must.
This modern terrace café at the edge of the Marrakesh Plaza, in the heart of Guéliz, is a popular lunch spot. The range of salads is imaginative, and even the half portion makes a satisfying meal; main dishes include chicken in mushroom sauce as well as several great pasta options. A kids' menu is available, as well as ice cream, delicious homemade pastries, and cakes.
The Al Fassia name has become synonymous with fine Moroccan cuisine in Marrakesh, and with tables hard to come by in Guéliz, this branch at the boutique Hotel Al Fassia near the Agdal Gardens lives up to the same high standards set by the older sister restaurant. The atmosphere is elegant though casual, and the restaurant is more spacious and tranquil than its city-center counterpart. On a warm evening a table on the outdoor garden terrace is very romantic. The menu offers the same traditional fare as the Guéliz restaurant, and the kefta of fish with ginger and herbs comes highly recommended. Vegetarians will enjoy the array of delicately flavorsome Moroccan salads as a subtantial starter.
The shaded entryway of this pretty little restaurant gives way to a small dining area lovingly decorated with comfy seating areas and lots of plants. It's a local favorite, especially for brunch.
The airy courtyard in the 1910 building that houses the Dar el Bacha Musée is all palm trees and colorful tiles: it's a perfect oases for a quick bite. There are over 100 types of coffee, from all over the world, and perfect pastries, as well as a selection of main dishes.
This Italian-owned three-story restaurant in the heart of the medina serves both Moroccan and Italian food. The trendy terrace, complete with a trickling fountain and relaxing music, is a good place to stop for drinks, while the ground-floor, shaded patio is better suited to a lunchtime visit.
Perennially popular, this homey Italian spot has a good selection of salads, pasta, and pizzas at prices that make them a fabulous value. Alcohol is served, and at reasonable prices for this part of town. Another plus? One side of the restaurant is reserved for nonsmokers.
An airy 16th-century riad turned café turned library turned art gallery, Dar Cherifa is wonderfully airy spot to take a break from shopping for a pot of mint tea. They also have the occasional cultural evening, including poetry readings, traditional music, and storytelling.
Perfectly positioned just opposite the entrance to the Saadian tombs, this Spanish-owned café is a welcome retreat for those who find themselves "kasbahed-out" at the end of a trek through the monuments of Marrakesh. The menu features Moroccan standards, as well as pizza, salads, and a cool gazpacho. An ornate Andalusian archway modeled on the mosque at Cordoba opens into a three-level restaurant finished with beige tadlak (a traditional, shiny, smooth effect) walls, wrought-iron balustrades, and bejmat tiling. The prices are steep (pizzas 90 DH, tagines 130 DH), but the food is fresh and well presented, and the shaded terrace has a great view across to the Moulay el Yazid mosque in this up-and-coming area.
Bistro meets resto in this popular, affordable French eatery at the edge of Guéliz where service is warm and welcoming. The three-course set lunch menus are an exceptional value at 120 DH. In true Parisian style, the menu favors carnivores: foie gras, beefsteaks, braised lamb chops, and confit of duck, for example; homey country dishes such as salade Niçoise or Provençal fish soup, as well as tempting grilled swordfish, red mullet, and tuna might please the rest. There's a good wine list that includes French and Moroccan wines at reasonable prices.
Choose the upstairs mezzanine dining area for a more intimate atmosphere; the downstairs bistro-style restaurant gets crowded.
Just off the Rehba Kdima ("Spice Souk"), L'Mida is a pleasant spot serving a fresh, modern take on Moroccan flavors. There are plenty of meaty options, but vegetables get the royal treatment in dishes like a seven-vegetable vegan couscous and Amazigh gnocchi with chestnut butter and garlic confit.
Parisian Michael Gabbay has been in the bistro business since he was 17 years old. He's brought this expertise and hands-on approach to Marrakesh creating a distinctly urban-styled, modern restaurant that attracts crowds of young Marrakshis as well as tourists and expats. The menu is a carnivore's dream with rib steaks, T-bones, fillets, and Halal "'bacon"' burgers taking pride of place, but there are vegetarian options as well.
Check the "'blackboard specials'" as they change daily according to season and the whim of the chef.
The hip retro-style 1950s industrial decor together with the deliciously meaty menu and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings means the place is packed, so it's best to book a table; lunchtime is best for families. Alcohol is served.
Just beyond the fringes of Guéliz, this tiny Lebanese restaurant is a winner on all counts, serving tasty Lebanese food, with a warm welcome in a quirky, colorful setting. The fresh meze platters include hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, marinated chicken wings, stuffed Lebanese bread, and shawarma.
In a tiny garden, off one of the medina's main shopping streets, the French owner serves a constantly changing menu derived from fresh local ingredients; think enormous main-course salads or pizzettas topped with anything from carrots and apples to raspberries, mint, and beetroot. Homemade cakes, fresh-brewed coffee, and freshly squeezed juices are served through the afternoon.
Come early as the main dish of the day usually sells out.
This French-run restaurant hidden at the souk's northern tip is regularly booked with upscale tourists and expats, and the candlelit roof terrace is a popular spot for balmy summer nights or predinner cocktails. The menu features traditional Moroccan fare as well as lighter international dishes such as sea-bass fillet served in a clam sauce, or vegetarian risotto. Originally an inn for passing merchants and their mounts, this three-story restored foundouk has a lot of original architectural features: solid old wooden beams, carved cedar ceilings, and wrought-iron balustrades around a central patio that opens to the sky, and it's decorated with statues and masks gathered from across West Africa. The ground-floor bar is open to nondiners.
As you approach on foot or from your taxi drop-off, avoid the insistent locals who will offer to "guide"' you to the restaurant; instead, look for the uniformed restaurant staff bearing lanterns, who will walk you to the restaurant (tip them 20 DH).
Building on the success of his Café des Épices, Moroccan entrepreneur Kamal Laftimi opened this laid-back spot in the heart of the souks. The menu features classic Moroccan dishes, but there are plenty of options for vegetarians and pescaterians, as well as delicious desserts. Head to the terrace for comfortable seating. No alcohol is served.
With zellij walls, painted cedar ceilings, and white tile floors, this old palace serves up reliable Moroccan cuisine to mostly a non-Moroccan clientele. You can choose from the à la carte menu or one of the set menus, which begin at 280 DH. However, it's the views over Djemâa el Fna's nightly 'circus' that are the main draw; reserve in advance for a table on the top floor with a panoramic view of the square. Indoors there's a floor show with belly dancers thrown in (nightly around 9 pm). Service can be surly, and prices are rather high, but alcohol is served.
This stylish restaurant is a good bet for a special night out, with traditional Moroccan cuisine and live acoustic North African and Arabian music. The three-tiered restaurant is centered on a rose-filled fountain of the inner patio where the musicians play from early evening. Try the tanjia, a traditional, slow-cooked meat dish specific to Marrakesh. The covered terrace overlooking a busy souk is the perfect spot for lunch (order one of the Moroccan salads) or dinner and a glass of wine while marveling at the shimmying belly dancers.
Hidden at the edge of the Harti Gardens, this French-owned restaurant is a great value, with an excellent fixed-price menu, as well as an à la carte menu and self-serve buffet. The buffet has lots of vegetarian choices, including tortillas, stuffed vine leaves, and pasta salads, but it does runs out quickly. Carnivores won't go hungry either with à la carte main dishes including steaks, seafood, roasted duck, and Thai wok variations. Entering the gateway to Les Jardins de Guéliz feels like discovering a secret garden—which, in effect, it is. Backing directly on to the El Harti Gardens, the wooden door in the external wall leads to a bright and colorful restaurant with a light, airy conservatory and pretty gardens—perfect for a family lunch. It's both pocket-friendly and child-friendly, with outdoor tables on a shaded terrace and a couple of turtles patrolling the grounds. Alcohol is served.
This trendy spot has cool midcentury design, contemporary art on display, and some of the best salads in town. The menu pitches itself between French brasserie and Americana, with all-day dining including breakfast and after-work specials. At night, the interior gets loud and smoky, but the pergola roof-terrace makes it a suitable early-dinner choice for families with teenagers who want something a little more sophisticated than the fast-food joints down the road. You can always go back later in the evening for relaxed drinks and tapas at the terrace bar. Alcohol is served.
Tucked into a side street off the so-called Spice Square in the souks, Nomad has become a local favorite for modern Moroccan cuisine in a quirky outdoor setting, with cushioned benches and festoons of woven lanterns that light up in the evenings. The menu offers takes on traditional Moroccan dishes as well as lighter options such as vegetarian pastilla with goat cheese and caramelized onions. The desserts are especially delicious.
On a rooftop hidden deep within the northern quarter of the souks, this all-day (and evening) restaurant is a popular spot for expats, tourists, and trendy locals. The menu mixes Moroccan and international cuisine, with everything from fish tagine and tanjia (slow-cooked beef or lamb) to pasta dishes and steaks. The contemporary variations on a Moroccan theme extend also to the decor—intimate cushioned booths are lit by woven lampshades and decorated with modern artwork. It's a good place for families who want a little space out of the mayhem of the souks where tired kids can sprawl on the benches. In the evening, the lantern-lit terrace provides the perfect ambience for cocktails and music. Alcohol is served.
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