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Alcohol was once frowned upon in the medina, and while it's still unthinkable to swig liquor on the streets or even on outdoor plazas or terraces, there are a few good places to go for a drink within the city walls. However, alcohol licenses are still hard to come by and as a result the drinks are expensive.
True to the name (El Fenn means "art" in the local dialect), this fashionable spot in the medina is a magnet for designers, artists, and photographers. Wine, beer, spirits, and a vast selection of cocktails are available and can be sipped fireside in winter, or under the rooftop tent with views across to the Koutoubia mosque. Be warned, however, that cocktails are super pricey at about 200 DH a drink.
Right near Jemaa el-Fnaa and with one of the best views of the Koutoubia minaret, Kabana is the latest hot spot on the Marrakesh night scene. Live DJs, an array of cocktails, and a full menu of snacks and main dishes are available. Make a reservation ahead of time as it gets crowded very quickly.
This establishment is a long-standing favorite for a late-night drink in the medina, accompanied by live jazz nightly, and a platter of sushi if you wish. There's a large roof terrace, with great views of the storks nesting in the nearby ramparts of the Badii Palace, and the interior restaurant and bar, with mosaic-tiled floors, wrought-iron balustrades, and fireplaces, are truly cozy.
The intimate surroundings of the jazz bar at hotel La Maison Arabe provide a cozy fireside setting for cocktails and a tasty menu of light savory snacks. A resident pianist tickles the ivories every evening from 7 to 9.
A stone's throw from Jemaa el-Fnaa and up a narrow staircase, Le Salama is one of the few places in the medina where you can grab a cold beer or an aperitif without having to eat dinner. Drinks are served either at the bar area in the top terrace Sky Bar with views across to the Koutoubia.
The attractive Art Deco styling and open-air courtyard at this piano bar in hotel Les Jardins de la Koutoubia create an elegant setting in which to enjoy a cocktail.
