Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
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.
A nonprofit center established this lunch-only restaurant to help women from difficult backgrounds learn culinary skills and earn an independent living. The result is this friendly, brightly furnished restaurant and garden terrace, which attracts locals and expats for its excellent Moroccan and international dishes. Friday is couscous day, but make a reservation in advance! No alcohol, but lots of freshly squeezed juices are served.
The airy courtyard in the 1910 building that houses the Dar Bacha Museum is all orange 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. Prepare to arrive early, as wait times can be up to three hours in the afternoon.
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.
This wonderful local shop specializes in Turkish coffee heated and made over sand. It's absolutely mesmerizing to watch the process and the friendly owner will take his time to explain the entire process. It's one of the most affordable yet enjoyable experiences you can have in the medina.
Located just a five-minute walk from Marrakesh's bustling main square Jemaa el-Fnaa, Dardar is a stylish restaurant and bar that boasts a lively atmosphere and some of the best views the medina has to offer. The menu features a variety of Moroccan, European, and Asian dishes. (The shrimp pil pil is great for garlic and chili lovers.) Cocktails, beer, and wine are also served. Dardar fills up quickly, so you absolutely must book ahead of time if you want to secure a reservation, particularly at sunset.
The focus here is on creating innovative dishes using fresh ingredients from Sanctuary Slimane, an organic farm located just outside the city, as well as from farmers in the Atlas Mountains. The menu revolves around seasonal produce and is ever-changing, but can include dishes like tempura squash blossom tacos and gnudi with ricotta and kale. Both the cocktail and mocktails are excellent, and the friendly staff are always happy to give personalized recommendations. Wine pairings are also available. All of the waste that's produced at Farmers and its sister cafe Blue Ribbon goes back to the farm to be recycled or used as compost or food for animals.
This 1920s-style French café is a fabulous backdrop for salads, pastas, steaks, and seafood specials including oysters from Oualidia. It's long-standing favorite in the neighborhood, and a great place for a meal or a drink on the covered veranda. For an indulgent dessert try the gâteau chocolat coulant (chocolate cake).
One of the few jazz bars and restaurants in the medina that's packed every night, Le Bistro Arabe has a local house band and serves Moroccan food with a Mediterranean twist. The service and cocktails are also fantastic. Tables are limited (particularly if you want to be seated by the band), so it's essential you make a reservation in advance. Live jazz sessions start every night at 8 pm.
A meal at this Cantonese restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental is one of the finest dining experiences in Marrakesh. Service is impeccable and the wasabi tiger prawns are to die for. You can't go wrong with any of the cocktails. On warmer evenings opt for a table on the terrace for views of the pool garden, which is magically lit by lanterns that silhouette the surrounding palm trees.
This artisanal ice-cream shop in the medina specializes in flavors with a Moroccan twist like orange cinnamon and rose sorbet. The most popular flavor is chebakia; a staple during Ramadan, chebakia is a Moroccan sesame cookie that's fried and drenched in honey. All the flavors at Sweet & Sook are unique and delicious, and the friendly staff are always happy to let you sample before you buy yourself a treat.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
