A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Marrakech Restaurants.

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The first time I came to Morocco I did not only not love Marrakech, I also didn’t like the Marrakech food. Oh the shock and horror, I know, I know. But to be honest, it just seemed rather bland to me. The vegetables of any tagine were always overcooked (spoiler alert – they still are, I just don’t order them!), the sugar/chicken combination of the pastilla freaky and that the cows brain on the market were not to become an all-time favorite was kind of a no-brainer. Pardon the pun.

Travel Tips for Marrakech First-Timers.

Still I returned to Morocco, liking it enough to give Marrakech food and the city a second chance and to not care too much about the food. After all, there is nothing wrong with eating little meatballs in tomato sauce for a week and drink mint tea. Jump ahead below to some Marrakech restaurants for a special occasion, daily favorites and Marrakech dishes you have to try!

My favorite restaurants in Marrakech

Tips when eating out in Marrakech:

• Note that some but not all restaurants add a 7 or 7,5% service charge to your bill. If that is the case you don’t need to add more tip but otherwise tipping is always appreciated. While most restaurants do except credit card these days, tips cannot always be added and you will need cash for it. 
• Prices are always shown in Moroccan Dirham (MAD). If you have the choice to pay with or without conversion when using a credit card, always choose without as it will give you a much better conversion rate. 
  

Marrakech Food & dishes you have to try

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Then there is olive oil (the Moroccan olive oil is one of the best I’ve ever had and yes, that includes olive oil from Italy, Greece, and South Africa!) and argan oil to dip bread, yoghurt, olives, amlou (a spread of argan nuts, almonds, and honey – especially delicious on a crepe), fresh orange juice from any of the vendors on Jemaa El Fna, cumin on your eggs or anything else for this matter, fresh seasonal fruit, nos nos (coffee with foamed milk) and of course, all the mint tea! One of the best places to do that is at Cafe de France. From their terrace you have a great view over the lively Jemaa El Fna and this way you can keep calm and drink mint tea…

Best Restaurants in the Marrakech Medina

While there are some fancier restaurants in the Marrakech Medina, keep in mind that most do not serve alcohol. If that is important to you, check the menu before. 

Flowers

Flowers is a great restaurant just outside the Medina walls and perfect if you are staying close to Dar El Bacha or Bab Lakksour. It is a good choice if you want something other than the typical Moroccan fare and a cocktail to go with. The chef, Richard McCormick, is Swedish-born, and the menu is a bit Mediterranean with some local touches. 

The setting, a rooftop of course, feels a bit boho, a bit tropical, and is a stunner. If you are coming in the summer, don’t come too early as seats in the shade are limited.

I ate at Flowers twice during my recent trip, though I will admit the second time was due to convenience and a craving for their chicken schnitzel. The food, to be very honest, is not my favorite in Marrakech, but it’s pretty solid. 

They also offer two very generous set menus – perfect if you want to try a variety of their starters. I had the Feed Me Dejeuner once that started with a delicious feta croquette and labneh with olive caramel and pickled lemons. And of course, the aforementioned chicken schnitzel, one of their mains. 

You can also order à la carte, and the menu is divided into dips served with grilled bread, snacks & bites, farm & sea, comfort, and sweeties. 

While the food is well-priced, especially the set menus, the drinks are expensive even by Marrakech standards. And unfortunately, not only when it comes to alcoholic beverages, but also the mocktails and sparkling water. Still, the setting and the lovely staff – I’d come back any day!

La Famille

One of the latest additions of cool, modern restaurants in the Marrakech medina is La Famille. They are only open for lunch and only offer 2 settings. If you want to go, I highly recommend making a reservation as the little eatery is always buzzing. Also, keep in mind that most of their tables are open air so it it rains it is really hard to get a seat. 

But once you have found your way, a small garden oasis awaits – are you still in Marrakech? One can’t be sure because La Famille is so cool it might as well be in Mykonos; with shared tables and Instagram-worthy corners all around. 

Their menu is tiny: dips and bread, a salad, a pasta, a flatbread – it changes every day. They also make the most amazing fruit tarts always with a herbaceous note and I recommend you definitely keep some space in your stomach for those. 

The menu is tiny, simple, and delicious: a salad, a pasta dish, some dips, and a sort of pizza/flatbread concoction. With that, the choice is quickly made and the service is super fast. 

Make sure to have a slice of fruit tart for dessert and have a browse at their little shop before you leave that is perfect for some relaxed shopping in Marrakech. 

Foundouk Gargaa

I found Foundouk Gargaa by coincidence when I stayed at Kitula and returned a few times after as I liked it so much. It is part garden cafe part concept store with the loveliest staff. 

Their menu focuses on m’ssemen wraps with various fillings but for those who hate gluten you can order most of the ingredients without the wrap as a tapa. They have sardine and beef kefta, halloumi, eggs with harissa, and various other yummy bits as well as a great rose and raspberry homemade lemonade that tasted like sherbet. 

By my second visit, the waitress recognized me and on my third visit, she knew my order. The wraps are amazing and quite big but the prices are on the higher end for a cafe in Marrakech Medina. Still, so very worth it!

Le Trou Au Mur

I hosted my 40th birthday dinner at Le Trou Au Mur. The restaurant in the Marrakech medina is a great choice if you are looking for a local yet fancier option. You will also be able to drink wine and cocktails here (not a given since a lot of places don’t have an alcohol license). 

They offer both international and Moroccan dishes which include some dishes you usually don’t find on the local menus easily. In addition, they have a daily special (Friday is always couscous day) and make awesome homemade sorbets.

Bacha Coffee

Bacha Coffee is the latest Instragram spot in Marrakech and a coffee legend that opened its doors in 1910 in Marrakech. After a long hiatus, it has now reopened (plus they have a few other locations around the world). 

It is located in the Dar el Bacha Museum and they both open at 10 am. If you want to visit the cafe make sure to get there early – I arrived at 9.45 am and there was already a short line. If you don’t want to see the museum you only pay 10 dirham to get in and can make a beeline for the cafe. Or coffee room as Bacha calls it. 

The setting – stunning. Wes Anderson would love it. A waiter with a white jacket and a Fez hat will bring you two menus, one for food and one for coffee. They offer Arabica from around the world serviced in chic golden pots. It gets served with a fresh vanilla grinder and thick cream for your coffee.

They also have an extensive breakfast and pastry menu, definitely leave some space for dessert. I opted for scrambled eggs with truffles and a choux noisette – both delicious – as well as Vietnamese coffee as I am currently having Vietnam cravings. 

Be warned: this is a very pricey place. I ended up paying 300 dirhams (about $30) for my breakfast. Also, people do take pictures and videos basically non-stop. If that annoys you, Bacha will not be the place for you. I’d say – if you can’t beat them, join them. 

Eleven Twelve

Eleven Twelve or 1112 Marrakech is for tea what Bacha Coffee is for coffee. It calls itself a tea house and offers 12 distinct teas representing the 12 regions of Morocco. While people love taking pictures inside as well, it is not nearly as crowded as Bacha, and I was able to immediately get a table for lunch. 

The setting is a beautiful courtyard with a small fountain, lots of greenery, and the tea-bar counter in the heart of it. You can immediately see why visitors usually can’t resist taking a few shots. 

You can do a tea tasting, just order a cuppa, and of course, get food. What is truly unique are their regional dishes paired with regional teas. I mistakenly ordered the Fes-Meknes combo. I say mistakenly, as I actually wanted a Tafilatet pizza. I am still not sure what happened… I did, however, end up with a delicious nine herb tea and a wonderful beef tagine with saffron and cinnamon. I think it was a bit too hearty for a scorching hot day, but still a great choice for meat lovers. 

Alternatively, you can order à la carte, and they also have desserts or the option for an 11 o’clock tea that is served with traditional pastries or confections. 

They also have a small gallery and a tea shop on the premises. 

Nomad

While it is not the most authentic and has become a bit too popular with tourists to make for a great crowd, I still really like Nomad. The roof terrace offers one of the best views over the medina and Place des Epices, water mist sprinklers in summer, and some cool tunes. 

The menu is modern Moroccan and offers some good salad varieties – think cauliflower salad with strawberries. They also make a decent burger and amazing homemade icecreams and sorbets with local flavors.

Make sure to come early enough or make a reservation in advance, Nomad is always busy!

L’Mida

L’Mida is not only across the square from Nomad but I believe they have also taken a page from their playbook. Considering just how busy Nomad always is, this might not be a bad thing. If we just talk about the food, I don’t know… 

But let’s start with the good! So L’Mida already opened in 2020 but I guess with the pandemic it must have fallen under my radar so far. They are tucked in a little alley off Place des Epices and are as many others divided into a rooftop and a restaurant/ shop section on the first floor. The interior does resemble that of Nomad in a modern Moroccan way but there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, the coffee cup was so cool I wanted to buy some. And the coffee itself was also really good! 

The service once you make your way past the hostess is super nice and attentive. If you are a noob when it comes to French or Arabic, don’t worry as they speak really good English. The menu has allegedly “traditional recipes revisited with an avant-garde touch”. Ehem, I am not sure about that but apparently their lamb burger is very good and they also have hummus in case you came to Morocco looking for hummus. Seriously, it is the usual mix of some salads, some tagines, and some grilled meats – all good, I am just not sure where the avant-garde touch was. 

I went a bit rogue and ordered the tuna poke bowl with zucchini noodles as I wanted something fresh. The tuna was unfortunately not rare anymore and the noodles were more sticks than noodles and thus quite hard to eat from a bowl. After having eaten my fair share of bowls this doesn’t rank very high on my list but for a poke bowl on a warm day in Marrakech, it actually hit just the spot.

Le Slimana

I came across Le Slimana during a Google search and since the reviews sounded nice, I decided to check it out on my last evening for a sundowner. Admittedly the word “cocktails” got me alas, they only have mocktails as it is with many restaurants in the Medina.

Still, it was worth the visit. I don’t quite understand their concept as they are spread over two floors and a rooftop with the floors resemembling a shopping mall layout. The rooftop on the other hand is lovely and while you won’t get uninterrupted mountain or sunset views due to construction on the adjacent buildings it is really nice. 

I ordered a 5 herb Mojito which was yummy and as the name implied very herbaceous as well as the hummous gnocchi with truffle and artichokes. Look it wasn’t the best gnocchi I had on this trip (this honor goes to the gnocchi at Umia in Essaouira) but it was still quite good. 

Also, I don’t know if it is due to them being a bit more hidden or new-ish but it wasn’t as crowded as most other rooftop bars/ restaurants in Marrakech for sunset. So great for a spontaneous visit!

Le Jardin

Le Jardin is a well-liked restaurant in the Marrakech Medina, tiled green with lots of trees to honor its name. They offer a mix of Moroccan classics and international bistro fare. There is nothing wrong with it but nothing to write home about either. Still, the garden-riad setting is beautiful and really tranquil. Plus it is quite hidden in the souks you will feel a sense of accomplishment once you find it.

I have had a nice salmon tartar there, a good pastilla, and most recently a chicken pita pocket with chermoula. All in all, it may not be worth an extra trip but a good place to rest your feet and have a perfectly nice lunch if you are already in the Medina.

Cafe Kessabine

Cafe Kessabine is probably not the greatest in terms of food but I really like it. It is close enough to all the action of the Jemaa El Fna to be vibey but removed enough so you can sit there with your book and chill. Also, they make some really good fries and the portions are manageable which is something very un-Moroccan but I appreciate it.

Terrace des Epices

Another classic in the Marrakech medina is Terrace des Epices. It is definitely mainly frequented by tourists but that doesn’t really matter because it is a nice place with grant rooftop views and offers something different to the usual Marrakech food. If you are in it for a salad that isn’t cooked – this is your place.
Another great plus – they do serve wine and beer here, not very common for restaurants in the medina.

El-Fenn

I am a fan of the famous El-Fenn though it is one of these places where I also understand why some aren’t. Does that make any sense? Let’s just say you pay quite a lot for a name and a design and sometimes the final product lacking. Especially when you compare it to all the other amazing riads and boutique hotels in Marrakech.

Still, I was staying around the corner and wanted to try their restaurant for dinner. Since dinner only starts at 7.30 pm which is way past my bedtime (kidding…well, almost), I decided to come for a sundowner and eat from the bar menu. 

In the reviews someone described their rooftop bar as some kind of Marrakech Soho House. Since I have never been I don’t know if the description is apt but it does feel like you are entering the cool kids’ corner. You go in via the main road through the El-Fenn boutique before Bab Laksour if you are not an inhouse guest. Apparently there is usually a big yellow camel upfront which resembles the Camel camel. It was inside when I came as the shop was under renovations. 

A red and very long spiral staircase takes you upstairs. Wow, it was busy when I got there at 6.30 pm on a Thursday – if you are a group or want a special table better make reservations. 

I was perfectly content to lie back in a big daybed in the corner – Baby likes a corner! There are always a lot of people posing and taking pictures and you will realize quickly why: the set-up is stylish and the views could not be better. Koutoubia Mosque, Atlas Mountains, and a killer sunset, maybe even some pink clouds after. 

The food was as I imaged unmemorable but I hope it would be better at the restaurant. You do however get complimentary olives and nuts, a big cocktail menu and perfectly chilled wine. The service is also super attentive and nice. All in all, I wouldn’t consider it one of the best places to eat but if you are in the area it is definitely one of the nicest rooftop bars in Marrakech. 

Limoni

Sometimes all you want is a nice plate of pasta even when you are eating in Morocco. This is when Limoni is the perfect restaurant in Morocco. Within walking distance from beloved Riad Yasmine, this restaurant is a wonderful little oasis and of course, decked out in lemon trees as the name implies.

Their pasta dishes are rather good and many of them homemade, a welcome change from couscous and tagine! I have also had pizza there a couple of times and while it may not make the top 10 of pizzas, it is quite decent thanks to a generous use of toppings and a good dough.

By the way – they also offer wine but you won’t find it on the menu. Just ask for it!

Cafe Clock

Come to Cafe Clock for a camel burger (indeed, that is a thing!) or a smoothie and most importantly hikayat. This is the Moroccan take on Arabian Nights but in English – storytelling! It is also an excellent place to answer all your stupid and not so stupid questions about Moroccan life and customs – book a session with ‘Kech Download to learn everything about food, society, religion.

Great restaurants in Gueliz

Gueliz is the new part of town and a great spot to find modern Moroccan food, cocktails, and some restaurants that would do well in any cool metropolis. All of these restaurants in Gueliz are also part of the MENA’s 50 Best. 

Plus 61

Plus 61 or +61 quickly gained its way to the top of modern fine dining in Marrakech. I had been wanting to go for a while and finally made my way out to Gueliz on my last day in the city. 

I got lucky to get a table without reservations but keep in mind it was a Monday afternoon so for any other day I recommend you make a reservation online before. 

The food is modern Moroccan I guess though definitely focussed more on local ingredients than dishes like innovative tagine or couscous. Starters or sharing plates, a few mains and desserts as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, and a surprisingly international wine list await.

I ordered the smoked tuna croquettes with rice leeks, pickled sardines and mussels with aioli lemon crumbs as well as a polenta pear tart which was probably my highlight. 

I recommend you go here with a few people so you can order a bunch or be hungry enough to get the chicken schnitzel. Gosh, I love a good schnitzel! All in all, I wasn’t wowed but pleasantly surprised to find a cool, modern fine dining option in Marrakech. 

Farmers

I think Farmers is my new favorite restaurant in Marrakech. It is just one of those places that does everything right for me. The setting is a bit retro, but elegant and effortless cool. There is an open kitchen, so you can tell chef Driss Aloui directly how much you love his food, and the service is simply lovely. 

I came for an extensive lunch after taking my foster kitten to the vet and was in need of a good cocktail. Classics are available upon request, but I recommend you try the Farmers’ Cocktails. I went for the Metric Liquid and the Cubist, both gin-based cocktails, and all I can say – the bartender is on point. They also have a good selection of 0% alcohol drinks that looked so much better than your average mocktail. 

The produce comes from their own farm, Sanctuary Slimane, making Farmers a true farm-to-table restaurant. On the menu, starters, mains, dessert, or a confit lamb shoulder to share. In addition, some dishes are available in full and half sizes, perfect if you want to try more. 

I started with the duo of leeks, which was one of the best veggie dishes I have had in a while. I only recently started liking leeks, and these did not put me off. The leeks were steamed and melted in my mouth with butteriness, offset by a sharp raspberry and caper component, and topped by crispy leeks creating a perfect textural balance. As a main, I went for the morel fettuccine. Morels are my favorite mushrooms, but you rarely see them on menus as a simple pasta dish. They used Moroccan morels and turned them into a dashi, but also added a generous portion throughout – especially at the price of 240 MAD ($25), a fantastic dish!

In general, Farmers is a great choice for vegetarians as half of their starters and mains celebrate vegetables. The menu changes regularly according to what is seasonally available – just like it should be. 

Le Petit Cornichon

Le Petit Cornichon was another Gueliz restaurant I couldn’t wait to try, if only for the cute name. The motto: a merge of bistronomy and gastronomy, somewhere between simplicity and refinement. As the name implies, owner Erwann Lance brings a good dose of French flavor to the menu and the ambiance of his Smurf-blue Marrakech eatery. Their wine selection is extensive, and their cocktail prices are really good compared to similar restaurants. 

The menu opens with a caviar corner, and yes, if I could afford it, I would have ordered chicken tenders with caviar. The corner is followed by starters, classic mains, and some more innovative options, as well as desserts. 

I started with the prawn carpaccio, which was unusual, sweet, and very delicious – a perfect hot summer’s dish. After I decided to splurge (after all, I had money left over from the caviar I didn’t order) and went for one of their signature dishes: Mac ’n Cheese with comté and lobster. The waiter definitely upsold this one and I fell for the term ‘signature dish’. 

I knew I was taking a risk on a scorching hot day, but the problem wasn’t the heaviness of the dish but rather a generous, alas, very overcooked portion of lobster. The pasta itself also wasn’t great (nor actually macaroni, but that I didn’t mind), and the cheese lacked flavor. Considering that it was one of the most expensive mains, I was disappointed. 

Still, I loved everything else about Le Petit Cornichon and will trust my gut a bit more when choosing next time. 

Fine Dining in Marrakech

Yes, you can also find some fine dining options in Marrakech. Most of these restaurants belong to the city’s best luxury hotels – perfect if you want to treat yourself but can’t foot the bill for a room. 

La Grande Table Marocaine

The culinary heart of the Royal Mansour is La Grande Table Marocaine. If you want to experience Moroccan food at its absolute best and don’t mind splurging, this is the Marrakech restaurant for you. It comes as no surprise that it is currently ranked the best restaurant in Morocco and number 19 on the MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants list. 

The setting, in a separate wing of the hotel, is opulent to say the least. Finest craftsmanship for the interior as well as the uniforms of the staff – even the menu includes hand-drawn images. Everything is as hushed and as elegant as you would expect, and the restaurant is divided into multiple rooms, creating an intimate experience.

I started my evening washing my hands over a silver basin with orange blossom water and a glass of champagne. The menu is truly a piece of art and offers elevated traditional Moroccan food. You have the choice of the Rabii Experience for two, à la carte dishes, or the Friday couscous – a favorite for lunch, and at 600 MAD (about $64) for 3 courses, incredibly affordable. 

I chose à la carte, if only as I was eating on my own. The menu offers Moroccan classics like harira, briouates, Moroccan salads, and various tagines. I was excited for their rather generous selection of seafood dishes, not a given in a Marrakech restaurant. 

My meal started with an amuse bouche of cold carrot soup, followed by crab and avocado, a delightful, light, and refreshing opener. The spider crab is from the Oualidia coast and served in its shell. While they don’t do official wine pairings, I simply asked the sommelier to pair my dishes with local wine by the glass. 

Mains are a bit tricky if you want to eat fish or seafood as a solo diner, as many of their dishes are for two. That said, I got a whole blue lobster tagine to myself. It was one of the best meals I have eaten this year – the lobster was served on a bed of spinach and Barkoukch, similar to pearl couscous. I was sad that I wasn’t able to finish it, but I had to leave a tiny bit of space for dessert. 

Dessert was probably the biggest surprise of the evening as I followed the waiter’s recommendation and ordered the Medjool dates. I am usually not the biggest fan of dates as I find them overly sweet and sticky. These were anything but! Instead, I got a refreshing frozen milk mousse with orange blossom, date compote, and date granita – the perfect dessert for a hot summer’s day. Of course, with some sprinkles of gold leaf – after all, you are eating at the king’s hotel. 

Sesamo, Royal Mansour

Then there is their new Italian restaurant Sesamo. Under chef Massimiliano Alajmo the restaurant also made the World’s 50 Best MENA list so I knew I was in for a treat. 

The setting is like everything at the Royal Mansour lavish and beautiful. Make sure to arrive a little early so you can take a stroll through the gardens. 

As usual, I asked the chef to put something together for us. We started with a trio of appetizers: the Majorelle Cappuccino, a poached egg with parmesan and black truffle, as well as a beef tartar “sandwich” with more black truffle. While the cappuccino was a bit gimmicky thanks to some Majorelle blue coloring, both the egg and the tartar were divine and the truffle portion was generous. 

Next up was a beetroot gnocchetti dish as well as mushroom risotto with pine nut mousse which were both delicious. I was especially impressed with the gnocchetti as those were extra light and fluffy yet rich and earthy thanks to the beetroot. In hindsight, I wish I had asked for a pasta dish too as they had some interesting options with spider crab and pistachios. Next time! 

Our main was a beautiful turbot with seafood stew and potato purree though I will admit at this point we were both too stuffed to appreciate it. I also saw the Veal Milanese on someone else’s plate and it looked divine. 

Dessert was another trio that came in stages: we got a hazelnut and chocolate cup which tasted like fancy Nutella as my friend declared as well as a nougat dome filled with almond ice cream, saffron, and mandarin. As a sort of petit four, there was also a little glass pipe with a mouthful of tiramisu. 

If you are unsure of what to order, they also have a chef’s tasting menu and if you are a pastaholic like myself order the Pasta Mardi menu – as the name implies you will just eat pasta. Either way, you will be in for an absolute treat when eating at Sesamo. 

The Princess Diaries – A stay at THE ultimate luxury hotel, Marrakech.

Le Marocain, Mamounia Hotel

Everything changed when I stayed at La Mamounia and they invited me to dine at their Moroccan restaurant Le Marocain. They offer Moroccan dishes but, of course, elevated. Ever since watching Masterchef this is a word I really like when it comes to cooking. Here it meant the pastilla was filled with lobster and the meatballs with foie gras. The couscous was flaky AND buttery, the vegetables still had bite and there was the most beautiful Moroccan wine to wash it all down with. I was in foodie heaven.

When I returned to Marrakech now those meatballs were the reason I contacted the Mamounia and asked whether I could come for dinner again. I could and they would also give me a room for the night to sleep my food baby off.

I mentioned before that I am a creature of habit and so I ate the very same dish again. And once again, it was Moroccan heaven on a plate.

A Night at the magical Mamounia, Marrakech.

Le Jardin, Royal Mansour

If La Grande Table Marocaine is out of the budget for you but you still want to experience what the Royal Mansour has to offer I recommend lunch at Le Jardin. We got invited for a belated birthday lunch and had an absolute blast.

The restaurant is set in their beautiful gardens and you sit surrounded by orange, olive and palm trees. The menu has a slightly Asian touch and offers lots of fish and seafood options and is definitely meant to be shared. We had an absolute feast of vegetable and fish carpaccios, tatakis and some chicken wontons that my nephew and I were fighting over at some point. A highlight was the garden vegetables which are oven roasted in a hay crust and the crab as well as the frozen coconut for dessert. Wash it all down with a nice bottle of wine before you can take a little stroll through the Royal Mansour’s very own medina on the way out.

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