Marrakesh is all about the senses. From the moment you get here your senses will be touched.
The exploding flavors and beautiful sights full of colors, the smells of different spices and the sounds of the city will leave a memorable impression.
Eating out and eating well is part of the Marrakesh adventure. The gastronomy in Marrakesh is outstanding and the aesthetics of the places are very exotic. There is so much you’ll want to try like the different tagines, couscous, drink fresh mint tea, harira (lentil soup), zalouk (eggplant side dish), khobz (bread) and all the delicious sweets. The lemon chicken tagine is sublime, you can order it in many places and is not to be missed.
Going to restaurants and cafes is one of the best things to do here in Marrakesh.
One thing is for sure: you won’t leave Marrakesh hungry but you’ll be craving for more.
Best Restaurants and Cafes in Marrakesh
1. La Famille
Entering this hidden gem feels like a treat for the eyes. You leave the noise of the medina behind you and you enter an oasis of calm and colorful, healthy home made food.
La Famille is the ideal restaurant for lunch in the shade of the lemon trees. Everything is veggie and ultra-fresh. Enjoy the dips, salad of the day, pasta and focaccia pizza with herbs and pesto’s. Don’t forget to save some space for the homemade deserts. Their menu is delicious and authentic and the staff is very friendly.
Make sure to make a reservation a few days before. If you’re not able to make a reservation, stop by anyway and enjoy their small shop with its pretty selection of decorative accessories. I bought their cooking book, a true must!
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 12h00 to 16h00
Location: 34 Derb Jdid, Marrakech
2. Zeitoun Café Kasbah
There are three Zeitoun Cafes in Marrakesh and I really like the Kasbah one. It was close to the riad and the view to the mosque was very impressive. When coming to Zeitoun Café make sure to get a seat on the rooftop terrace to enjoy the view.
Entering the restaurant will give you all the exotic Moroccan feels with the romantic lights in the tree and at the roof. The Moroccan cuisine of this restaurant is really good. It’s the perfect start of your food adventure in Marrakesh.
Location: 417، Bab Agnaou, Marrakesh
3. Le Jardin
Le Jardin is a restaurant that should not be skipped when coming to Marrakesh. Tucked away in the heart of the medina, Le Jardin is the kind of place that you look around and think ‘I’m far away from home’.
The green tiles, exotic plants, sounds of the birds and it’s fresh fruit and vegetable corner make the place so exotic. If you don’t know this exists, you wouldn’t even notice it when you pass by.
Le Jardin is a secret oasis and the perfect place to take a break from the hectic sounds of the souks.
Le Jardin serves traditional Moroccan cuisine combined with European delicacies. The lemon chicken tajine is spectacular. Tip: Order different things and share it to get the full experience.
To sum up, Le Jardin is a small piece of heaven that will most definitely captivate you.
Location: 32 Souk Jeld Sidi Abdelaziz
4. Do a Street Food Tour
A food tour is always the best way to get to know the culture, isn’t it?
This is exactly what I did when I arrived in Marrakesh. I booked a tour through Get Your Guide and the experience was phenomenal. You meet up at the main square Jemma el-Fnaa and you’re introduced to a few of the classic Moroccan bites and fresh mint tea. After this excitting start, you continue your tour through the medina. While you walk and let all the senses sink in, the tour guide explains more about the history and culture. And don’t worry, you won’t get lost thanks to the guide.
Keep some space in your stomach for the grand finale: you finish the tour at a restaurant with the group and try the different tajines and delicacies Morrocco has to offer. The tour is very complete.
5. Café de Épices
After wandering around in the souks, take a break at Café de Épices. Have a refreshment, a tea or a coffee and enjoy the lively streets from above. The rooftop is my favorite spot but to be honest, it doesn’t matter much where you sit: you will be recharged.
Café de Épices is situated in the heart of the souks with its sister restaurants Nomad and Le Jardin nearby.
Location: 75 Derb Rahba Lakdima, Marrakech
6. Nomad
This restaurant in the middle of the medina is perfect for a sunset rooftop dinner.
Nomad is from the same owner as Le Jardin, Café de Épices and +61. The food is delicious and the ambiance is even nicer. It’s romantic, cozy and exotic. This lively restaurant serves simple ‘Modern Moroccan’ cuisine and is a must during your stay for both lunch and dinner. Whether you’re with a group, your partner or family, everybody will be impressed by this gem. I recommend making a reservation due to its popularity.
Location: 1 Derb Aarjane, Marrakesh
7. Bacha Coffee
The decoration of this place is some of the finest architectural spectacles Morocco has to offer.
The story of Bacha Coffee begins in the medina of Marrakesh.
This incredibly well restored coffeehouse carries a history. Built in 1910, the great Dar el Bacha palace, which means ‘house of Pasha’, gathered the most remarkable cultural and political people over fancy cups of ‘coffee of Arabia’. Some of the guests were Charlie Chaplin, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, only to name a few.
Bacha Coffee specialises in 100% Arabica coffee and its known as the finest coffees produced in Morocco.
Needless to say that a visit to this tucked away gem in the heart of the fabulous Bacha Palace, is a true must visit.
Location: Route Sidi, Abdelaziz Marrakech
8. El Fenn
In the agitation of Marrakesh, El Fenn is a tranquil oasis. El Fenn, a stylish converted riad, has a wonderful rooftop where you can enjoy a drink and watch the sunset. There is also a possibility to use the pool, but you have to ask for permition first, because the guests of the hotel have priority. It’s also possible to have dinner at El Fenn. Their shop downstairs with stunning luxurious items and art, is quite an experience.
Whatever you choose to do, a visit to El Fenn shouldn’t be missed when coming to Marrakesh.
Location: Derb Moulay Abdullah Ben Hezzian, 2, Marrakesh
9. Jama
Tucked away in the narrow streets just before El Fnaa square, Jama is a traditional family restaurant where the grandmother and mother cook. The prices aren’t high at all and the food is outstanding.
If you’re looking for an intimate vibe with a real Moroccan touch, this is the place to be. Enjoy a candle light dinner at Jama and let the staff recommend what you should eat, you’ll be surprised by the variety of choices.
Location: Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, Marrakesh
10. Jemaa El Fnaa Square
Easily the biggest, loudest, most popular restaurant in town. This epic open-air barbecue pops up each evening on the Jemaa el-Fnaa. It’s an experience! From around 5 pm, about 100 stallholders set up their shop and cook up a gloriously meat feast of kebabs, tagines, sheep’s brains and skewered hearts. Check the menu and the prices first. If you’ll get extra dishes you didn’t order, make sure you know what it will cost so it won’t be a surprise when you get the bill. Stall 34 specialises in spicy merguez sausages, while stall 31 makes an interesting fried potato cake.
Location: Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakesh
11. Café Clock
Café Clock is a bright, fun, authentic, vibrant and happening rooftop bar and cross-cultural café in Medina, Marrakesh. Aside from serving great food and drinks, the purpose of Café Clock is to give visitors easy access to the amazing and diverse culture of Morocco through music, art and cuisine. Not a place for a calm dinner, but instead a really happening and vibrant venue where cooking classes are followed by jam sessions and everyone is welcome.
Location: 224 Derb Chtouka, Marrakesh
12. +61
The hottest spot in Gueliz neighborhood right now is this modern Medi-Moroccan fusion restaurant +61.
The food at +61 is a blend of the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and South Asia.
Don’t miss the homemade ricotta with roasted red peppers, the spinach and wild herb tart or the fish of the day with celeriac and artichokes. This is a wonderful place where you can relax with friends over cocktails, shared plates, and a bottle of wine.
Location: 96 Rue Mohammed el Beqal, Marrakech
13. Beldi Country Club
Beldi Country Club is what a retreat is all about. Outside the heart of the city and only 20 minutes by taxi(€10), you’ll enter another world, yet with prime access to Marrakesh’s urban treasures.
Go to Beldi Country Club for an extensive lunch, relax at the pool and close your day with a long and powerful spa visit. Even the people in Morocco say that this spa is one of the finest. Whether you have a massage, a steambath, a scrub or a simple manicure: everything is outstanding at Beldi Country Club.
The same can be said about their menu. Full with local products but with a slight adjustment to our Western taste buds.
Click here for the location.
14. Kabana Rooftop
This tropical rooftop oasis is hip, popular and the perfect place to enjoy the sunset with some drinks and Meditteranean food. The ambience is vibrant, young and cool. The cocktails are good and the staff is very friendly. If you’re coming with a big group, make a reservation to make sure you get a spot.
Location: 1 KISSARIAT BEN KHALED R’MILA, Rue Fatima Zahra, Marrakech
15. Naranj
This Lebanese restaurant is very well known in Marrakesh for a reason: the food!
People like the laid back vibes of this place, the rooftop and every dish is delicious. The kibbeh and chicken salad are excellent, as is the fatet batinjan (aubergine covered in spicy mincemeat, yoghurt and pita chips). A decent selection of mezze and salads makes this a good option for vegetarians. Portions are large, so consider sharing.
Location: 84 Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, Marrakesh
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