Where to Eat in Marrakech, Morocco
From pavement cafés to sunny rooftop terraces, Marrakech is home to a wealth of tempting places to eat, with menus offering a feast of globally inspired flavours alongside home-cooked heritage dishes
25 November, 2022
- Words by
- Gilly Hopper
Flaky
Flaky
pastries chased with refreshing mint tea; hearty tagines
zinged up with candied lemon; couscous infused with herbs and plump
apricots: the Marrakech dining scene offers a true melting pot of
Arabic, African and French flavours, with dazzling offerings from
further afield, too (try Plus61 for local ingredients served on an
Aussie-inspired menu). From street-food stalls to rooftop terraces
via under-the-radar eateries, the city’s main currency is tableside
hospitality. Here’s where to get your fill.
restaurant
Nomad
Situated just off spice square Rahba Lakdima, Nomad café is
spread across four floors, but it’s the terraces (particularly at
sunset) you’ll want to make a beeline for. With views of the
surrounding medina and the Atlas Mountains, dining spots don’t come
much better – or buzzier – than this. Formerly an old carpet store,
the building’s interiors nod to its past, with colourful woollen
cushions and carpets peppered throughout. Expect modern Moroccan
food, with standout dishes including the organic chicken marinated
in sweet harissa, and a hibiscus-infused panna cotta (the perfect
pud).
restaurant
Le Kilim
Le Kilim, in happening Guéliz, is open daily from 8am to 1am.
Red zellige tiles dominate the space, with woven lamps and copper
touches adding further decoration, while design details (cushions
and stools, for example) dotted throughout nod to 21st-century
Moroccan craftsmanship. Food-wise, there’s the traditional
breakfast – the shakshuka and pancakes stuffed with ricotta are
both great – with lunchtime bringing the likes of falafel
sandwiches, and a tagine of chicken with candied lemon. We like it
most come suppertime, though, for its relaxed ambience and the
artistic crowd that rocks up for an evening meal and some great
vin.
restaurant
El Fenn
El Fenn is a must-visit when in Marrakech, whether you’re
planning on bedding down there or just passing through. Come golden
hour, head out onto the vast rooftop terrace and lap up views of
the Koutoubia Mosque, mojito in hand. The bar and restaurant are
accessible to non-residents, with meals, bar snacks and drinks
available from noon until 10pm. Mediterranean-Moroccan menus are
based on what’s in season, and the jewel-coloured dining space is a
real knockout in itself. High above the medina, it’s an enchanting
setting, where low-key romance is served on tap as twinkling stars
kick in come nightfall.
restaurant
Amal Women’s Training Centre
For lunchtime traditional couscous with a social conscience,
head here. With a philanthropic mission as its guiding light, this
popular Guéliz eatery serves up an ever-changing menu of Moroccan
dishes in a simple, no-frills dining space. Order a creamy
vegetarian tagine with a cup of homemade lemonade and you’ll be
supporting the livelihoods of the women working in the kitchen (and
on the dining room floor, too). The organisation trains women with
income insecurity in culinary skills and restaurant management, as
well as providing language lessons.
Main photo credit: Mitchell van Voorbergen / El
Fenn