Marrakech, Morocco — "We've traveled to cities all over the world. There are few cities in the world where, when you close your eyes, you still know where you are. That feeling is here. Marrakech is one of those few cities. When you close your eyes, you know you are here. When you open your eyes, you can't mistake it." -- Joshua & Odini, a travel & production trip to Marrakech, Fall 2021
Travel, especially to Marrakech, brings us unmistakable feelings of joy. Every visit to our atelier to work on the upcoming collection also brings us back exploring the wonderful world that is Marrakech's food scene where we love discovering new places to eat. From enjoying the freshest flavors, spices, ingredients to exploring interior & exterior spaces as well as just being welcomed by very kind and knowledgable service, as we learned to say, Morocco is giving.
Wondering what to eat in Marrakech? We made a shortlist with a few of the most magical places to eat. Whether it is a short taxi ride from your hotel or a fun time on foot mazing your way through the cobblestoned streets of Marrakech's historic Medina, we recommend dining & wining at these restaurants on your next trip to Morocco. The list features authentic Moroccan, Mexican, French, Lebanese, and a bonus: Japanese. b Seha w Raha (with health and comfort) ¡Buen provecho! Bon appétit! Sahtein! Meshiagare! Enjoy your meal!
Les Jardins Du Lotus
We enjoyed a comforting brunch at Les Jardins Du Lotus. The #alldaybrunch #soulfood restaurant is tucked inside the inner walls of Marrakech's Medina which engulf the thousand-year-old Red City. Find Jardin's name way sign hanging above the gated entry way welcoming you onto a narrow, red-brick pathway. The end of the short walk opens up to a beautiful riad full of lemon trees and lovely poolside dining aside marbled tables & flooring. The aesthetic is matched only by the menu which serves a blend of Mexican and Moroccan contemporary food. Call to make a reservation (+212 5243-87318) and find their full menu. Instagram: @lesjardinsdulotus @foodporfavor
We loved Chef Clarisse Jolicoeur's take on shrimp tacos. The Mexican-inspired menu features many veggie options. Please pass the guac.
Al Fassia
For one of our favorite dinners, we dined inside at Al Fassia's Aguedal location. The second of two Al Fassia locations just opened in 2018 in an area a few miles outside Marrakech's historic district (the original location is set in Gueliz and opened in 1987). Over 30 years ago, Al Fassia started with a grand vision: "the first Moroccan restaurant to employ only women." A female, family-managed & family-owned business, daughters Saida & Myra have taken the reins from their late mother lalla Fatima and will welcome you inside for a warm meal or stay.
Serving classic Moroccan cuisines including traditional Moroccan soups and tagines- your choice of meat or veggies served with almonds, lemons, caramelized pumpkins, raisins and more, the meal left us craving a second round and a dessert menu. Call to make a reservation (+212 5243-83839) and find their full menu. Instagram: @alfassiaofficial
We loved Al Fassia's soup, fish and vegetable tagines. We paired our dishes with a nice bottle of Moroccan red from Rabat- Terres Sauvages 2018.
Dar Marjana Marrakech
Whether you sit downstairs in the riad or upstairs with a view spanning across the city, Dar Marjana is centrally located inside the Medina and offers both a great setting and an authentic Moroccan dinner. We always make a visit to Dar Marjana for their traditional tagines served in their conical, Berber earthenware pot which they are always cooked. In fact, the definifition of Tagine is just that - "a slow-simmered stew of northwestern Africa traditionally cooked in a covered earthenware pot." Remember to save room for dessert... keep scrolling! Call to make a reservation (+212 661-462313) and find their full menu. Instagram: @darmarjana_marrakech
We like to sit upstairs where sometimes we catch live music and good people watching. We each ordered one of the off-the-menu chocolate, caramel & cream drizzled cakes pictured below. This dessert is heaven.
Le 68 Bar à vin
We dined happily one evening at Le 68 Bar à vin. A French wine bar with over 250+ different wines served by the glass or bottle, 68 is a go-to spot for wine and pasta lovers. We definitely recommend ordering one of everything on the food menu (the key here is to skip the salad). Call to make a reservation (+212 5244-49742) and find their full menu. Instagram: @68baravinmarrakech
Above all, our carbonara dish was so giving we had to order a second helping. We highly recommend! We also very much liked this spicy-noted Moroccan Red wine- Syrah du Maroc 'Tandem'. As a joint partnership with Ouled Thaleb winery in Morocco and Alain Graillot (a northern Rhone superstar), Tandem takes its name from the latter's bicycling trip through Africa meeting the former winery owners in Morocco. Aged in French oak for 12 months and produced in the Zenata coastal area between Casablanca and Rabatt, the combined respective regional flavors of spice and pepper produced a most flavorful glass.
Hotel La Maison Arabe
For a break from the bustling Medina, we love to sit for an afternoon tea, coffee, or Moroccan red, or, dare we say, a white Russian, at the highly recommended Hotel La Maison Arabe. Follow their friendly staff through a lovely foyer, around a couple of corners, up some stairways and down some others and then you'll land most comfortably at a quiet poolside table. Be sure to get there well ahead of dinner hour as the staff will be setting up for the night's reservations (it is a treat to stay for dinner). Call to make your tea reservation (+212 5243-87010) and find their full menu. Instagram: @la_maison_marrakech
"Careful man. There's a beverage here!" - the Dude, The Big Lebowski. DIY: A white Russian consists of about: 1 1/2 ounces chilled vodka, 2/3 ounce Kahlua, or other coffee liqueur, 2/3 ounce light cream. Whilst they pour, shop our Dude Hand-Knit Cowichan sweater.
La Mamounia
Dubbed the #1 Hotel in Africa by Condé Nast Traveler, La Mamounia is many Moroccan experiences all-in-one palace. If excellence is not yet your thing, La Mamounia will make it your thing. The hashtag is #LaMamouniaLife and that is all. Bring a swimsuit for an early morning dip or join late night for a round of drinks. Pro tip: order the hot chocolate. It is divine. Call to make a reservation at any of their 4 restaurants (+212 5243-88600) and find their full menu(s). Instagram: @lamamouniamarrakech
Hassan Hajjaj Cafe
Hassan Hajjaj cafe, which is owned by the talented British-Moroccan photographer. It's a visual feast and the daily special is one of the best bets in the industrial quarter which is a developing area for shopping, artisans, cafes and restaurants in the greater outskirts of Marrakech. Enjoy the best of Moroccan street food, tea, as well as a gift shop and gallery of Hajjaj's works featuring local models, design and Moroccan culture. Walk-ins are encouraged! Instagram: @hassanhajjaj_larache
No. 1 Coffee Shop
We love our wake-me-up Americanos and freshly squeezed OJs. Did you know the average Moroccan glass of OJ uses approx 4-5 freshly squeeze oranges? If you are staying in the Gueliz neighborhood or just passing through and need an afternoon pick-me-up, we recommend stopping by the No. 1 Coffee Shop. And for breakfast or brunch, just around the corner you will find a nice street spot with amazing eggs cooked to your liking as well as dozens of fresh Moroccan breads paired with traditional oils and honeys for dipping. Ask for the No.1 Coffee Shop for directions but it is nearby Hotel Diwane.
Staying in the Gueliz neighborhood, we found the perfect place to enjoy a healthy, shareable lunch with a most colorful atmosphere. Enjoy a big meal at this tiny Lebanese restaurant named La Cuisine de Mona. Located just on the edge of Gueliz, you'll first find its lime green awning shading itself from the afternoon sun. Stepping inside, the hosts will welcome you with endless meze platters of Lebanese meats, veggies, hummuses and breads. Be ready to share and order multiple rounds of the chicken wings & the house hummus. Call to reserve your Candy-pink seat (+212 618-137959). Instagram: @lacuisinedemona27
Medina -- Pomegranate Juice Stands
Around every street corner in the Medina you will discover something flavorful- from spices to nuts to fruits. From late October until March, the winter months in Morocco when pomegranates grow, we jump right in where the love line awaits us at the fresh juice carts. Bring cash, tip extra and don't mind the wait for this delicious and ~healthy~ Moroccan hand-pressed pomegranate juice. Don't @ us.
Ruly's Ramen Shop *Bonus*
We recommend if you are staying in Marrakech that you take a couple day trips to other cities in Morocco, including a drive through the countryside to Essaouira. A UNESCO World Heritage site and a centuries old trading seaport, Essaouira feels like the town its late-18th-century French architect designed - a defensive prowess featuring remarkable towers and coastal walls. It also is a commercial hub for trading and fishing.
A 2.5 hour drive due west of Marrakech, you will know you are close once you double-take driving past goats climbing the trees to find their favorite nuts.
Upon arrival there will be a number of traditional Moroccan seafood restaurants within and around Essaouira's seaside port, however we recommend you bypass the congested tourists spots and the fishy smells. If you head deeper into this lovely city, winding through its historic alley ways and past its contemporary galleries and shops, you will inevitably stumble upon the hidden gem that is Ruly's Ramen Shop. Sitting only one group at a time upstairs at their single, Japanese-styled low-profile table (called a chabudai), you will be served a 100% authentic Japanese ramen meal made with fresh local ingredients all prepared in minutes from their downstairs kitchen. A Japanese family-owned and operated business, the recipes for their ramen menu have been passed down for generations. Phone ahead for a reservation (+212 707-706921) and find the full menu. Facebook: @https://www.facebook.com/rulysramen/
While awaiting your meal, enjoy the traditional wall art origami, the seaside ocean views, and the quietness of the gentle breeze passing through the open balcony doors and windows. The entire experience from arrival to departure was delightful and most romantic. We love Ruly's Ramen Shop.
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