Out and about…
Favourite places to eat
Firstly, I would like to say that we would like you all to eat chez nous every evening, but for those of you who simply must go out, these are some of my favourite places.
I personally go to them all and would recommend them to friends and family. I could go on forever as I love to eat out.
Moroccan Feasts:
Yacout
My absolute favourite has to be the Yacout.
Owned by Mohammed Skhiri, the honorary consul to the UK, the Yacout combines fine traditional dining with a beautiful stylish décor.
In the summer months, the aperitif is served on the roof terrace, which has the most splendid view of the Medina at night. In the winter months the aperitif is served on the first floor where blazing fires are lit every evening and you can relax to the hypnotic beat of Gnaoua music. The main meal is served on the ground floor, either by the pool in the summer months or the cosy side rooms in the winter. Selections of Moroccan salads, followed by a great ‘chicken with lemon dish’, followed by lamb and couscous, followed by dessert, followed by Moroccan pastries. Need I go on…
A bit pricey at 700 dirhams per head, but all alcohol is included in this price, including a great size gin and tonic and a digestive after the meal.
Le Tobsil
22 Derb Abdellah Ben Hessaien, R’mila, Bab Ksour. Medina
Tel: 0 24 44 15 23 – Open 19.30–midnight. Closed Tuesdays
This restaurant is owned by French woman, Christine Rio and her photographer husband. Hidden in the back alleys inside the Bab L’aksour area, Tobsil combines great Moroccan food with a cosy, intimate atmosphere. The portions are enormous as with all traditional Moroccan restaurants, but don’t worry if you can’t eat it all, there are always worthy cases outside who will be fed that night. Soft music is played and tables are seated either in the plant filled courtyard or in one of the cosy upper floor salons.
Dar Moha
81 rue Dar el Bacha, Medina
Tel: 0 24 38 64 00 – Open noon–15.00, 19.10 till late. Closed Mondays
Moroccan Nouvelle Cuisine at its best. Owned by Mohammed, an incredible chef who lived and worked in Switzerland before returning to Marrakech to open this excellent restaurant. The dishes are all traditional, but with a new twist to them. There is a beautiful rose petal covered courtyard with tables set around it, and really cosy rooms inside the house if the courtyard is fully booked. I really like Dar Moha, as you can order à la carte and the portions are human sized.
Al Fassia
232 Avenue Mohammed V, Guéliz
Tel: 0 24 43 40 60
Another favourite of mine. Al Fassia is situated in the new town and is very easy to walk to from the city centre. The restaurant is run entirely by women and serves really excellent Moroccan dishes. You can order à la carte and it is fairly reasonably priced. Really difficult to get a booking there in high season as it is so popular with Moroccans and Europeans alike.
Chic Fusion Eating
Le Comptoir
Avenue Echouhada, Guéliz/Hivernage
Tel: 0 24 43 77 02 – 16.00–01.00 and till 02.30 Friday and Saturday, Daily
Sister restaurant of the Parisien Comptoir. This restaurant is better known for its ambience than its food. True, you can get good tapas and fairly good Moroccan and fusion dishes. What I like about it is the décor and the fact that they have belly dancers every night around 10.30. It’s a great place for a lively night out and is close the cities best hotels and night clubs.
Le Fondouk
55 Souk Hal Fassi, Kat Bennahid, Medina
Tel: 0 24 37 81 90 – Open noon–midnight. Closed Mondays
Traditionally a fondouk was a resting place for tradesmen visiting Marrakech. Most fondouks have been turned into small work areas, shared by Marrakech artisans, but this one has been transformed into a very chic and popular restaurant. Owned by two Frenchman, it has quickly become one of the ‘in’ places to eat in Marrakech. It has a great roof terrace where you can in eat in the summer months and the interior of the restaurant is fabulous. The food is of a good standard and the prices reasonable.
Bô Zin
Douar Lohna, Route de L’Ourika
Tel: 0 24 38 80 12 – Open 20.00–01.00 Daily
Situated on the road to Ourika, this restaurant is great for a lively night out. The colonial chic interior is really something and they have a fabulous garden where you can laze on long sofas with a drink after your meal. The food is good with a mix of Moroccan and fusion dishes. A bit pricey. They have a resident DJ who plays some really great music later on and nobody minds if you boogie on down.
Kozy Bar
47 Place des Ferblantiers, Medina
Tel: 0 24 38 03 24 – Open noon–15.00 and 20.00–midnight daily
I love having an evening pre-dinner drink on the terrace of this restaurant overlooking the Medina. Good Moroccan dishes, international cuisine and sushi. Reasonably priced and a very good atmosphere at weekends in the evening when they have live entertainment.
International Restaurants
Le Chat qui Rit
92, Rue Yougoslavia, Guéliz
Really nice French/Italian cuisine. The Corsican owner supervises all the dishes that go out and my friends and I regularly go there for lunch or dinner. Friendly atmosphere, charming waitresses and really reasonable prices.
Catanzaro
46, Rue Tarik Ben Zayad, Guéliz
One of the longest standing Italian restaurants in town and owned by a Franco/Moroccan couple. Gets really busy after 20.00 and is really popular with locals. Great value and excellent food.
Niagara
Guéliz
Owned by two charming Moroccan women. This retsaurant serves enormous salads, great pizzas and selection of meat and pasta dishes. Again, it is really popular with locals and ex-pats alike and the prices are very reasonable.
In the souks
- Café Arabe
- Bourganvillea
- Terrace des Epices
Last, but not least, you really should try one of the stalls on the Djemma el-Fna square. My personal favourite is No. 14, which serves amazing fish and chips (Moroccan Style) with sweet pepper and crushed aubergine salads. It is ridiculously cheap and always packed with Moroccans.
I really don’t have room for any more but can tell you more when you get here!!!
Happy Eating!