Eating, Drinking and Clubbing in Morocco
Over the last 5 years there has been a well documented renaissance in dining, bar and clubbing venues in Morocco. In terms of style and innovation and in their own way, many of these venues really rival anything else in the world.
But it is Marrakech more than many of the other cities which has the best clubs, bars and restaurants. Therefore if you are looking for a stay with a good dose of quality drinking, dining and clubbing, then you probably do need to be thinking about Marrakech as your destination.
Below is a selection of the best for you to think about in your planning. As like everywhere in the world, the best restaurants need booking in advance. We have not included every restaurant, bar and club in Marrakech but instead a range of different types and only those which consistently seem to be popular with our users based on recent feedback and amongst a number of reputable restaurant guide which are relatively and regularly updated and independent.
Finally, if you do visit at any restaurant, bar or clubs in Marrakech (or indeed any other Moroccan City) and you think other Morocco Gateway visitors will benefit from your views, please do let us know.
Restaurants
Le Foundouk
Stylish, modern, friendly, good value for money, serving French, Italian and modern Moroccan dishes. Arranged over three floors, the open-air top floor is often the most sought after for a table.
Lolo Quoi
Still relatively new (opened 2005) pasta specialist. Dark stylish décor and hip clientele. Friendly if over-professional staff. 82 avenue Hassan II, phone 072 56 98 64
No website yet.
Al Baraka
For many, this is a must if you are looking for the full traditional Moroccan set-up, atmosphere and gastronomie.
Bô-Zin
A 10 minutes taxi ride out of town, Bô-Zin is one of the destinations of Marrakech’s local and visiting uber-cool crowd. Innovative dishes and cocktails, good music and a great atmosphere for most people.
Dar Moha
High-end, formal and sophisticated restaurant where food is taken seriously and by all accounts the results seem to match. Most recommendations are for tables around the pool.
El Marrakchi
Traditional and unpretentious dishes served with a view of the main square. Erratic service completes the full experience. DJs and dancers are often part of the evening.
L’Italien at the Mamounia
One of the five restaurant of the famous Mamounia Hotel, serving principally Italian dishes and wines in an enjoyable confident atmosphere. For many, it benefits from being followed by a drink in another of Mamounia’s bars and clubs.
The other Mamounia restaurants all generally receive good reviews, particularly Mamounia Moroccain and Trois Palmiers.
www.mamounia.com
Les Jardins de la Medina
Part of a hotel but outsiders welcome. French, Italian, Moroccan and Thai influences. Many feel it is a worthwhile visit as the food is of a high standard and level of innovation. There are two dining areas, one informal (around the pool) and the other formal (inside).
http://www.lesjardinsdelamedina.com
Ksar Char-Bagh
High-end Mediterranean and Oriental cooking from accomplished French chefs, served in the romantic poolside setting. If not staying in the hotel of which the restaurant is part, you will need a reservation.
La Maison Arabe
Offers three options of well prepared and presented Moroccan tajines and couscous in the main restaurant “Le Restaurant”, World Tastes (exotic dishes and asian tapas) served in their colonial styled club room, and informal light dishes around the pool.
La Trattoria Di Giancarlo
Gueliz’s famous, eccentric and romantic Italian restaurant where, by most recent accounts, new and traditional food and service still run like clockwork.
http://www.latrattoriamarrakech.com
Jana and Crystal, Pacha
Modern, sumptuous, clubby and buzzy atmospheres as you would expect from the Pacha stewardship. Jana offers Modern Moroccan dishes to the background of dancers, musicians and DJs while Crystal serves French in a more sophisticated but still cool ambiance.
http://www.pachamarrakech.com/
Palais Gharnata
Charmingly old fashioned Moroccan food and entertainment in dramatic palatial surroundings. Seems to work best for larger parties although some couples have said they enjoy it too.
http://www.gharnata.com/
Le Tanjia, Oriental Brasserie
Situated between the El Badii palace and the Bahia Palace, Le Tanjia is open all day and evening, offering decent fare on two floors, the snug lounges and roof terrace. Run by a team who take a real ride in the restaurant, Le Tanjia does not break any boundaries in any sense but most visitors seem to come away satisfied.
http://www.letanjia-marrakech.blogspot.com/
La Plage Rouge
9km out of town, la Plage Rouge was opened in May 2006 and attempts to bring some of St Tropez to Morocco. And it seems to be working. The huge 300 seater restaurant is run by the Michelin-starred French Porcel brothers and the food is of an expected high standard. Early accounts are that the prices are not bad for what you get.
http://60gp.ovh.net/~laplager/index_flash.html
Drinking, Eating and Clubbing
Pacha
‘The Biggest Club in Africa’ is everything you would expect from Pacha – vast, well invested and professional. It also does not yet seem to suffer from complacency although there are always dissenters. The pool and restaurant areas allow you to make a day of the Pacha experience.
Nikki Beach Circuit de la Palmeraie
Part of the American Nikki Beach chain, Nikki Beach Marrakech does not have the cool of Pacha but for a more relaxed relaxation, it still has a strong fan base.
http://www.nikkibeach.com/marrakech/events.php
Breakfast or light lunch
Al Jawda
Marrakech’s ‘patisserie celebre’, serving over 200 types of cakes to local and visitors. By all accounts, Al Jawda still seems to maintain its reputation for freshness and taste innovation. The drinks don’t compete although they are as good as you will get anywhere in Marrakech.
www.al-jawda.com
Bô-Zin
Great cocktails, music, setting (indoors and outdoors) and crowd. For many, if only it would be not a taxi drive out of town, Bô-Zin would be the perfect evening’s drinking and dancing destination.
Churchill’s Piano Bar
Old-style elegance when all of Marrakech’s new urban chic gets, well, too much. The great man’s favourite bar in the Mamounia hotel in the style of a New York jazz club in the 1950's complete with pianist and singer to the early morning. And if you want a midnight change of scene, the hotel has 4 other decent bars.
http://www.mamounia.com/eng/dining/bar.php
La Plage Rouge
Marrakech’s newly opened out-of-town dawn-to-dawn party zone is finding its feet with good (if a little nervous) service, an excellent drinks menu, DJs and opulent venue. No bad reports so far.
Le Comptoir
East meets West styling of lanterns, copper, wood and violet, crimson and burnt orange walls, Le Comptoir looks amazing. And its drinks menu and ambiance is just as well thought out and delivered.