Where to eat in Marrakech? A guide to great dining in the medina and beyond

Slow-cooked tagines, Friday couscous, grilled kebabs, honey pastries: Marrakech can be discovered as much through its cuisine as through its monuments. But you still need to know where to eat in Marrakech, depending on your tastes and budget. Here’s our guide, from street stalls to a candlelit dinner in a riad.

Specialities you simply must try

Before choosing a place to eat, here are the dishes that define Marrakech’s culinary identity:

• Tanjia: Marrakech’s signature dish. Meat cooked for hours in an earthenware jar, with candied lemon, garlic, cumin and saffron, traditionally cooked over the fire of a local hammam.
• Tajine: lamb with prunes, chicken with lemon and olives, kefta with eggs… There’s something to suit every taste.
• Couscous: traditionally served on Friday lunchtimes with the family.
• Harira: a soup made with tomatoes, lentils and chickpeas, very popular in the evening, especially during Ramadan.
• Pastilla: a sweet-and-savoury puff pastry filled with poultry, almonds and cinnamon.
• Msemen and baghrir: flaky pancakes and ‘thousand-hole’ pancakes, ideal for breakfast with honey.
• Mint tea: served at any time of day, often very sweet.

Eating in Jemaa el-Fna Square

As night falls, the large square fills with numbered stalls where you dine side by side on long benches, amidst the smoke from the grills: kebabs, fried fish, sheep’s heads, snail soup, freshly squeezed orange juice… It’s an experience worth having at least once.

Our tips:

• choose a stall frequented by Moroccan families: this is a good sign that the food is fresh;
• ask for prices before ordering and check the bill;
• dishes automatically placed on the table (bread, olives, sauces) are sometimes charged for: don’t hesitate to ask.

The medina’s cheap eateries and snack bars

In the narrow streets around the souks, small stalls serve tagines, kebabs and sandwiches at very reasonable prices. You can eat quickly and well here, often shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals. It’s the best way to sample simple, authentic cuisine.

Look out for stalls where dishes are simmering right in front of you and where the bread comes fresh from the local bakery: the food is prepared fresh daily.

Rooftop terraces

For a peaceful lunch or a dinner at sunset, nothing beats a rooftop in the medina. You’ll look out over the rooftops, the minarets and, on a clear day, the peaks of the Atlas Mountains. The cuisine here is often a blend of Moroccan and international dishes, at higher prices than in the local eateries.

Tip: arrive a little before sunset to enjoy the golden light over the city.

Restaurants in Guéliz and Hivernage

Outside the medina, the new town is home to a concentration of more modern restaurants: international cuisine, cafés, brasseries and fine-dining establishments. This is also where you’re more likely to find restaurants serving alcohol, which is rarer in the medina.

Dinner in your riad: the best dining experience in Marrakech?

It’s often the best memory of a stay: dinner served in the courtyard, around the water feature, by the light of lanterns. Many riads offer dinner by reservation, with home-style cooking prepared by the riad’s staff. Some even organise cooking classes to teach you how to make your own tagine.

In the morning, the riad’s breakfast is a real treat: msemen, baghrir, homemade bread, jams, fresh cheese, orange juice and mint tea. See riads with breakfast included

Remember to let the riad know the day before if you’d like to have dinner there: once you’ve made your booking, you can message them directly via the Riadway messaging service.

Where to eat depending on your neighbourhood?

• Mouassine: in the heart of the souks, ideal for combining a stroll with lunch on a terrace. See riads in Mouassine
• Riad Zitoun: a stone’s throw from Jemaa el-Fna, perfect for walking to the square for dinner. See riads in Riad Zitoun
• Kasbah: quieter, with cosy neighbourhood spots and terraces overlooking the ramparts. See riads in the Kasbah
• Mellah: for a stroll through the spice market before sitting down to eat. See riads in the Mellah

Practical tips for eating well in Marrakech

• Meal times: lunch is usually served between 12 noon and 3 pm, and dinner from 7.30 pm.
• Budget: a meal in a local eatery costs far less than dinner on a terrace or in a restaurant in Guéliz. Prices are often displayed; if not, ask for them before ordering.
• Water: opt for bottled water.
• Ramadan: during the month of fasting, many small eateries close during the day, but the evening atmosphere, after the fast is broken, is unforgettable.
• Tipping: it isn’t compulsory, but leaving around 10 per cent is appreciated.
• Special dietary requirements: vegetarians and those on a gluten-free diet will easily find something to their taste (vegetable tagines, Moroccan salads); please specify this when ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can you eat on a budget in Marrakech?

The food stalls in Jemaa el-Fna and the small eateries in the medina are the most affordable options, whilst offering authentic cuisine.

What is the typical dish in Marrakech?

The tanjia is the city’s iconic speciality – not to be confused with the tagine. Be sure to try it at least once during your stay.

Can you have dinner at your riad?

Yes, many riads offer dinner by reservation. It’s an excellent option for a quiet meal, especially on your first evening.

In summary

To enjoy the best of Marrakech’s cuisine, mix up your dining experiences: a lively dinner in Jemaa el-Fna Square, a lunch at a local eatery in the souks, a sunset on a rooftop terrace and, on at least one evening, dinner in the courtyard of your riad. To help you plan your stay, read How to find your riad in the medina.

Find your riad in Marrakech and book with a simple online deposit; the balance is paid directly at the riad.