WHERE TO EAT, STAY & Visit
We often get asked for ideas for what to see & where to stay/eat when visiting Morocco. Below is a list o some of our favorites and we hope you enjoy. Feel free to suggest some of your own for us to include!
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AL FASSIA (GUELIZ )
TEL +212 524 43 40 60 www.alfassia.com/ Located in Marrakech city center, AL FASSIA GUELIZ is open for lunch and dinner everyday except Tuesday. The particularity of the AL FASSIA RESTAURANT is that it employs mainly women. The original idea at that time came from Mr Mohammed CHAB (our Father, a professional Hotelier) and our late Mother, Mrs Fatima CHAB who worked hard to train the women in the kitchen. The Woman is in charge in the house. The Guest is welcomed, greeted and served by women. AL Fassia translates to “The Woman from Fes”. Fes, the spiritual capital of Morocco, that is internationally known for its refined cuisine. It is a tribute to all Moroccan women that have thrived to master the Moroccan cuisine to satisfy their families and especially their husbands. |
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LE RESTAURANT AT LA MAISON ARABE
La Maison Arabe is located near the Bab Doukkala mosque, and is a 5 minute walk from the Jemma El Fna square, the Koutoubia, and the Handicrafts Center. TEL (+212) 5 24 38 70 10 www.lamaisonarabe.com/ open to hotel guests and other travelers in Marrakech seeking a unique and refined dining experience. One dines underneath a sumptuous, hand-painted zouaké ceiling, surrounded by walls finished in warm-toned tadelakt, and a flower-filled patio with fountains. Dinner is accompanied by arab-andalusian music played on lute and guitar. The menu is exclusively Moroccan, without being heavy. One can choose from traditional dishes and delicious specialties of La Maison Arabe. Expert tip: matthew says Book a table by the pool. |
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CAFÉ DES ÉPICES
Tel: +212 (0) 524 391 770 cafedesepices.net/ Located in the heart of the Medina and the souks of Marrakech. The Cafe' Des E'pices is a must and a refreshing break for all those who come to hang out or haggle for hours in the markets. Mint tea, of course, but also Moroccan Pastries, a choice of cold drinks, salads, sandwiches and delicious little tagines. The ground floor provides a little of AC comfort and the roof top terrace embraces a wide panorama of the Medina. Expert tip: Great for lunch |
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CAFE RESTAURANT BLADNA
TEL +212 524 375 591 https://www.facebook.com/CafeRestaurantBladna/ Expert tip: Easy to get in and out. On the way to Ourika. Best bread - lunch only |
WHERE TO STAY
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SOFITEL MARRAKECH LOUNGE & SPA
TEL (+212) 524 425 600 www.sofitel.com/ This contemporary riad promotes a sense of well-being and the magic begins the moment you enter the Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Spa hotel. The art of luxury. The hotel's sophisticated decor with its works of art and elegant colors provides a chic, artistic and stylish setting with lighting skillfully worked to reflect the image of the city. The concept of the hotel is a stunning "Art Lounge" gallery. From your elegant room with its color palette of gold, white and beige tones, enjoy breathtaking views of our indoor pool and garden: palm trees, bougainvilleas, not forgetting the magnificent snow-capped Atlas mountains. |
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LA MAMOUNIA
TEL +1 855-407-6644 www.grandluxuryhotels.com/hotel/la-mamounia-marrakech For 90 years La Mamounia has emphasized the great traditions of Moroccan hospitality and attracted royalty, connoisseurs and celebrities to relax in an atmosphere that combines history with enchantment and luxury. Today the hotel reflects a pure Moroccan style with contemporary art and antiques. Ideal location 10 minutes drive from the airport and 5 minutes walk from the Jamaa El Fna Square. Wander in the legendary 17 acres gardens: 700 year-old olive trees, Palm trees, 5000 roses, orange Trees, cactus. Be pampered in the 2500 sq meters Spa offering true essence of care and personalized treatments. |
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RIAD EL FENN
TEL +212 524 44 1280 el-fenn.com/ With 28 individually styled rooms and suites, tree-filled courtyards, a 7000ft2 roof terrace and a family of resident tortoises, El Fenn is the perfect retreat from which to enjoy Africa’s most exotic city. Combining grandeur and historic architecture with hideaway nooks, terraces and gardens, the hotel is just five minutes walk from the world-famous Djemaa el Fna square and bustling maze of streets that make up the souk. |
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ROYAL MANSOUR - MARRAKECH
TEL + 212 (0) 5 29 80 80 80 www.royalmansour.com In the heart of city, the Royal Mansour Marrakech welcomes you with wonder, luxury and unparalleled services. The Royal Mansour Marrakech was born out of a vision to create a spectacular masterpiece exceeding the demands of today’s discerning traveller, while reflecting the true essence of Moroccan tradition. The Royal Mansour Marrakech offers guests unparalleled experiences of wonders and emotions, leaving an imprint in their memories. |
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WHERE TO VISIT
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JARDIN MAJORELLE / YVES ST LAURENT MUSEUM
TEL +212 (0)5 24 31 30 47 jardinmajorelle.com/ang/ The Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech is one of the most visited sites in Morocco. It took French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) forty years of passion and dedication to create this enchanting garden in the heart of the “Ochre City”. We are soothed and enchanted by the harmony of this luxuriant and vivid imagery, which issues a delicate summons to the senses, offering us a calming retreat near, and yet so far from the bustling city, sheltered from time by high earthen walls. |
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DAY TRIP TO ESSAOUIRA
www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/the-atlantic-coast/essaouira It is the coastal wind – the beautifully named alizee, or taros in Berber – that has allowed Essaouira (essa-weera, or es-sweera in Arabic) to retain its traditional culture and character. For most of the year, the wind blows so hard here that relaxing on the beach is impossible, meaning that the town is bypassed by the hordes of beach tourists who descend on other Atlantic Coast destinations in summer. Known as the ‘Wind City of Africa’, it attracts plenty of windsurfers between April and November, but the majority of visitors come here in spring and autumn to wander through the spice-scented lanes and palm-lined avenues of the fortified medina, browse the many art galleries and boutiques, relax in some of the country's best hotels and watch fishing nets being mended and traditional boats being constructed in the hugely atmospheric port. |
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OURIKA VALLEY
www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/ourika-valley Temperatures are cooler in the shadow of snowcapped High Atlas peaks, and this blooming valley a little over 50km south of Marrakesh is the city’s escape hatch from the soaring summer heat. The valley is especially mood-altering from February to April, when almond and cherry orchards bloom manically and wildflowers run riot. Sadly Ourika's beauty and easy accessibility have lead to significant development, which now threatens to mar its mountain-valley vibe. At Oulmes, makeshift cafes and BBQ joints line the riverside strung together by flimsy rope bridges that allow day-trippers to cross the river, while at the end of the valley sits the summer resort and well-worn trekking base of Setti Fatma. |
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SOUKS & MEDINAS OF MARRAKECH
www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/ Visit the many Souks and Medinas of Marrakech to see the locals selling everything from fresh vegetables and spices to leather and jewelry. Be entertained by the acrobats, snake charmers and musicians of Djemaa El Fna square. Marrakech is a city full of many souks and markets, hiding away in the narrow alleys and squares of the Medina's. On this morning tour you will visit Morocco's most famous souks for an opportunity to be part of the daily hustle and bustle. Shop for local handicrafts and souvenirs of your visit to Morocco as you explore the souk and practise your bargaining skills. In Djemaa El Fna Square, acrobats, snake charmers and Gnawa musicians entertain the crowd while creating a lively atmosphere. |
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JEMAA El Fna (night market)
www.jemaa-el-fna.com/ At dusk, as in France and Spain, people go out for a walk early evening (especially in the street Bab Agnaou), and the place fills up little by little until it becomes a carnival all of storytellers, Acrobats, musicians and artists. Go down and you will soon be immersed in the ritual: wandering around, crouching in the midst of spectator circles, giving a dirham or two as your contribution. If you want a break, you can walk to the rooftop terraces, such as the Grand Balcon Café, for a view of the square, its storytellers and musicians, and the crowds that come to see them. |
