- Marrakech
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Morocco
My wife and I stayed at Riad Al Moussika hotel for four nights in early January, and it was definitely one of the highlights of our journey to Morocco! Our choice of the hotel was made completely on the suggestion of Daniel Jacobs on The Observer, Sunday December 21 2008, and on Trip Advisor reviews: Before arriving, we were wondering if we have made the good choice, but the minute we walked in, we realized that Riyad Al Moussika was beyond all our expectations. We got an amazing room (the green one) with a private terrace and a beautiful loggia in front that overlooked the mature trees garden and the nice swimming pool, and all the Riad was done in very capturing style. The service of the boys was impeccable and the food served by the Chef Cordon bleu, to die for. The Riad itself is very beautiful and authentically Moroccan and we felt very much like home.
The Hotel Riyad Al Moussika, where I spent with friends a long weekend at the beginning of our journey to the south of Morocco in early January, is a place that has stopped time, where the magical atmosphere, relives Morocco of Pasha of 1800, but with all the comfort of our century. Everything is perfect, authentic, calm, serene.
I recommend strongly this hotel for its central location, even for the excellent and very professional service provided by the young boys of the staff, always smiling and present without being intrusive.
The chef and owner, Khalid, a nice and helpful big boy, who speaks I do not know how many languages, but among them an excellent Italian that has enabled me to know a world of things about authentic Marrakech, thing impossible otherwise, due to my language limitations, and, most important, who cooks in divine way.
I conclude that the value for money is very good considering that the copious breakfast and the courses haute cuisine lunch, (by far the best of all restaurants in Marrakech and Morocco, where we ate), are included in rate.
Only one regret: Have stayed there for four nights only!
www.riyad-al-moussika.com
Riyad Al Moussika s.a.r.l.
62,derb Boutouil - Kennaria
Marrakech - Morocco
contact@riyad-al-moussika.ma
Phone 00212 (0) 24 389067
Fax: 00212 (0) 24 377653
Stylish restaurant with a great mix of Moroccan and European design. A friend of mine booked it for us and we ate on the roof terrace which has great views over Marrakech. There are two menus: one typically Moroccan and the other more fusion International/Moroccan. I had a Moroccan tajine which was extremely tasty.
Reservation is recommended. It's not cheap but it's a romantic place and is also good for small groups.
55 Souk Hal Fassi
Marrakech
Tel: +212 (0)24 378190
www.foundouk.com
This is an amazing place, a bus trip out of the city, where you can see great waterfalls, go for a hike, swim and then get a great meal at the cafe. While you wait for your food, sip endless glasses of mint tea, and take in the views and then tuck in! I had a lamb tagine (amazing) cooked in an earthenware pot in the ground. Super cheap too!
Just outside Marrakech
This great little patisserie and juice shop is on Rue Dabachi about 50 metres west of Chez Chegrouni (the NW corner of Djemma el-Fna) - the sign is in Arabic only but you'll know it's the one because it's just at the corner of Route Kennaria D. It is open all day but particularly humming with life at about 10-11pm. Join the locals in choosing what to have in your freshly made smoothie/milkshake. Try milk and almonds (lait et amandes), or peach and plum (peche et prune), or a mix (panache - pronounced panashee). Ask for it without sugar if you prefer (sans sucre). The fruit is wonderful. They also do pastries, yoghurts with fruit etc. And they'll make up boxes of Moroccan mini-pastries for you to take home for your friends - a big box holds up to 500g (the cost is very reasonable - think it was 60 dirhams per half kilo). Smoothies and milkshakes are around 9 dirhams each - excellent value even by Moroccan standards. And the staff were very friendly - we became evening regulars and were quite sad to leave. Why doesn't someone set one of these up in London?
Patisserie Al Jawda, Rue Dabachi 16-18, Marrakech, tel 024 38 73 05
One of the few restaurants in the medina that serves alcohol. The food was nice but to be honest the food in many of the places surrounding Djemma El Fna was equally nice and cheaper.
14 Derb J'did near Place Des Ferblantiers in Mellah area in the south of the medina.
For a totally different view of Marrakech not too far from the medina walls - this is a cafe serving coffee, tea, soft drinks and light snacks. As with most places within Marrakech this place does not serve alcohol.
The Hivernage is a neighbourhood of nice villas and five-star hotels so Café Extrablatt is an interesting contrast to the relative poverty of the medina. Watch as the customers pull up in their 4x4s dressed in their western fashions. Still not expensive from a western point of view but interesting to people-watch.
in the district of Hivernage at corner of Avenue Echouhada & Avenue El Qadissia. Not too far from Sofitel hotel just outside medina walls.
Pleasant spot in souks area for a refreshing soft drink or light snack (sorry no alcohol as with most places within the medina!). You can sit on the roof terrace watching over the spice souk. Young and friendly staff.
75 Rahba Kedima off Rue Samarine (one of main roues into souk)
8am - 8pm daily
Tigmi was a complete nightmare. We arrived there after a sublime stay at the Kasbah de Toubkal and what a comedown it was. Service was appalling in every respect. The so-called spa offered only a handful of the treatments on the menu. The room was freezing and three heaters had to be hauled in before they could get one to work. They used cold water for the pedicure. But worse was yet to come... the heater in my niece's room burst into flames in the middle of the night and no-one came to help despite us all screaming and yelling. There were no fire extinguishers in the rooms. The owner's response? The heater was made in China. In my room, there was a leakage of water overnight flooding the whole room and staining my leather luggage. The owner's response? I must have left a tap on. They were quite defensive and accusatory. No discount was offered nor any apology. We were supposed to just shrug it off apparently - just as they did. The French manager is so arrogant it beggars belief. The only saving grace? The food was good and the beds were comfortable. A ghastly place stuck in the middle of an extremely poor village. Don't waste your time going there... and don't believe the brochure.
You can find great Indian curries on the street right behind the Djemma el Fna.
Having been driven nuts by incessant requests to buy something or taste food at Jemma El-Fna I pulled my mobile and pretended I was talking. People are much less likely to pester you. Obvious, but I've seen a many distressed tourist trying to untangle themselves from the charms of 10,000 sellers.
We had a wonderful stay at Dar Tassa and enjoyed every second of it. What a beautiful place and what nice and kind people.
Mohammed guided us through the mountains. He spoke English very well and was very kind and told us everything we would like to know
The food was a highlight: they made us some of the best veggie tagines we've had in Morocco and only wish we'd had longer to savour the peace and tranquility of the place.
Souk Cuisine is run by the very friendly Gemma Van de Burgt, in English. She met us in Jemaa el Fna square at 10am and took us around the souks. As she knew all the stall-holders we were able to learn a lot from them and take photos, which can otherwise be quite difficult.
We bought the ingredients then went back to her house which is properly set up for up to five people. We learned to cook about six traditional dishes, including ones not found in restaurants. It was a whole day's entertainment for about £20 including lunch and wine - amazing value and the most fun thing we did.
info@soukcuisine.com
www.soukcuisine.com
+212 73 80 49 55
Charming and relaxing guesthouse. An authentic Morrocan riad with its courtyard and sunroof terrace.
Ideally based for pedestrians and market lovers due to its central location in the heart of the Medina, just five minutes from the very popular place Djemaa El Fna.
The whole team makes you feel at home: friendly and helpful with good local cuisine.
I particularly enjoyed sauna and massages at the end of day after exploring the city. I am looking forward to going back on October for another break.
Riad Dollar des Sables
13 Derb Deffa Ourbaa
Quartier Esmarinne
Medina
40000 Marrakech
website:
www.riaddollardessables.com
mail: reservation@riaddollardessables.com
Tel/ fax 00 212 (0) 24 44 43 14
portable: 00 212 (0) 71 38 95 35
A charming six-bedroom riad situated in the heart of the Medina.
Beautifully restored and decorated with hand-made Moroccan furniture.
A wonderful place to chill out and enjoy the spa, gym and hammam before treating yourself to a fantastic meal freshly prepared.
Owned and run by English expats, the hotel is managed superbly and service is perfect. A gem of a find.
www.riadelmansour.com
227 Derb Jdid
Bab Doukkala
Medina, Marrakech 40000
Tel: 212 (0)24 38 15 77 or from the UK direct on 0203 039 1626
Map: tinyurl.com/3249dr
You have to try it at least once. Most of the stalls are geared to tourists. These usually have large displays of food and hustlers persuading you to eat at their stall. Treat it as a bit of fun but keep control of what you want to eat. For not much more you can eat in one of the many restaurants around the square and get more for your money. The gem is probably the packed stall selling fish (and chips), mainly to locals. Squeeze in when you can & enjoy.
A taste of Japan in Marrakech.
Authentic Moroccan restaurant this is not. Some of the best Japanese food outside of Japan it most certainly is. As a great lover of all things gastronomic, with a soft-spot for fine Japanese cuisine, Tatchibana offered better Japanese food than I have eaten in London, Paris or New York, and what is more, the price tag is more attractive as well. Recently opened in an area of the Marrakech Medina that has not lost its charming madness to the tourist trade, this Japanese restaurant offers the tranquility of a Japanese garden, and savours of the highest quality Japanese cuisine. The chef, a Japanese native who now lives in Marrakech with his wife looks about 15 but prepares his dishes like a sage. This is a must see, not to be missed experience, even if your cultural senses are confused by a small haven of Asia in North Africa.
Tatchibana
38 derb Bab Ksiba,
Kasbah,
Marrakech.
Maroc
www.tatchibana.com
Tel # 024387171
info@tatchibana.com
Don't miss the food and street entertainment on offer in the main square - Djemaa el Fna at night. Try the snails and spicy local aphrodisiac 'tea'.
Les Premices is a great, cheap restaurant with an excellent location over looking the Djema el fna square. It has excellent service, food, and cocktails, and is the perfect place to watch the square come alive.
Overlooking the Djema el fna.
Buffet-style restaurant serving range of traditional Moroccan dishes. High quality, excellent choice, elegant dining room. In the evenings, you pay £10 and get a 3-course buffet meal, with as many repeat tastings as you like. Excellent for those that want to try a range of Moroccan foods.
In front of the Koutoubia, opposite the Place de Foucault.
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