Marrakech-Safi is a region in west-central Morocco stretching from the red-walled imperial city of Marrakech, at the foot of the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains, west across olive plains and argan forest to the Atlantic port towns of Safi and Essaouira. It combines Morocco's most visited historic Medina, UNESCO-listed since 1985, with mountain villages, desert day trips, and a laid-back fishing-and-ceramics coast.
Marrakech-Safi's kitchens run from centuries-old riad dining rooms serving slow-cooked tagines and pastilla to smoky Jemaa el-Fnaa food stalls that fill the square at sunset. Moroccan cooking here leans on preserved lemon, olives, saffron from the Atlas foothills, cumin, and honey, layered into tagines (chicken with preserved lemon and olives, lamb with prunes), couscous on Fridays, and mechoui (slow-roasted lamb). Along the Atlantic coast in Essaouira, grilled sardines and the day's catch off the port dominate menus. Gueliz and Hivernage, Marrakech's ville nouvelle districts, add French bistros, Italian trattorias, and international fine dining to the mix, while mint tea and fresh orange juice are constants everywhere.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Marrakech-Safi.
Tagine (Chicken with Preserved Lemon and Olives)
Chicken slow-cooked in a conical clay pot with preserved lemon, green olives, ginger and saffron
Where to try: Riad restaurants across the Medina / Al Fassia
Price: 80-150 MAD ($8.60-16)
Pastilla (Bastilla)
Sweet-savory filo pie traditionally filled with pigeon or chicken, almonds, cinnamon and sugar
Where to try: Dar Yacout / Al Fassia / traditional riad kitchens
Price: 90-180 MAD ($9.70-19)
Mechoui (Slow-Roasted Lamb)
Whole lamb or shoulder roasted slowly until falling off the bone, seasoned simply with cumin and salt
Where to try: Mechoui Alley (Rue Bab Doukkala) near Jemaa el-Fnaa
Price: 60-100 MAD ($6.50-11) per portion
Harira
Tomato-based soup with lentils, chickpeas and vermicelli, traditionally eaten to break the day's fast
Where to try: Jemaa el-Fnaa stalls / any neighborhood snack counter
Price: 10-20 MAD ($1.10-2.20)
Couscous aux Sept Legumes
Steamed semolina couscous piled with seven vegetables and meat, the traditional Friday family dish
Where to try: Le Tobsil / Dar Moha / neighborhood family restaurants
Price: 70-140 MAD ($7.50-15)
Snail Soup (Babbouche)
Spiced snails simmered in a broth of anise, thyme and licorice root, sold from steaming carts
Where to try: Jemaa el-Fnaa snail carts
Price: 10-15 MAD ($1.10-1.60) per bowl
Grilled Sardines
Fresh Atlantic sardines grilled whole at the port, the signature dish of Essaouira
Where to try: Essaouira port grill stalls
Price: 30-60 MAD ($3.25-6.50) per portion
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Al Fassia
Long-running, women-run restaurant in Gueliz serving refined Fassi (Fez-style) cuisine in a formal dining room, considered one of Marrakech's most authentic upscale Moroccan tables.
Known for: Traditional Fassi cuisine prepared entirely by a female kitchen team
Rue Ibn Aicha, Residence Tayeb Immeuble B, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Dar Yacout
Opulent 17th-century riad near Bab Doukkala with a rooftop terrace over the Medina, serving a fixed multi-course Moroccan feast in an atmosphere of lanterns and mosaic courtyards.
Known for: Elaborate set-menu feast served across multiple ornate rooms and a rooftop terrace
79 Sidi Ahmed Soussi, Bab Doukkala, Marrakech 40000
Le Tobsil
Intimate candlelit riad restaurant tucked behind Bab Ksour, serving an unhurried, multi-course fixed Moroccan menu that has drawn returning diners for decades.
Known for: Fixed multi-course tasting menu in a romantic candlelit courtyard
22 Derb Abdellah Ben Hessaien, Bab Ksour, Marrakech 40000
Dar Moha
Riad once owned by designer Pierre Balmain, now a restaurant built around a garden courtyard and pool, serving reworked classics from the late chef Mohammed Fedal's recipes.
Known for: Garden courtyard dining with live oud music some evenings
81 Rue Dar el Bacha, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Villa Flore
Small boutique riad restaurant near the Musee de Marrakech offering a refined tasting menu that blends Moroccan spicing with French technique in a quiet, design-forward dining room.
Known for: Small tasting-menu dining room in a restored 1920s riad
4 Derb Azzouz, Riad Zitoun Jdid, Marrakech 40000
Nomad
Airy multi-level rooftop above the spice square, blending Moroccan flavors with contemporary presentation - one of the Medina's most photographed lunch and sunset spots.
Known for: Rooftop terrace overlooking Rahba Kedima spice square
1 Derb Aarjan, Rahba Lakdima, Marrakech 40000
Terrasse des Epices
Sister restaurant to Nomad, set around a shaded courtyard and rooftop terrace steps from the souks, mixing Moroccan classics with Mediterranean and Asian touches.
Known for: Shaded rooftop terrace tucked inside the Souk Cherifia design quarter
15 Souk Cherifia, Sidi Abdelaziz, Marrakech 40000
Kabana
Stylish rooftop lounge and restaurant overlooking Jemaa el-Fnaa with sweeping Koutoubia views, popular for sunset cocktails and shared plates.
Known for: Panoramic rooftop with direct Koutoubia Mosque and Jemaa el-Fnaa views
37 Rue Fatima Zohra, Sidi Abdelaziz, Marrakech 40000
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Moroccan
Comptoir Darna
Longstanding Hivernage institution combining a ground-floor lounge restaurant with an upstairs dining room, known for belly-dancing shows and a lively evening scene.
Known for: Dinner-and-entertainment format with live music and dance performances
Avenue Echouhada, Hivernage, Marrakech 40000
Kosybar
Multi-level restaurant and bar on Place des Ferblantiers with a rooftop terrace facing the Badi Palace storks, serving sushi alongside Moroccan dishes.
Known for: Rooftop terrace overlooking Badi Palace's nesting storks
47 Place des Ferblantiers, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Cafe Clock
Cultural cafe near the Kasbah known for its camel burger, storytelling nights and cookery classes, set over several floors around a plant-filled courtyard.
Known for: Cultural hub with live storytelling and music evenings
224 Derb Chtouka, Kasbah, Marrakech 40000
Cafe des Epices
Rooftop cafe on Rahba Kedima spice square with cushioned terrace seating, popular for coffee, salads and people-watching over the market below.
Known for: Rooftop terrace overlooking the spice square souk
75 Rahba Lakdima, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Amal Center
Nonprofit restaurant in Gueliz training disadvantaged women in the restaurant trade, serving a rotating daily menu of home-style Moroccan dishes for lunch.
Known for: Social enterprise restaurant supporting vocational training for women
12 Rue Allal Ben Ahmed, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Clock Kasbah Rooftop
Sister rooftop of Cafe Clock above the Kasbah, offering shaded terrace seating with views toward the Saadian Tombs area and a lighter snack-focused menu.
Known for: Quiet rooftop terrace near the Kasbah mosque
224 Derb Chtouka, Kasbah, Marrakech 40000
Chez Chegrouni
No-frills local favorite right on Jemaa el-Fnaa square serving generous, affordable tagines and grills to a mix of locals and travelers at simple tables.
Known for: Budget-friendly Moroccan home cooking directly on the main square
Jemaa el-Fnaa (north side), Medina, Marrakech 40000
Haj Mustapha (Jemaa el-Fnaa food stalls)
One of the best-known numbered food stalls that assemble nightly on Jemaa el-Fnaa, grilling skewers, merguez and fish at shared benches under string lights.
Known for: Open-air night market grill stall on the main square
Jemaa el-Fnaa square, stall row, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Snail Soup Carts, Jemaa el-Fnaa
Steaming copper snail-soup carts clustered on the square, ladling out small bowls of babbouche spiced with anise, thyme and licorice root.
Known for: Traditional snail soup carts unique to the square
Jemaa el-Fnaa square, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Mechoui Alley Stalls
Row of stalls near Bab Doukkala where whole lambs are roasted in underground ovens each morning and carved to order with cumin, salt and fresh bread.
Known for: Whole lamb roasted daily in traditional underground ovens
Rue Bab Doukkala (near Jemaa el-Fnaa), Medina, Marrakech 40000
Chez Lamine Hadj
Simple sit-down mechoui specialist near the square where roasted lamb is served with bread and mint tea at shared tables, popular with local workers at lunch.
Known for: Long-running neighborhood mechoui counter popular with locals
Rue Bab Agnaou, Medina, Marrakech 40000
La Cantine des Gazelles
Colorful, design-forward restaurant near the Menara Gardens road blending Moroccan dishes with global influences on a plant-filled terrace.
Known for: Bright plant-filled terrace dining in Gueliz
18 Rue de la Liberte, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Le Salama
Three-story riad restaurant just off Jemaa el-Fnaa with a rooftop terrace, live music some nights, and a menu spanning tagines to burgers.
Known for: Multi-level riad dining with live music evenings
40 Rue des Banques, Jemaa el-Fnaa, Marrakech 40000
Nomad Roofs
Extension of Nomad restaurant on an adjoining rooftop, offering a more casual menu of small plates and cocktails with views over the Medina rooftops.
Known for: Casual small-plates rooftop annex of Nomad
1 Derb Aarjan, Rahba Lakdima, Marrakech 40000
Gastro MK
Intimate tasting-menu restaurant inside a private riad, offering a multi-course reinterpretation of Moroccan classics for a limited number of diners nightly.
Known for: Fine-dining tasting menu limited to a small nightly seating
14 Derb Sebaai, Riad Laarous, Marrakech 40000
Kui-Zin
Rooftop restaurant near Jemaa el-Fnaa combining traditional Moroccan dishes with lighter international options and Medina views.
Known for: Rooftop dining a short walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa
Riad Zitoun Kdim, Medina, Marrakech 40000
La Maison Arabe Restaurant
Restaurant of the historic La Maison Arabe hotel, one of Marrakech's original guesthouses, serving refined Moroccan cuisine and also home to a well-known cooking school.
Known for: Historic hotel dining room paired with an on-site cooking school
1 Derb Assehbe, Bab Doukkala, Marrakech 40000
Taros Cafe Restaurant
Essaouira's best-known rooftop restaurant on Place Moulay Hassan, overlooking the fishing port and ramparts, serving seafood, tagines and cocktails.
Known for: Rooftop terrace over Essaouira's port and ramparts, live music some evenings
Place Moulay Hassan, Essaouira 44000
La Table by Madada
Essaouira's most refined seafood restaurant, set in a whitewashed dining room near the ramparts, focused on the day's catch from the adjoining port.
Known for: Fresh daily catch sourced directly from Essaouira's port
5 Rue Youssef El Fassi, Essaouira 44000
Umia Restaurant Lounge
Modern lounge restaurant near Essaouira's ramparts serving a mix of Moroccan dishes, pizza and cocktails on a relaxed, art-lined terrace.
Known for: Art-filled lounge terrace popular for evening cocktails
4 Rue Youssef El Fassi, Essaouira 44000
Cote Plage Essaouira
Beachfront restaurant just south of the Medina walls with direct ocean views, serving grilled seafood and tagines to a mix of surfers and travelers.
Known for: Direct beachfront seating with Atlantic sunset views
Boulevard Mohammed V, Essaouira 44000
Ferdaous
Unassuming family-run Essaouira restaurant tucked in the Medina alleys, known among locals and repeat visitors for generous, home-style tagines.
Known for: Family-run home-style cooking away from the tourist strip
27 Rue Abdesslam Lebadi, Essaouira 44000
Number One Rooftop
Casual rooftop grill above the square offering budget-friendly tagines, brochettes and pizza with a direct view of the square's evening activity.
Known for: Budget rooftop dining with direct square views
Jemaa el-Fnaa square area, Medina, Marrakech 40000
French
Grand Cafe de la Poste
Colonial-era brasserie in Gueliz styled after 1920s Marrakech, serving French classics and Moroccan dishes on a plant-lined terrace and formal dining room.
Known for: 1920s colonial brasserie decor and terrace people-watching
Boulevard El Mansour Eddahbi, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Patisserie Al Jawda
Well-regarded Gueliz patisserie run by a respected Moroccan pastry chef, selling gazelle horns, almond pastries and French-style cakes for takeaway or a quick coffee stop.
Known for: Traditional Moroccan pastries alongside French patisserie
11 Rue de la Liberte, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Le 68 Bar a Vin
Rooftop wine bar and bistro overlooking Jemaa el-Fnaa serving French small plates and one of the more extensive wine lists inside the Medina.
Known for: Extensive Moroccan and French wine list on a rooftop above the square
68 Rue El Ksour, Sidi Abdelaziz, Marrakech 40000
Le Foundouk
Atmospheric restaurant in a converted 19th-century caravanserai near the tanneries, with a lantern-lit courtyard and a menu mixing Moroccan and French dishes.
Known for: Converted 19th-century caravanserai with a lantern-filled courtyard
55 Rue du Souk des Fassi, Kaat Bennahid, Marrakech 40000
La Cour des Lions
Riad restaurant near the Kasbah with a plant-filled courtyard, serving a compact seasonal menu that pairs Moroccan spicing with French plating.
Known for: Quiet courtyard riad dining near the Saadian Tombs
18 Derb Abou el Fadail, Kasbah, Marrakech 40000
Cafe
Bacha Coffee (Dar El Bacha)
Grand coffee house inside the restored Dar El Bacha palace, serving single-origin coffees from a menu of over 200 blends alongside pastries in an ornate colonial-era setting.
Known for: Palatial coffee house with an extensive single-origin coffee menu
Dar El Bacha, Rue Dar El Bacha, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Kaowa
Health-focused cafe in Gueliz serving smoothie bowls, fresh juices and salads, popular for a light lunch break from Medina sightseeing.
Known for: Health-forward menu with smoothie bowls and cold-pressed juices
Rue Loubnane, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Djemaa El Fna Cafe Glacier
Long-standing rooftop cafe on the square known for ice cream and unobstructed panoramic views over Jemaa el-Fnaa's nightly performances.
Known for: Unobstructed rooftop panorama over the main square
Jemaa el-Fnaa square, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Bab Coffee
Small specialty coffee shop near Bab Doukkala popular with digital nomads and early risers for espresso drinks and simple breakfast plates.
Known for: Specialty coffee near the Medina's western gate
Rue Bab Doukkala, Medina, Marrakech 40000
Italian
La Trattoria de Giancarlo
Long-established Italian restaurant in a converted riad-style villa in Hivernage, with a poolside garden and traditional Northern Italian menu.
Known for: Garden courtyard dining with a wine cellar in a historic Marrakech villa
179 Rue Mohammed El Beqal, Hivernage, Marrakech 40000
Pepe Nero
Relaxed riad restaurant with a leafy courtyard near Bab Doukkala, serving wood-fired pizza and pasta alongside a small Moroccan-Italian crossover menu.
Known for: Garden courtyard with wood-fired pizza oven
17 Derb Cherkaoui, Bab Doukkala, Marrakech 40000
Australian
+61
Australian-run restaurant and cafe in Gueliz serving all-day brunch, burgers and Asian-leaning plates, a favorite with expats and long-stay travelers.
Known for: All-day international menu popular for weekend brunch
26 Rue Moulay Ali, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Fresh Juice
Fresh Orange Juice Stalls, Jemaa el-Fnaa
Numbered juice stalls on the northern edge of the square squeezing oranges and pomegranates to order, a fixture of the square since the mid-20th century.
Known for: Freshly squeezed juice served at a standing counter, roughly 4-7 MAD per glass
Jemaa el-Fnaa square (north side), Medina, Marrakech 40000
German
Extrablatt Marrakech
European-style cafe chain outpost in Gueliz with a large terrace, serving breakfasts, burgers and salads to a mixed local and expat crowd.
Known for: Large terrace popular for all-day breakfast in the New City
Avenue Mohammed VI, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Lebanese
Naranj
Popular Lebanese restaurant in Gueliz serving mezze, grilled meats and fresh juices in a bright, casual dining room, a favorite break from Moroccan menus.
Known for: Generous Lebanese mezze spreads at moderate prices
Rue Ibn Toumert, Gueliz, Marrakech 40000
Seafood
Essaouira Port Grill Stalls
Row of numbered stalls at the fishing port grilling the morning's catch to order - sardines, sea bream, prawns - eaten at communal picnic tables overlooking the boats.
Known for: Fresh seafood grilled to order right at the working fishing port
Port d'Essaouira, Essaouira 44000
Vegetarian
Earth Cafe
Small courtyard cafe near Bab Doukkala serving an entirely plant-based menu of tagines, soups and juices in a relaxed, leafy setting.
Known for: Fully vegetarian and vegan menu, rare in the Medina
2 Derb Zaouia, Bab Doukkala, Marrakech 40000
Food tours & tastings in Marrakech-Safi
Eat your way through Marrakech-Safi with a guide.
Browse food experiences in Marrakech-SafiWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Jemaa el-Fnaa Food Stalls (numbered kiosks)
Dozens of open-air grill stalls set up nightly serving skewered meat, merguez sausage, fried fish, couscous, harira and salads at shared tables
Find it at: Jemaa el-Fnaa square, central Medina
Snail Carts (Babbouche)
Steaming copper pots of spiced snail soup, a Marrakech night-market staple
Find it at: Jemaa el-Fnaa square
Mechoui Alley
A row of stalls behind Bab Doukkala where whole roasted lamb is carved to order and served with cumin, salt and bread
Find it at: Rue Bab Doukkala, near Jemaa el-Fnaa
Orange and Pomegranate Juice Carts
Rows of numbered fresh-juice stalls squeezing orange, pomegranate and grapefruit juice to order
Find it at: Jemaa el-Fnaa square, north side
Msemen and Harcha Stands
Griddle-fried layered flatbread (msemen) and semolina bread (harcha) served with honey or amlou
Find it at: Souk entrances and Medina side streets
Maakouda Stalls
Deep-fried spiced potato cakes served in a bread roll with harissa, a cheap and filling snack
Find it at: Rahba Kedima and Medina side streets
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Marche Central (Gueliz Municipal Market)
Covered municipal market in the New City with fresh produce, fish, meat, spices and flowers used by locals and restaurants
Hours: Mon-Sat 8AM-1PM and 4PM-7:30PM
Rahba Kedima (Spice Square)
Small Medina square lined with spice stalls, argan oil vendors, herbalists and traditional apothecaries
Hours: Daily roughly 9AM-8PM
Essaouira Port Fish Market
Working fish auction and market at Essaouira's harbor where the morning catch is sold and can be grilled to order at nearby stalls
Hours: Daily, busiest 9AM-1PM
Bab Doukkala Market
Large neighborhood produce and meat market at the western edge of the Medina, popular with locals for everyday shopping
Hours: Daily 8AM-8PM
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Riad dinners typically require reservations a day or more ahead, especially for fixed-menu tasting dinners with live music
Alcohol is not served in most Medina restaurants outside licensed hotels and a handful of riads; Gueliz and Hivernage have more bars and wine lists
During Ramadan many local restaurants close during the day and open after sunset (iftar); check hours in advance if traveling in that period
Bargaining does not apply to restaurant menu prices, only to souk goods; a 10% tip is customary in sit-down restaurants
Street food stalls at Jemaa el-Fnaa are cash-only (MAD) and prices are generally posted or quoted upfront - confirm the price before ordering
Tap water is best avoided; bottled or filtered water is standard and usually offered automatically in restaurants
- Vegetarian
- Widely available - vegetable tagines, couscous, salads (zaalouk, taktouka) and lentil dishes are staples of Moroccan cooking
- Halal
- Default across virtually all restaurants in the region; non-halal meat is essentially unavailable
- Gluten free
- Limited awareness outside international restaurants in Gueliz; tagines and grilled meats without bread/couscous are the safest options and are easy to request
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 20-60 MAD ($2.15-6.50) per meal | Jemaa el-Fnaa stalls, msemen stands and neighborhood snack counters |
| Mid-range | 100-250 MAD ($11-27) per meal | Medina riad restaurants and Gueliz bistros with a la carte tagines and grills |
| Upscale | 400+ MAD ($43+) per meal | Fine-dining riads, hotel restaurants and tasting menus with wine pairings |