A riad is a traditional Moroccan house with a courtyard. They offer the family protection and privacy. Many riads in Marrakech are now used as hotels. Depending on the owner, they have a garden, pool or other indoor living in the courtyard. What is very impressive is that when you stand in front of a riad, you can never guess what it looks like from the inside. That makes the whole thing very magical and enchanting.

Medina

Is the city center from where you can visit the souk day and night. Did you know the great Medina square was declared a World Heritage Site? Here people trade by day and eat by night.

The Koutoubia Moshee, translated as the Mosque of the Book Trade, is just a few minutes' walk from the Medina and is a real meeting place. It is the oldest mosque in all of Morocco. Right next door is the Cyber ​​Park, where there is WiFi and a quiet place to take photos or simply relax from the hustle and bustle of the city.

If you're in the mood for a park, Marrakech has a lot to offer. The Jardin Secret is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the souk (market) and is a nice stop if you want to think through prices and purchases first. 🙂 The Dar El Bacha Museum is right next to the President's Palace, which, by the way, is not allowed to be flown over. Private is private.

The Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Mansion as well as the Yves Saint Laurent Museum are a must see, not just for fashion enthusiasts! Colorful, creative and beautifully designed, it's worth waiting in line.

Tip: buy your ticket online and go by as early as possible, the more the day progresses the more visitors want to come by.

Culinary Art Museum

Address: Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Website: https://www.moroccancam.com/

The Culinary Art Museum in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city is the only one of its kind in all of Africa. Here, traditional dishes are shown on large screens and explained with recipes and rituals. There are plenty of recipe videos, traditionally set tables and much more. An absolute must for every foodie.

My highlight here were the cooking courses; I was able to take part in a private cooking course. A kitchen perfectly equipped for 25 people was opened for me so that I could cook traditional dishes with the cook (Naima) that day.

From tagine, zaalouk, tanjia and couscous, I was able to prepare everything in a traditional and balanced way. Everything is fresh, finely and cleanly cut and made with a lot of love. Simply a taste explosion.

Tajine = vegetables from the casserole
Tanjia = meat from the stew pot

Afterwards I was able to eat my home-cooked meal in peace on the roof terrace. The view and the great service were my absolute highlight of the day.

Dar Marjana

Address: 15 Derb Sidi Ali Tair, Marrakech
Website: https://www.darmarjana.com/

The most authentic restaurant located right in Medina is just the right place if you are looking for a place where you can enjoy a dance show in the evening consisting of belly dancers and live music. The warm-hearted Kenza and her family opened the restaurant 40 years ago and have run it with a lot of heart and love ever since. The building is over 200 years old, you can literally see the history in a modern, refurbished ambience.

The restaurant is divided into two areas: the roof top (modern Moroccan cuisine) and the basement with many separate rooms and a mini pond (traditional cuisine). It's all a question of mood. 🙂

I was warmly welcomed with a delicious welcome drink (ingredients: orange, grapefruit, mint, pineapple, fig liqueur) and was able to find vegan dishes without any further problems. The Warqa is a puff pastry tart filled with spicy vegetables, with various small spicy dips and vegetables such as zaalouk (aubergines cooked in a spicy way with fresh tomatoes), olives, tomato chutney (yummy), grilled and seasoned peppers.

Afterwards I got fluffy steamed couscous with beautifully spicy tagine vegetables. For dessert there was traditional sweet M'hancha. Homemade puff pastry layered with nuts. Of course, the traditionally brewed mint tea (see photo) should not be missing here. Nana mint, which can only be found in Morocco in its form and taste, gives the tea its refreshing and lovely taste and is definitely a must 🙂

My recommendation: Zaalouk, tomato chutney, classic tagine vegetables with couscous

Nomad

Address: 1 Derb Aarjane, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Website: https://nomadmarrakech.com/en/

If you are looking for a beautiful view while shopping at the Souk (Place Des Epices), then the Nomad is very conveniently located for you. The very modern chill out spot offers Moroccan fusion food that is balanced and healthy. It wasn't classic Moroccan enough for me, as I'm more into traditional cuisine. However, in order to address the topic of balanced nutrition, it is very well portioned. The ratio of healthy, complex carbohydrates, fats and protein is present here and is impressive.

My recommendation: The avocado cream and the quinoa salad tossed with cauliflower from the oven and sweet potatoes from the oven on a bed of couscous.

El Fenn

Address: Derb Moulay Abdullah Ben Hezzian, 2, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Website: https://el-fenn.com/

A beautiful boutique in the entrance area, a wonderfully exclusive hotel with a very tasty and interesting menu for the rooftop bar and a classic restaurant on the ground floor. All of this is crowned with an enchanting interior design that is really impressive. What was particularly nice for me was the direct view into the kitchen. In the restaurant you have the opportunity to take a look into the open kitchen and be impressed by the authentic craftsmanship of the chefs.

My recommendation: The candied orange chocolate with sunflower seed tuiles are an absolute highlight at the end.

Cafe des Epices

Address: Medina, Derb Rahba Lakdima, Marrakesh, Morocco
Website: https://cafedesepices.ma/

If you want to quickly eat something tasty and, above all, healthy during your visit to the souk, you can't go wrong with this cafe. Not only does it take you one step from the souk to sit directly in the cafe, you can get your order in minutes. Here I was able to satisfy my vegan heart with legume salads such as lentils and the like. Wonderfully hearty seasoning and some Zalouk with tagine vegetables and the day is saved. Here you can eat a wholesome, balanced diet so that you stay full for a long time.

My recommendation: the mint tea and the well-seasoned legume salad with Zalouk

Ayaso Medina

Address: Rahba Kedima no 168 Kedima Square, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
Website: https://ayasorestaurantbio.business.site/

If you're looking for organic and vegan dishes during your souk visit, then you've come to the right place in this small but nice cafe. From carrot cake to other creative vegan desserts, you'll find everything here. Plant-based milk (which is not a given everywhere) and also very tasty quinoa, couscous and rice dishes. Everything is easy to digest and, above all, organic quality.

My recommendation: beetroot chickpea quinoa salad and latte macchiato with plant-based milk

Berber Eyes

Address: 22 Rue Riad Laarous, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco

Who doesn't know these incredibly impressive pictures from social media? The hot mocha in the pot, which is moved in circular motions in the sand, suddenly starts to boil and is ready. Wow... I don't drink coffee regularly, but a mocha prepared in the traditional way is a must for me no matter where I go.

How does it all work: The sand is in a fire-resistant container that is placed on a fire pit. This means the heat is distributed evenly to the pot. It is a spectacle for the senses.

My recommendation: Mocha from the hot sand

From the Souk (Market)

Address: Place Des Epices

The market not only offers beautiful decorations, snacks and jewelry, but if you look closely there are also wonderfully useful tools from the Berber period. The lipstick, the perfume or the argan oil (with oud, jasmine or other essential oils) Rassoul Clay and much more that enrich your life.