The Marrakech Medina

At Marrakech Riad we pride ourselves on offering our guests as much support and information as they require to help them to plan their perfect stay in our beautiful Medina accommodation. The ancient walled city at the heart of Marrakech is a labyrinthine adventure, filled with the daily activities of the inhabitants of this marvellous place, some moments truly seem frozen in time! Here you will find details of some of the great places within those fabled walls of this celebrated red city.

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Among the traders in central medina district near the Sidi Abdelaziz shrine you will find English expat Jo from Essex and her wonderful boutique Rock the Casbah. Bags scarves bracelets postcards and a variety of distinctive souvenirs. Look out for the donkey!   This shop is now a lovely Malian Jewellery outlet.( Feb 2107)

abdou

Some of the most amusing and remarkable characters in the Medina are the Taureg traders who offer tinkets and jewelry as well as art and antiquities. One of our favourites is the charming Abdou (to the right) who will always offer a mint tea and smile, whether or not you buy from the shop on […]

gastromk

Undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Marrakech. Located inside English owned Riad mk in the L’Ksour district of the Medina was in the top five of tripadvisor for ten years.  A fusion of Moroccan and modern french cuisine, five course tasting menu at 650 Dirhams.   Chef Omar famously visited each table at the […]

dar_marjana

Classic family owned restaurant, serving a wonderful multi- course Moroccan banquet. Go early and go hungry. The ‘all inclusive’ format provides for an apperatif on the roof terrace then an evening of fabulous food and entertainment with wine included. You will love the gnawi musicians and belley dancers.  The tea ceremony at the end of […]

laslama

Panoramic restaurant located just off the main Jema al Fnaa square, one of the classic Marrakech  ‘dinner and show’ venues. Moroccan owned with a upscale traditional Moroccan menu, great atmosphere enlivened by a pianist and belly dancers.

pepenero

Fabulous, Italian owned and run and without doubt one of the top restaurants in Marrakech.  Set in a spacious and beautifully designed Riad courtyard, perfect for any special occasion. Gourmet food and outstanding service are the hallmarks of this restaurant.  Not surprisingly classic Italian dishes feature heavily on the menu, there are also Moroccan favourites […]

kosybar

Kosy Bar is a Marrakech institution.  Unrivalled views from the two stunning roof terraces which overlook a lively square.  Glance across to the Storks nesting on the walls of the nearby ruined palace.  This is probably the best place in Marrakech for a ‘sundowner’ and an eternal favourite for a drink or a meal. The […]

jamade marrakech

South od the square on the way to pepe nero restaurant jamade boutique  is a great place from where to buy nice jewelry, handbags and many other small items, most of which would fit your hand luggage. Although it has  an European look, this cute little shop still have that Moroccan feel to it…but you […]

Mustapha_blaoui

Mostapha blaoui owns and runs a traditional bazaar located behind an unmarked door in the dar el basha area few steps from the charity project henna cafe. Here you can buy carpets, lamps, leather and art items, mostly manufactured within the local area. It is a great place especially if you are an inexperienced haggler […]

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Several small vehicles lined up along the corners of the square each evening, they present a myriad of forms of traditional cakes and Moroccan sweets both home-made and the product of specialist bakeries. Many of these cakes are holidays specialities and all are best accompanied by tea.  They contain sugars, spices, honey, chocolate, Sugar, Fruit […]

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With so many beautiful artifacts to see, the Dar Si Said Museum is maybe worth the detour. Less well laid out than the nearby Tiskiwin museum, the displays comprise Carpets, jewellery, daggars, ottomans, chests, leather crafts, objects in beaten copper, weapons and Berber jewellery. The painted wood ceilings, mosaic-covered walls and wooden doors are particularly […]

Hamza the street performer

If you stroll through the winding streets nearby Rue Riad Zitoun el Kdim, you may be lucky enough to spot Hamza. Hamza is a street cleaner by his daily trade, however he also has a burning passion for the dance moves inspired by Charlie Chaplin! He’s somewhat of a celebrity among the locals in this sleepy […]

Cafe de France

Conveniently located on the eastern side of Jemaa al-Fnaa you will discover Café du France. Unlike the quaint café’s that you will find are scattered throughout the Medina, Café du France is a spacious, multiple floored café-restaurant that is seeped in character and history. Café de France bears many similarities to Le Grand Balcon du Café Glacier, a likewise […]

Mint sellers of the Medina

Scattered throughout the Medina you will see the many mint salesmen going about their daily trade. Mint is an absolutely key staple in Moroccan society, used in marinades for a variety of dishes and of course in the traditional mint tea. And the central hub of the red city is of course no exception to […]

Grand Balcon Sign

Perched on the southern corner of Jemaa al-Fnaa, just off Rue Riad Zitoun Kdim you will find Le Grand Balcon du Café Glacier. Le Grand Balcon du Café Glacier is one of two café-restaurants that due to their larger than average size have a distinct prominence within the central square of the red city. No matter […]

Poste Maroc

On the south-western side of the central square of Jemaa al-Fnaa you will discover a large post office (Poste Maroc). Sending a postcard or letter is usually cheap, but in Morocco it is especially so. For less than 10 Dirham (around 70p) you can send a postcard to anywhere in Europe. The yellow post boxes […]

Dates and dried fruit in Marrakech

Dried Moroccan fruits and dates in particular are not only key staples in Moroccan cuisine, they have a rich cultural and historical significance that goes back many thousands of years. As early as 6,000 BC there is evidence to suggest that the date palm was cultivated and harvested in North Africa and the Middle East […]

Evil eye

A late night stroll through Marrakech’s central square, Jemaa al-Fnaa will lead you to encounter all kinds of the weird and the wonderful. However particularly towards the Eastern side of Jemaa al-Fnaa you will discover many Marrakshi locals selling unusual trinkets. Unlike the souvenirs you will find in the nearby postcard shops, for a few […]

Aqua Italian Restaurant

On the Eastern side of Jemaa al-Fnaa you will find Aqua, a quaint Italian pizzeria in the heart of the Medina. Depending on the length of your stay in the red city of Marrakech, you might discover that the intensely flavourful local tajine’s leave you longing for the more familiar tastes of home. If this […]

7saints

The 7 Saints is a cosy Café-Restaurant in the southern reaches of the central square of Marrakech, Jemaa al-Fnaa. At the 7 Saints you will be able to find traditional Moroccan cuisine as well as good variety of European dishes such as panini’s and pizzas. It’s easy to glance over the name, ‘7 Saints’ and not […]

Souks Marrakech

If you speak to anyone who has visited Marrakech, you can be sure that they will mention the red city’s famous Souk District. Located in the very heart of the Medina, just north of Jemaa al-Fnaa and a five minute stroll from Riad Spice, Cinnamon, Papillon and Riad Star. The souks of Marrakech are the largest you […]

Almoravid Koubba

The Almoravid Koubba is the oldest building in Marrakech, constructed in 1117 it’s the only remaining example of architecture from the Almoravid Berber dynasty of which remains in the red city. In times long gone past the space that the Koubba occupies was used for washing before prayer. At the time a then revolutionary system […]

Horse drawn carriages: Calèches in Marrakech

As you stroll through the winding alleys of the Marrakech Medina you will see that the pathways are shared by pedestrians, mopeds, donkey-drawn carts and the Calèche. Calèches are horse-drawn carriages of which can hold four to five people. Moroccans have been using Calèches as a means of quickly traversing the narrow streets of the red city […]

Music sellers, CD, Jemaa al-Fnaa, Marrakech

During your visit to Morocco you will discover Marrakech’s central square (Jemaa al-Fnaa) to be a sensory overload of sight, taste and sound whether you visit at night or at day. From the stalls selling fresh orange juice to the open air cooking stands that appear once the sun begins to set over the red […]

Snail stall

Moroccan snails are a street-stall staple and many people will tell you that the perfect place to try this delicacy is in Jemaa al-Fnaa, the center of Marrakech and the heart of the red city.  Served in a peppery broth called ‘babbouche’, the white snails of Morocco must be cooked slowly over a low heat […]

cafe arabe bar marrakech

Just a five minute stroll from Riad Papillon, Riad Cinnamon and Riad Star is the Cafe Arabe. Nicely situated in a sleepy neighborhood just north of the renowned souk district, Cafe Arabe offers traditional Moroccan cuisine in a modern and sophisticated environment. The atmosphere inside the cafe/ restaurant is relaxed and welcoming and an hour spent here […]

Bahia Palace

Located in the Mellah district of the Marrakech Medina along Rue Bahia Bab Mellah is Bahia Palace (Palais de la Bahia), just south of the cities central square and a five minute stroll from the Riad Dar Habiba. The Bahia Palace and the stunning sets of tranquil gardens enclosed behind its walls are within easy […]