Jemaa al-Fnaa

The famous gathering place in the walled Medina of Marrakech , Locals and visitors gather here each evening as the carnival of the Jeema el Fnaa unfolds around them. A must see spectacle for your Marrakech visit, and a short evening walk from all of our centrally located boutique riad Hotels.

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 […]

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 […]

Snack la place

Conveniently located just opposite the open air food stalls of Jemaa al-Fnaa is ‘Snack la place’, a cosy restaurant that you will discover to be humming with tourists and locals alike, night and day. Snack la place’s menu offers a delicious variety of flavoursome Moroccan dishes at very affordable prices. Try your taste buds by […]

Acrobats

As you unwind  in one of the cafe’s or restaurants that are lined along the edges Jemaa al-Fnaa, don’t be surprised if you catch a glimpse of a group of local acrobats who often descend towards the South-Eastern corner of the square.  The troupe are an illustrious bunch and after vaulting and somersaulting their way through the […]

Olive sellers- Jemaa al-Fnaa

During your visit to the red city of Marrakech, one thing you cannot afford to miss are the olive sellers of the central square. You will find them lined up in the Northern reaches of Jemaa al-Fnaa as the square and the famous Souk district connect with one another. It’s important to note that Morocco […]

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 […]

El Waha Cafe Restaurant

El Waha Café Restaurant is located on the eastern side of the central square of Marrakech (Jemaa al-Fnaa), a convenient 5 minute stroll from Riad Dar Habiba but only a 10-15 minute walk from any of our other Riad’s. El Waha offers a similar selection of traditional Moroccan dishes as other Café Restaurant’s in the area such […]

Argan musicians

As the sun set’s over the central square of Marrakech, performers, magicians and musicians descend on Jemaa al-Fnaa to perform for the thriving crowds that circulate within the area. One group of musicians who call themselves the ‘Argan group’ have become particularly popular in the square for the atmosphere they create with their array of […]

Taj'in Darna sunset

Taj’in Darna is a cafe/ restaurant located on the Eastern side of Marrakech’s central square. Serving a variety of traditional Moroccan dishes and refreshments it’s cosy rooftop terrace is the ideal space in which to stop and refresh your batteries after a day spent exploring the red city. Due to the stunning panoramic views of […]

Marrakech Lamps in Souks

Lamp’s have held a hugely high value in Moroccan architecture and design for hundreds of years and are used in all four corners of Morocco to decorate shops, restaurants and houses. Hand-crafted Moroccan lamps come in all shapes and sizes and often take a painstakingly long time to complete. In Jemaa al-Fnaa many lamp salesmen […]

Amal Saha band

You never truly quite know what to expect before venturing into Marrakech’s thriving central hub, Jemaa al-Fnaa. A five minute wander through this ancient space and you will witness acrobats, story tellers and magicians all competing to hold the gaze of the moving crowds. There is one act, however that is perhaps quite different from […]

Snack toubkal

The centre of Marrakech (Jemaa al-Fnaa) is not only the cultural hub of the red city, it’s also a thriving centre for cuisine. Here you will find restaurants, cafe’s and open air stalls to match any budget. Tucked away on the Eastern side of Djemaa al-Fnaa as you enter the square from Rue Riad Zitoun […]

Omar the Gnawa musician Marrakech riad

From the red city of Marrakech to the sleepy oasis of Essaouira, one thing you will not miss on your visit to Morocco is the intense presence of ‘Gnawa’ music. From single musicians to  whole troops practice this art form and you will instantly be able to recognise Gnawa in the streets by the distinctive […]

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 […]

Soufiane the Tankkacht

Marrakech is a ancient city which has acted as a hub of trade and commerce for nearly a thousand years. One of the most fascinating aspects of the cities rich and diverse history that is well worth your attention is it’s relationship with the arts and crafts. From leather, textiles and especially metal, craftsmen and […]

snake charmers

Snake charming is an ancient skill in Morocco and those who practice this art can always be found in Marrakech’s central square, Jemaa El Fnaa. Although there are a myriad of remarkable sights to be discovered in the centre of the city, the small communities of charmers will perhaps be those you hear, before you […]

Orange-Juice stall Marrakech

Situated in the middle of Marrakech, the central square (Jemaa El Fnaa) truly can be described as the beating heart of the city and a day spent wandering through the groups of performers, artists and musicians can indeed be thirsty work. So when you’re ready for refreshment there really is no other option than to […]

market food

Although there are a myriad of restaurants, cafes and food stalls to choose from in Marrakech, your visit won’t be complete without eating out in the central square of Jemaa El Fnaa at least once. As soon as you approach the food stands don’t be surprised to see waiters competing with one another to get […]

marrakech film festival

The Marrakech film festival takes place in late November / early December each year. There is often a strong indian flavour with tributes to Hindi cinema. There are usually free screening of films projected on large screens in the main square. The atmosphere in the Marrakech old town is truly magical during the film festival. […]

talaa

The Talaa Cafe is an inexpensive and very pleasant establishment near to the Marrakech Museum just opposite the entrance to the souk semarine. Talaa Cafe is conveniently located for our Marrakech Riad Cinnmaon. A good range of traditional Moroccan dishes, tagines, cous cous etc. There is a large and well stocked fridge full of cold […]

Mostafa Elbahja is the self appointed NUMBER ONE Babbouch (snails) vendor in the Jemma al Fnaa square, in this film he explains in comical fashion the health benefits of eating his snails marinaded in spices like the cinnamon, ginger, cumin, rosemary and aniseed. Orange juice sellers provide the backdrop as Mostafa tells us how his snails are good […]