The Marrakech restaurant scene offers such a vibrant blend of old and new – traditional cuisine meets chic eats, fun vibes, vegan nibbles and plenty of Insta-worthy photo opps!
I found a handful of new, contemporary places that did a great job at maintaining the baseline Moroccan dishes and flavors with a contemporary, healthy twist. While traditional Moroccan cuisine can be very meat heavy (tangines non-stop!), around Marrakech, there are a TON of new restaurants that are vegan-focused. From Riads and other mom and pop locations, you’ll want to just spend the day at these cute eateries and get lost in their magic. This list recaps some of my favorite Marrakech restaurants I got to check out over my 5 day visit that offer something a little extra special.
Reservations are advised but I never had an issue getting a table, even when I moved around my reservation multiple times (oops). If you’re seeking a rooftop table for example, just ask and they should be able to accommodate for best seat in the house!
Riad Jardin Secret
While this post is about food – this Riad is not only for dining; it also offers accommodation. I loved everything about this venue. It’s chic 70’s / Rock n Roll vibe – vintage motorcycles parked at the entrance, Ramones poster artwork on the walls, to peacock feathers decorating random vases. They also have a cute shop with some really great photography for sale.
- A 3 course prix fix vegan menu is offered for lunch, and it is so delicious! All produce is sourced locally from the Atlas Mountain region and apparently not many other venues go to the trouble to ensure that the ingredients they are using are as fresh as can be.
- I had a moroccan couscous salad with tiny pieces of dates which gave it the nicest, subtle sweetness, a eggplant ‘parmigiano’, and beautiful vegetable main with carrots that were the color of the rainbow. To top off, an almond-based lime tart which ate on the terrace overlooking the city of Marrakech.
- No alcohol is served here, but go for the Virgin Mojito – it’s absolutely delicious and better than most mojitos I’ve had (and I’ve had my fair share).
- All food is made to order, so it’s not the quickest service, but their rooftop is super cute and you’ll want to hangout a while 😉
Nomad
Nomad has an Ibiza meets Williamsburg vibe. The food is fresh and vegetable forward, making it one of the best places for a rooftop lunch. The views are great. The music and staff are on point. The only thing missing is the alcohol (they lost their liquor license), so enjoy the break from boozing.
The lamb burger looked amazing though we had been eating so much meat we went for the fishballs (a little bland) but the dessert and zucchini fritters with feta app was amazing, as well as the green beans. Don’t miss their shop on the way out, the have a great selection of home-ware goods that are jazzed up versions of what you’ll find on the streets.
El Fenn
Arguably my favorite venue, dinner or lunch here is in a gorgeous rooftop setting. Go for a hammam with massage, then crawl up to the roof for an aperitif before sitting down for dinner (also on the rooftop). Trust me, after a long day exploring the city, to have someone wash you down, then massage you, is exactly what the doctor ordered.
The dinner menu is prix-fix, or a la carte. For a crab-avocado app, full chicken marinated in a local beer (DELISH), a veggie soup, and two desserts (get the red berries!), my friend and I paid about $45 a head with a bottle of wine also included. So, an excellent deal in a beautiful setting, and a reservation allows you the access to this fabulous not-to-miss venue.
Le Familie
If I could declare Marrakech have the ultimate girls’ lunch outpost, this would be it. Like most places, it sits tucked away the madness, and is a little cute oasis. There’s a communal table in the back, roses everywhere, and a small yet very satisfactory menu. I shared a starter, a main, and a dessert with a friend and it was perfect. The menu changes daily but think tasty vegan bites like a healthy spinach dip with freshly baked bread, peanut dressed couscous salad with eggplant and pies like a peach-apricot crumble with ginger – SO YUM. No alcohol is served here, but go for the contrary: a detox water full of cucumber, mint, and lime.
La Salama
Right off the main square with all the hectic yet charming action, you cant beat this location. Great for brunch mimosas upstairs, and at night there is also a belly-dancer show which sometimes, can get ‘interactive’. Its chic greenhouse vibe had me at hello, as well as the fact that you can sip some vino any time of the day (which is rare in Morocco).
Hotel Royal Mansour
This is where you go for high tea (and maybe a spa session after if you’re willing to splurge). High tea costs about $30 and requires a reservation, and is available from 3:30 – 7pm. You’ll be presented with so many treats you will feel like a kid in a candy store – a really, really expensive one. Your best option is to choose a variety from the 3 tea options (Moroccan vs English for example) which includes nibbles and the tea.
Don’t miss their garden bar nestle between the pool and spa. Their cocktail menu is super well-done I even had a tough time choosing a drink, but I went with a grey wine spritzer with touch of grapefruit juice and saffron simple syrup, and ended up having two. When in Morocco…
Amal Women’s Center – Volunteering Opportunity
One of my favorite things to do when I visit a place is to make some time to volunteer for a cause I believe in. The Amal Women’s Center is a FABULOUS place to learn how to cook and give back.
Nestled about 20 minutes outside the city of Marrakech, Amal sits in a wealthier neighborhood (which is a bonus to checkout) and is such a bright and cheery place. You have the option to choose what type of tangine or couscous you’d like to make (chicken, lamb, veggie etc.) and the head chef walks you through exactly how to prepare it.
Lessons are in English, and as your meals cook the center holds a tea-time where you have the chance to learn more about Moroccan culture in a really beautiful setting with beautiful people. It’s a feel good culinary experience that’s hard to beat. And there are cute cats, peacocks and turtles wandering around the residence’s garden!
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africa, foodandwine, morocco, organic, restaurants, vegan