LOVE AT FIRST BITE
Wondering where to eat in Morocco? Morocco is a palace of taste, each way you turn, there are spices and herbs intense with flavour. Rooftop cafés sit atop many buildings, and you can find all over the city, small places where tea is served all day. So if you’re off to Marrakech for a magical weekend getaway, here are our a few of our favourite spots to grab a bite.
NOMAD
In the heart of the bustling souk, Nomad silently whirrs away whisking delicious modern Moroccan dishes out of their kitchen. This restaurant sits above a contemporary concept store, Chabi Chic, a delightful shop with fun, Moroccan themed items such as ceramics, cards and tea towels. On the same level as Chabi Chic, the Nomad open plan kitchen bustles away, a hub of activity as steam rises with hints of Ginger and Cumin. Once you have taken in the wonderful smells and worked up a suitable appetite, then head up the narrow staircase and welcome yourself to Nomad.
Nomad is a vibrant restaurant with low hanging modern lights, deep accents of yellow, large angled mirrors and a cool contemporary bar space. Chatter fills the air as guests move in the space, passing drinks and kissing the air as meals arrive at tables. Surfaces are decorated with flowers and the seats are arranged with colourful woven pillows, adding a colourful and ethnic twist on this modern kitchen house.
Nomad has a variety of seating options; at the bar, inside, on the first outdoor terrace, and the rooftop. The outdoor seating fills up quickly so be sure to book a reservation and bag yourself the best seat in the house. The Menu at Nomad pulls the traditional flavours of Morocco and combines them with a modern, hip attitude. We’d recommend the Lamb Burger, which is effortlessly filled with Moroccan spices, just hinting at some heat which runs through crispy potatoes and pairs well with the refreshing rocket salad. The views from the terraces are those of the souk below, blush coloured and dusty from the evening sun. The views run for miles, to distant palm trees and beyond.
Nomad is the ideal place to settle in for true Moroccan taste, luxurious yet authentic. Cool yet traditional. This is a restaurant with an injection of attitude and style, and a place not to miss.
LE JARDIN
If you’re looking for somewhere a little less hip and a little more serene, you are going to want to go to Le Jardin, again, nestled deep in the maze of the souk, Le Jardin is an emerald treasure. Signposts to this haven are posted throughout the souk, so like following the yellow brick road, you will eventually find yourself at its secluded tiny black door, leading you to an oasis of nature.
Pass through the small door, and down a corridor of mirrors, Le Jardin opens up into a glistening courtyard, refreshingly bright and positively humming with nature. Colourful canaries swing beneath the trees singing their songs, as French music whistles above, immersing guests in a tropical fever of tranquillity. Canvas umbrellas stand tall beside cast iron tables, bamboo shoots up from the earth, concealing small seating areas so guests can chatter away in peace over a cup of mint tea.
Although Le Jardin is the ideal lunch setting, in the evening, it comes alive with lanterns and string lights. On the back and right-hand side walls of this courtyard, seating alcoves are carved out and filled with plush colourful sofas underneath glistening mirrors, the perfect spot for an evening drink.
Light trickles down into Le Jardin, dappling the green tiled floor with dancing shadows, so beautifully quiet you can hardly believe you are in the middle of the souk. A garden haven, so well balanced, so perfectly elegant. Ideal for a light lunch and a place to tuck away with a book as you nibble at fresh fruit.
If nature is what calls your soul, pop over to Le Jardin, and we promise you will not be disappointed.
MAX AND JAN
Effortlessly cool concept boutique Max & Jan is one of our most treasured spots in Marrakech. It is supremely cool and a treasure trove of innovative designs from garments, ceramics, skincare, candles and home decor. You cannot step into this funky world without wanting to buy everything in sight, so perhaps wise to pop to a cash point beforehand. One can spend hours wandering this store, perusing tables to ceramics, trying on luxuriously soft cotton pyjamas and watching in-store the way in which their expensive rugs are hand woven. We spent more time than we planned here and worked up quite an appetite, so it was a heavenly sign to see that Max & Jan have their own soul food restaurant on their eclectic rooftop.
Max & Jan injects a youthful playfulness to the souks, their rainbow coloured tiles sprawling their floors and funky techno music energising the space. The rooftop is a bohemian refuge, where straw string lights criss-cross and straw table umbrellas shade colourful tables. Fabric rugs are thrown over the walls and over seats, creating a laid-back, authentic vibe. Prints, patterns and colours lace this restaurant, salivating our senses from sight to sound.
The perfect place to enjoy some Moroccan soul food with a sweet cocktail.
With Love,
