Moments in Marrakech: My 6 favourite, Terrace-Top Restaurants
I want to share with you my 6 favourite terrace-top restaurants in Marrakech, that are all extremely budget friendly, and tres boho-chic!
Ahhh Marrakech, I still feel the holiday blues… There’s no denying that Marrakech is a very exciting place to visit for those who fancy a little bit of madness & adventure. The colours, the sounds, the smells, the culture, are all factors in to what makes it so darn fantastic. I’m still dreaming of all the gorgeous tiled buildings, the colourful Souks and the market sounds at Jemaa El-Fnaa.
Throughout all the busy hustle and bustle, it’s easy to get lost in the Medina and wander the day away. I absolutely loved being in the thick of the crowd and getting stuck (literally) in to the depths of the Souks. But if there’s one thing we did very much appreciate, was being able to come away from the busyness and escape to a calm, terrace-top restaurant in the evenings…
I absolutely love the fact that there are two layers to Marrakech. Below you have the busy markets & Souks, where you will quite likely have to scramble your way through a mass of people whilst concentrating on not getting run over by a motorbike (or donkey!). But above in all of the restaurants and Riad terraces, you have a place to overlook the streets from afar which is somewhat mesmerising. If you’re a people watcher – then you’re going to love it!
Best terrace-top restaurants that are budget friendly…
Of course, I had conjured up a list of places I’d spotted on Instagram that I was already very keen to visit, but it shocked me that some of these places were particularly pricey. On the first evening, we lured ourselves in to a gorgeous, lantern-lit terrace restaurant which, don’t get me wrong was delicious, but came with quite a hefty bill. Being there for 9 days, we agreed that we needed to make smarter food choices if we wanted to stick within our spending budget – and hey let’s face it – I had a LOT of shopping to budget for too…
From then on, we made it our mission to find more traditional style Moroccan restaurants that still gave the all-important atmospheric experience, but also didn’t break the bank or have us worrying about how many Dirhams we had left to spend. I am a total sucker for the true bohemian feel; lanterns, candles, rugs, cushions & rattan chairs – So I chose wisely to ensure we could still enjoy the true Moroccan vibe. Now I’ve chosen my favourite 6 restaurants, and I want to share them with you in hope that it helps you make the same budget-friendly decisions that we did…
My 6 favourite terrace-top restarants…
LE JARDIN
Instagram – @lejardinmarrakech
Price: Bread, olives, 2 x mains, 2 x juices. Approx £30.
Hidden in the maze of the Medina, with a long corridor entrance covered in miniature mirrors, is the stunning Le Jardin. For anyone who loves the colour green, this place will feel like heaven in all of it’s botanical beauty. Don’t be fooled by the busy streets that surrounds this haven because once you step inside you’ll be lavished with a sense of peace and tranquility – along with the gorgeous scent of fleur-de-orange to tickle the nose buds. The decor is exquisite, covered in bottle green zellige tiles, with rattan chairs and an abundance of plants… If you’re an avid follower of mine, then you’ll know that I was in my element here, constantly swooning over the interiors…
The restaurant itself was broken down in to different sections; there was the terrace top, the courtyard, hide away tables in the arches surrounding the courtyard and shop for those who fancy some bespoke(and slightly expensive) retail therapy. I couldn’t stop looking at the lovely little library display created along the courtyard walls, and a rustic little ‘green grocer’ display near the entrance of the restaurant…
If you’re feeling a little peckish or just need a quick pit-stop, then Le Jardin is a must-see destination for you. I highly recommend one of their super-boost smoothies, the perfect pick-me-up for those who are feeling a little wilted from the Moroccan sunshine!
2. ATAY CAFE
Instagram – @atay_cafe
Price: Bread, olives, 2 x mains, 2 x orange juices Approx £22.
If you’re a boho-hippy at heart, then you definitely won’t feel out of place here… Covered in lanterns, rattan chairs, hand-woven cushions and tasseled placemats, Atay Cafe is a true hidden gem in the centre of the Medina. As gorgeous as the sheltered entrance is with colourful woven rugs and mix-matched furniture, REMEMBER, there is always a staircase leading to a terrace (well, 95% of the time at least)…
I highly recommend you visit during sunset as the view over the rooftops were breathtaking. Atay Cafe has a particularly high terrace, which means it has a better view!
Unfortunately Tom was feeling a little under the weather on this particular evening, so he opted for the safe option of a not-so-spicy spaghetti bolognese (that he actually still couldn’t stomach to eat bless him). I however very much enjoyed their Kefta tagine with couscous and an assortment of traditional Moroccan dips – It was delicious to say the least! Along with that, we both enjoyed a freshly squeezed orange juice, and a view of the sunset over the busy streets of the Medina.
3. KAFE MERSTAN
Instagram – @kafe_merstan
Price: Bread, olives, 2 x mains, 2 x juices. Approx £20.
As we sat in our lovely Riad pondering where to enjoy our next meal, I did a little research on smaller restaurants that weren’t so well known to tourists. Let’s just say I hit the jackpot with this one! Even walking up the stairs was an experience as we were surrounded by hanging wall decorations, art work and rugs – trying not to hit our heads on something. Once we reached the top, the terrace was divided in to cosy little sections. I literally let out a little squawk when I spotted this colourful set up. In true boho-hippy style, I could feel my inner goddess wanting to do a little dance (but I resisted, and saved everyone the embarrassment…).
We started our dining experience with a simple juice drink for the both of us, overlooking and listening to the busy Medina sounds below. I enjoyed a nice minted tea juice which came in a really cute bottle (* takes photo for insta-stories *). To begin with, there was very few people there so we could enjoy a peaceful experience to ourselves – but then, we heard a MEOW. We were joined by the restaurants furry resident, who helped us polish off our very tasty spiced chicken skewers… Every cat likes chicken right? And I’m presuming Moroccan cats like it spiced?
So if you’re looking for an inexpensive place to dine, with lovely food and a furry friend to keep you company – Kafe Merstan is the place!
4. KASBAH CAFE
Instagram – @kasbahcafe.kech
Price: Bread, olives, 1 x chicken skewers, 2 x juices. Approx £18.
Located slightly more south of the Medina, Kasbah Cafe is the perfect location if you’re spending a day visiting La Bahia Palace or the Saadian Tombs. Covered in a layer of round, woven parasols and lightly spritzed with cold water from sprinklers, it was a perfect place to visit on a hot day.
Tom ordered a chicken skewer portion, and I just stuck with some bread and olives as I wasn’t feeling overly peckish (please note the price above is only 1 main) – but it was indeed delicious and a much needed pit-stop. The lemon & mint juice is a must if you’re in need of something extra refreshing!
5. LE NOMAD
Instagram – @nomadmarrakech
Price: Bread, olives, 2 x mains, 2 x juices. Approx £32.
Why yes of course, the Instagram famous Nomad has comfortably made it in to my top 6. I was a little apprehensive about how expensive it was going to be, especially after we had to book a table and wait an hour (and that was at lunch time!), but I couldn’t possibly go to Marrakech without visiting this must-go restaurant… And it certainly didn’t disappoint!
It was actually quite refreshing, looking at a menu and seeing a wide variety of food options that still had a Moroccan touch, yet wasn’t all about the tagines. As much as I love a tagine, by day 8 I was ready for something different.
I enjoyed an avocado, barley & tzatziki salad, whilst Tom enjoyed a minted burger with paprika spiced potatoes – both of us were thoroughly enjoying our meals and realised just how hungry we were once our plates were polished within 10 minutes.
Not only was the food fantastic, but the view was phenomenal too. With an extra high terrace overlooking the market square, it was impossible not to get up and take in the view. Again, for the people watchers out there – you will love it! I especially loved seeing all of the colourful rugs hanging from the rooftops…
Nomad is definitely a place to go if you fancy something a little bit different on the menu, and want a great view. I genuinely recommend visiting here during the day as it was really nice being able to see the busy market working in daylight.
6. SOUK KAFE
Instagram – @soukkafe
Price: Bread, olives, 2 x mains, 2 x juices. Approx £22.
Last but not least we have the colourful Souk Kafe buried in the centre of the Medina. Although we didn’t have any food here, I’ve managed to scout a menu online to give you a rough price guide (above). Souk Kafe made it to my top 6 because it was extremely calm and relaxing, and the staff were extra helpful making us a juice drink that wasn’t specifically on the menu – and let’s just say it was probably the best lemon & mint juice of the holiday!
Once again we got to experience a comfortable, boho vibe in a place that certainly doesn’t go over budget… They too had many layers to their restaurant – so don’t be fooled in to thinking there isn’t a terrace! We buried ourselves in the deep seats and cosy cushions for nearly an hour to regain our energy levels before heading back out to the Souks.
So there we have my 6 favourite restaurant locations in Marrakech… We managed to visit so many places in the time we were there, so below I’ve listed some other treasures we found just incase you want to take a peek…
Other Suggestions
Cafe des Épices
Please believe me when I say that this was very close to my top 6! We visited Cafe des Épices 3 times, and it was lovely. The only downfall was that we NEVER got a table upstairs on the terrace because it was so busy. I suggest visiting between meal times for the best experience… We can highly recommend their spiced chicken sandwich, and the lemon juice was divine. Along with that they offer Nespresso (yes!) so you can enjoy a proper coffee which is otherwise quite hard to come by. Price for 2 x espresso, 2 x juices, 2 x sandwiches Approx: £20.
Bazaar Cafe
Another place we stopped off for a quick rest and light bite. We enjoyed a sandwich together and a small beer (yes, they sell beer!). Bazaar cafe was lovely, but it didn’t savour as much of the cosy, bohemian feel as a lot of other places did – therefore not in my top 6, but definitely still a recommendation. Price for 2 x waters, 2 x small beers, 1 x sandwich Approx: £20.
Terrasse des Épices
This was the place I mentioned above that we went to on our first night. The food was delicious, but the price was not! Don’t get me wrong, the experience really was lovely – but we were overshadowed with doubt of how much we’d spent on our first night away. Along with that, we were surrounded by tourists and struggled to get a table, so it almost felt like it had lost it’s Moroccan charm. Price for bread, olives, 2 main meals, and two drinks Approx :£50.
Le Foundouk
We visited Le Foundouk as a recommendation by our Riad owner, and again the food was delicious, but the price not so much! Even just typing this I feel like a tight-ass, but when you’re on holiday, you want to experience as much as possible at an affordable price. I didn’t feel like Foundouk gave us any more pleasure or excitement than those listed in my top 6… Therefore, coming in at almost double the price it has landed itself in this area of my post! Price for bread, olives, 2 main meals and 2 glasses of wine Approx: £45.
To conclude this post, I want to leave with you my 5 top-tips for eating out in Marrakech. As the culture is very different, there may be some things that catch you by surprise… That’s why I think it will benefit you and be very useful to know the following…
1.Always check if there’s a terrace.
This may sound silly, but not always will you be greeted when you first arrive to a restaurant, normally because all the main action is taking place upstairs! There was a couple of times when we showed up feeling like we were almost being sneaky going up the stairs as though going in an out-of-bounds area… but alas, we always ended up approaching a nice terrace with a warm welcome. There will be a lot of windy, rickety, bendy staircases to test your thighs – but remember that the stairs are totally worth the view!
2. Don’t turn down the bread & olives.
It’s FREE! Yep, that’s right! If you’re a Brit like me, then you’re probably just as shocked as I was. When arriving at any restaurant you will be given bread and olives as a complimentary taster, purely because it’s a nice thing that they do!
3. Purchase your alcohol in Gueliz.
I’m sure you may have heard by now that alcohol is very hard to come by in the Medina of Marrakech, and if you are lucky to find somewhere that sells it, it won’t come at a cheap price… Start off your holiday by taking a 20 minute walk to the new town, Gueliz. Here you will find plenty of supermarkets that sell beer, wine & spirits. Although Muslims are forbidden to buy & drink alcohol, Morocco is liberal and not dry. If you are staying in a Riad, they will keep your alcohol chilled for you, and even bring it to you upon request – but are not allowed to purchase it for you in advance…
4. How much to tip?.
Anything between 5 – 10% is an appropriate tip in restaurants. As expected, not tipping would suggest you had a poor experience and may disgruntle/upset the waiters.
5. Quick Calculator.
Not fast at calculating the UK exchange rate? Here’s a quick how-to (Oct 2018 exchange rate approx 11.9)… Just grab your phone, open the calculator and calculate the following: (total amount of bill) x 0.8 – then divide that answer by 10 = cost in pounds.
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