Marrakech is a sublime destination that is very easy to get to from all over Europe. The fourth largest city in Morocco – the North African nation famed for handcrafted pottery, Berber rugs, and leather goods – Marrakech has a whole host of activities to offer visitors. We’ve put together the best places to see, eat, and shop in Marrakech, to help you plan your next trip.
Top Things to See & Do in Marrakech
Tom Stuart Smith’s serenely beautiful Le Jardin Secret [Secret Garden] is tucked away in the Medina, hidden behind a small doorway. You’ll find the bejmat green-tiled courtyard of this former 16th-century palace that leads you into the truly magical gardens.
Musée Yves Saint Laurent and Jardin Majorelle celebrate the couturier’s four decades of fashion design and his love of the city he made his second home.
The brick pattern on the exterior of the building takes inspiration from threads of fabric, and its terracotta bricks were fashioned from Moroccan earth.
*Phaidon‘s new book 2022, is a 1423-day-long narrative, chronicling the time it took French architecture firm Studio Ko to design, build and open the museum to the public in 2017, that traces the incredible artistic process that enabled a rough, candid sketch to metamorphose like a chrysalis into such a beautiful building, and a gorgeous homage to creativity.
The Museum of African Contemporary Art [MACAAL] is a stunning space featuring modern works by some of Africa’s most exciting artists. There’s also a great store selling products from local designers.
Artist André Heller’s botanical garden is a theatrical and magical space. Shady pathways wind between precious trees and shrubs, flowers and fragrances, pavilions and sculptures. Cafe Paul Bowes rooftop cafe with a contemporary vibe is a great place to sit with fabulous views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and the 4,167-meter high Jbel Toubkal.
The Maison de la Photographie. The museum has a private collection of 8000 photographs of Morocco covering the period 1870 to 1950. Powerful, stunning and exciting images in a charming spot set in an old riad with a tea terrace on the roof.
Surround yourself in Moroccan kitsch at the insanely eclectic and exciting Riad Yima, the pop-art gallery owned by the celebrated Moroccan pop artist Hassan Hajjij.
Settle down on a pouffe or bench covered with repurposed printed tarpaulin, designed of course by Hassan, with a pot of mint tea in the courtyard, the lounge, or the terrace, and feast your eyes on the colourful pop art treasures. From witty photos of Arab life to recycled furniture and bags. Lanterns made from recovered metal food cans, dress and slippers cut from flour sacks, and bucket seats are all extraordinary.
Dining Around Marrakech
There are many delightful places to dine if you can steal yourself away from your villa or hotel. Le Petit Cornichon, Plus61, and Le Palace Marrakech are three excellent starting points.
Dar Yacout is also a landmark of Marrakesh, created around thirty years ago in the medina. The decor is enchanting with its private rooms and breath-taking panoramic view from the terrace overlooking the medina and the Koutoubia. Highly traditional Moroccan gastronomic cuisine, and lots of it, so go hungry.
Venessa Branson’s [sister of Richard] long famed El Fenn has the coolest rooftop, and a minute away, Kabana—is another smaller but equally cool and cosmopolitan oasis in the heart of the medina with an open and indoor space, and a magnificent view of the Koutoubia, great cocktails, Mediterranean cuisine as well as a delicious sushi bar.
Soak in Marrakech Medina life from above at Nomad’s roof terrace. A great place for people watching while enjoying modern versions of favorite Moroccan dishes, [no alcohol]. The menu is full of vegan and vegetarian options: go for mezze followed by cauliflower roasted in ras-el-hanout, harissa and turmeric.
Try the taste sensation amlou [argan oil, and almond butter, the North African equivalent of peanut butter] and verbena ice cream, and amlou sorbet, a real Moroccan treat! or the Saffron scented Moroccan Date cake.
A charming find is the Bigua Cafe Loshermo with terraces overlooking the Spice Market.
And Terrace Des Espices is another great rooftop space.
The grand Café de la Poste in Guéliz this former post house from the 1920s has been cleverly designed by KO Studios. Food is French bistronomy with Moroccan touches.The honey and thyme roasted camembert puff pastry, snails in butter or the beef Kefta tagine remain a must.
Where to Shop in Marrakech
The El Fenn boutique is a beautifully curated space for the best in everything from fashion to homeware; check out the Bouchra Boudoua Ceramics and the vintage YSL.
Head to Soufiane Zarib for the most sublime rugs. Our personal favourites are the New Beni Ouraine.
36 Mouassine Concept Store is a lovely Médina building with cute finds, a ground floor cafe, and a rooftop cocktail bar.
Yannass Concept Store for bold ceramics.
Stella Cadente (meaning “a shooting star” in Italian) stands for Stanislassia Klein, a multi-disciplinary creative designer of fashion, interior, jewellery, cosmetics, and illustration.
Marrakshi Life artisans craft exclusive hand-woven fabrics, focusing on zero waste and sustainable practices. Divine kaftans with a fresh minimalist contemporary twist.
Don’t miss Max & Jan concept store, created by Belgian/Swiss design duo Jan Pauwels and Maximilian Scharl located in Sidi Abdelaziz, a neighborhood in full development, with other designer shops moving in. Max & Jan is part of an exciting new breed of design forward shops in Marrakech.
The large entrance has a camel mural and inside there’s a warren of rooms filled high-end fashion labels and cool home accessories. Their own brand collections are designed and produced locally in Sidi Ghanem. Max & Jan have a global edge, but it’s firmly rooted in Morocco, Max was born here, and Jan has lived in Morocco for 15 years.
Expect quirky jewellery, colour-pop ceramics, posters and cheeky slogan T-shirts, while the other features jazzy caftans, slouchy active-wear and outrageously embellished jackets. We could and did spend hours in the store, and cant wait to revisit. We love the rooftop restaurant Soulfood by Max & Jan for a cooling mint tea.
Marie Bastide Studio https://mariebastidestudio.com/en/ Marie Bastide is a French architect who moved to Marrakech five years ago. Located in Gueliz, Marie Bastide Studio brings together complementary disciplines. Among them, architecture, photography, and graphics in all its forms. Her studio and shop is in Guerliz.
Chabi Chic for Lifestyle, tableware, home decoration, interior scents and Jewellery.
V.Barkowski is home to the Valerie Barkowski linen collection and other unique pieces. A few minutes away from Dar Kawa, where you can stay for a full on V.Barkowski experience.
LRNCE. The studio of Belgian artist and designer Laurence Leenaert is inspired by the rituals of African tribes, palm trees and oversized djellabas Laurence has collaborated with several Moroccan artisans and has painted her fluid, colourful designs across ceramics, carpets and fashion pieces, Miró-esque rugs, contemporary ceramics, on-trend fringed sandals, super-soft leather satchels and lemon-wood furniture with a minimal, modernist aesthetic developing a distinctive style that is instantly recognisable. A beautiful artisanal Moroccan brand with ceramics and textiles.
The wackily eccentric creations from Amine Bendriouich in the courtyard of Le Jardin. The shop sign reads “Couture and Bullshit”, and his creations are indeed very avant garde!
Much of what he wears and designs disregards gender—it might be considered accidentally unisex. Bendriouich creates for the world, for free-spirited people who see the world as one, and admits his clothes-for-all design approach is fueled by a desire to want to wear everything he makes—skirts included—rather than marketing. His successful career started when by making clothes to attract girls. Clients include Madonna, Alicia Keys, Will Smith.
Norya aryoN’s. Algerian-French designer Norya aryoN’s flowing abayas (traditional long dresses) and re-imagined kaftans come in fabulous patterns and colours.
The new and very smart M Avenue Marrakech, is a high end shoppers paradise, with Moroccan fashion.
Marrakech’s Coolest Neighbourhoods
Gueliz Neighbourhood
The wide, French-era streets of Marrakech’s new town, the Gueliz neighbourhood, is home to cool Moroccan and European restaurants, cabarets and chic bars, and cutting-edge art galleries. Le Jardin Majorelle, Musee Yves Saint Laurent, and just across the road, 33 Rue Majorelle is a modern concept store.
Discover the contemporary, cosmopolitan, modern, arty and fashionable side of Marrakech when visiting the French ‘Guéliz’ neighbourhood’s most beautiful areas, home to the the iconic Majorelle Garden, the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum.
Sidi Ghanem
Quartier Industriel Sidi Ghanem is a developing shopping hub and artisan enclave on the edge of town, filled with local designers’ workshops and hip shops selling their products.
Laid-back cafes are scattered around the area, along with French restaurants and Moroccan kebab eateries.
Riad Laarous
Riad Laarous is a quieter more atmospheric place with lots of cats and children, and fewer tourists where locals bring their flat loaves to be baked in the ancient communal oven where a man stokes the furnace with bellows.
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THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL MARRAKECH
An internationally recognised interior architect and landscape designer, she has worked on numerous projects around the world. An eye for detail and love of all things art, architecture, travel and design have led to a nomadic lifestyle resulting in a greater focus on travel and lifestyle feature writing. She is a contributor for a range of international print publications. Living between Hong Kong, Cape Town, and London, traveling anywhere.
