Food & Drinks
Marrakech is a foodie paradise with so many unique restaurants and cafes that make Marrakech an excellent place to experience traditional Moroccan food. The food is also very diverse and delicious. Exotic spices and tantalizing aromas fill every corner of this wonderful city. Please get inspired by our “Food guide about eating in Morocco”:
Choosing where to eat in Marrakech is a daunting task. Tourists get so overwhelmed that they get confused about what and where to eat. But among all this chaos, our blog will help you unveil the very best of Moroccan cuisine, all the rules, what dishes to try, and where exactly to eat. Here’s what you need to know!
Marrakech Food Rules
Like every other country, the people of Morocco also have certain food etiquettes which need to be followed. Especially when you’re sharing your dish with a local! Some do’s and don’ts of eating in Morocco are:
- Never help yourself to bread, wait until it is passed to you.
- Only use your left hand to pick up bread or pass the bread to other people.
- It’s advisable to continue nibbling even if you are full – if you stop eating, everyone else may stop as well, even if they aren’t full.
- Don’t use straws.
- If you dine at a Moroccan home and receive a gift, don’t refuse.
- Beware of street vendors selling fried fish. If you can’t see the freshness of it before it is fried, don’t buy it.
- Before buying fried food from street stalls, take a peek at the oil they are frying the food in if it’s dark, it’s probably been in use for a while and is best avoided.
- Use antibacterial hand gel if you are eating out and have been handling things in the souk or touching money.
- Avoid buying pastries from carts-they may look good, but they aren’t a patch on those from the patisseries.
- If buying from food stalls, it’s best to stick with foods that are grilled.
- At any Marrakech restaurant, it’s customary to provide 10% tip.
Don’t let the rulebook fool you and put you off, as there are plenty of delicious dishes to try in Marrakech.
Dishes you should try in Marrakech
- Mechoui: If you love lamb and traditional Moroccan food, mechoui is a dish that is a must-try. Think of Mechoui as a Moroccan barbecue that has been rubbed in an amazing blend of Moroccan spices like cumin and salt.
- Bastilla: Moroccan Bastilla is a flaky pie usually filled with pigeons cooked in sweet and salty flavors and spices. It also has almonds and eggs and is also considered as an appetizer. When eating in Morocco, you might be totally satisfied with this appetizer!
- Tagine: A traditional clay pot used to cook a myriad of dishes. Used everywhere from restaurants to roadside cafes & the most famous dish of Morocco, it is flavored with butter-like meat amongst the zesty spices. It doesn’t get better than this!
- Moroccan Salads: This is a great option for vegetarians and is always served as an assortment of small salads that are each uniquely flavored and make for a really delicious lunch option. Kind of like Moroccan tapas, this is the best way to start a meal and includes everything from pickled cucumbers, pumpkin puree with nutmeg, tomato and onion salsa, and spiced chickpeas. NB: most of those salads have been cooked and are thus safe while eating in Morocco! Be careful though with the uncooked salads. Especially if you have a sensitive stomach.
- Baghrir: A Moroccan-style crepe that has a distinctive look with its spongey texture. They are eaten all over Morocco, especially during Ramadan for breaking the fast.
- Bessara: A simple broad bean soup, traditionally served for breakfast. Served with olive oil, cumin on the side & fresh bread, it is simply delicious!
- Harira: A lamb, tomato, and lentil soup served after sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. It has a very high nutritional content and is a must-try. When eating this soup on the Djemaa el Fna night market, it will mostly be vegetarian.
If you want to avoid the hassle and explore the best culinary dishes on offer in Marrakech, why not join a food tour with a local. This is the best introduction to the city and you’ll get to try all the best local specialties with your own personal guide. You can also take a tagine cookery class and learn how to make the historic dish.
Best Restaurants in Marrakech
You will find a selection of the best restaurants surrounding Riad Orange on our “Explore-Marrakech-restaurants”-page.
Have you already been to Marrakech? Leave a comment below and let us know your favorite foodie experiences and memories of eating in Morocco!