Situated in the medina, close to Jamaa El Fna, La Pergola is a popular restaurant serving food and alcohol including cocktails.
The beautiful palm trees that grow up from the courtyard of Cafe Arabe make the ambience very tranquil and relaxing.
Part of Riad Monceau, La Pergola is open to the public and a busy place, so booking for an evening meal or cocktails is recommended.
I spent an hour enjoying some peace and calm during the afternoon.
It was much quieter, and I found it very relaxing sitting amongst the exotic trees and plants.
I enjoyed the fresh smoothies, which were beautifully presented with attention to detail.
Image by Freebird Tracey.
Like most places serving alcohol in the medina, it is quite pricey.
The stunning surroundings make it worthwhile a visit, and although I didn’t try the food, the menu looked very good.
Images by Freebird Tracey.
During the evening, you can hear the live jazz band in Le Bistro Arabe below the bar.
The afternoon is a more chilled out occasion, quieter and less packed with people.
I visited during the evening on previous trips to Marrakech, and although I enjoyed it, be prepared for how busy it can get if you’re thinking about going there.
Booking beforehand guarantees you a seat.
La Pergola is open daily from noon until 11.00pm.
The address is;
7/8 Riad Zitoun Lakdim.
Marrakech 40000
Morrocco.
Situated in Riad Monceau, directly above Le Bistro Arabe.
Image by Freebird Tracey.
There are plenty of great shops in this area, and a stop off in La Pergola makes a welcome break from sightseeing.
Image by Freebird Tracey.
For more information, contact me via the email address below;
Kafe Merstan restaurant and rooftop terrace is located near the spice square and vegetable market in the medina.
They serve traditional Morroccan food, and prices are very reasonable.
I had one of the tastiest tagines here, and the overall quality of the food was good.
Image by Freebird Tracey.
It’s popular during sunset, and tourists arrive to watch the sun go down from the rooftop.
It’s quite spectacular and can get quite busy at this time of evening.
The interior is traditional with a fairly modern twist.
Images by Freebird Tracey.
It’s a no frills restaurant, and the price reflects this.
Seating is upstairs on the rooftop, so people with mobility issues may not find it easy.
Payment is by card or cash. However, there’s a minimum of 200 MAD for card payment.
They will accept less but expect a few grumbles of disapproval.
The address for Kafe Merstan is 2 Souk Chaaria Kast Benahid, Marrakech 40000.
Opening hours are 12.00 until
10.00pm.
The restaurant is close to the Madrasa Ben Youssef and Museum of Marrakech, so it’s in a strategic position and ideal for taking a break from sightseeing.
Kafe Merstan offers a good selection of vegetarian dishes, including a very tasty vegetable pastilla.
Image by Freebird Tracey.
For more details about places to eat in Marrakesh, contact me via the email address below;
Marrakech is a culinary delight for all foodies out there.
The streets are abundant with fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruit.
Herbs and spices galore.
The aromatic aroma of street food fills the air, tempting the tastebuds.
Fine restaurants with impeccable service, in beautiful surroundings, call out to you to come inside and sample their cuisine.
But where do you start?
What do you order?
If you’re anything like me, you may want to fully immerse yourself in the culture of places you’re visiting.
I particularly enjoy sampling the signature dishes of a region and eating the same food that locals do.
It’s a way to get to know the culture, and food is a big part of life in Morrocco.
The locals are very hospitable people and often invite tourists home for a meal with their family.
With an overwhelming choice of food to choose from, you may need a little help to decide what to try..
Images by Freebird Tracey.
The two most popular dishes in Marrakesh are tagine and couscous.
Tagine is the name of the clay or ceramic pot that the dish is cooked in.
It consists of layers of fresh vegetables,with meat in the centre.
Chicken or lamb is the most popular.
Often, dates, olives, fresh lemon, and spices are added for flavour, and everyone has their own personal recipe for making a tagine.
Chicken tagine/image Freebird Tracey.
Couscous is a grain made from semolina and served with meat and vegetables.
It is eaten religiously on Fridays.
In Jamaa El Fna, you will find sheeps head and snails for sale.
Tourists are targeted by street food vendors to try snails, and those who actually do say that they quite enjoyed the experience.
Apparently, broth they’re cooked in is quite tasty, and although it’s an unusual tasting dish, it’s not inedible.
Sheeps head is for the brave amongst us, but it appears to be popular in the main square and a regular sight on display.
The locals sit at street stalls eagerly munching on the spit roasted mutton, enjoying every morsel.
Snails in a broth/image Freebird Tracey.
Every dish is served with traditional bread in Marrakech. It is freshly baked each morning and delicious served warm.
Tangier is also a popular dish.
It is meat (usually lamb), cooked very slowly in the embers of the local hammam.
Traditionally, the tangier is taken to the hammam early in the morning and left to cook throughout the day.
It is then collected and served for dinner with vegetables or bread.
The meat is incredibly tender and falls off the bone.
Tangier cooking in the Hammam/image Freebird Tracey.
There are plenty of street food vendors in the medina, tucked away in the souks.
They serve really good quality food and it’s cheap.
There is a row of street food vendors who only sell tangiers, and this is very popular with locals and tourists alike.
Image by Freebird Tracey.
Taking a street food tour is a great way to get to try the best places. There are several tours available during the daytime or evening.
Street food vendor in the medina/image by Freebird Tracey.
Marrakech caters to vegetarians and vegans also, with a good choice of quality food including excellent salads, delicious vegetable tagine and couscous.
Images by Freebird Tracey.
Several Italian restaurants in the medina offer excellent pizzas and pasta dishes if you fancy a change from morroccan food.
Olives are served with tea and other beverages as a complimentary side.
They can be spicy or plain, always fresh, and the perfect aperitif.
They are deliciously fresh when bought straight from the vendors themselves.
Complimentary olives/image Freebird Tracey.
The sweets and pastries in Marrakech are incredibly good, and the desserts served after the main course of a meal are beautiful.
The choice on most menus is really good and varied.
There’s no point watching your waistline here..
Dates are hugely popular, and medjool dates are known as ‘ fruits of the King’, so make sure to try some.
You won’t be disappointed.
Fresh fruit is for sale everywhere around the medina and incorporated into tantalising sweet dishes that make your mouth water.
NB: I have a separate post about smoothies and juices in Marrakesh.
Beautiful cheesecake and sweets in Marrakesh/image Freebird Tracey.
Marrakech is a dream come true for people who love their food.
With so much to choose from and so many different dishes and flavours to try, you would need months to eat your way through it all.
Not only is there a great variety of interesting and tasty food, but it’s beautifully presented too.
Imagine sitting in the most beautiful setting, next to exotic plants, and trickling fountains.
That’s my experience of eating in Marrakesh..
112 Tea House/image Freebird Tracey.
For more information on places to dine, use the email address below.
For myself, the perfect day in Marrakech begins by waking up early to watch the sunrise from the rooftop of my riad.
View from the rooftop of Riad Zouhour
Listening to the birds chirping and the sound of the medina waking up.
Watching cats prowling along the rooftops and hearing the clatter of plates as staff in the riad prepare for breakfast.
The first glass of freshly squeezed orange juice hits the spot perfectly.
I enjoy a breakfast of pancakes with homemade jam and honey, bread, yoghurt, and fresh fruit.
Traditional riad breakfast.
After a refreshing shower, I head out into the medina for a nice coffee in a cafe on the main square.
Sat outside, I observe the vendors setting up for the day. The entertainers get ready to entice the crowds of tourists and the local ladies on their way to the market for fresh spices.
The medina waking up.
My next destination is the souks for a browse around before they get too busy.
I suggest just after 9.00 am. is the perfect time to go.
Vendors are eager for their first sale of the day, and bargaining is much easier.
The colourful array of beautiful things on offer is a sight to behold.
The cats gather for a few morsels off the butcher.
Cats are well looked after in the medina.
I check out the wonderful Amazigh jewellery, the argan oil, and the beautiful ceramics and mirrors.
Amazigh jewellery in the souks.
I buy one or two keepsakes and then decide it’s time for a snack.
A colourful outdoor cafe calls out to me, and I choose some delicious pastries with a mint tea.
It’s magical watching the world of Marrakech go by.
The motorcycles, the donkeys, all competing for space in the narrow streets.
Tourists wandering about, looking in awe at the beautiful colours around the medina.
After recharging my batteries, it’s time for some sightseeing.
I head towards Madrasa Ben Youssef and get some amazing photos of the stunning architecture.
The incredible Islamic architecture in the Mederssa Ben Youssef .
The medina is beginning to get rather busy, so I make my way to the gardens of the Koutoubia Mosque to sit quietly for a while.
Enjoying the stunning gardens of the Koutoubia Mosque.
Afterwards, I treat myself to a sugarcane juice from a vendor outside.
Sugar cane vendor.
The heat is now quite intense, so I return to the riad for a rest.
I head upstairs onto the rooftop for a rest from the busy medina and a spot of sunbathing.
Enjoying the peace and tranquillity in my riad.
The call to prayer echos across the medina.
I read a book and order myself a glass of mint tea and a dish of olives.
Soon, it’s time to get ready for the evening.
I decide to go to La Pergola rooftop bar for a couple of cocktails.
It’s a lively atmosphere, and there’s a jazz band playing downstairs in the courtyard of Le Bistro Arabe.
I stop and listen for a while before heading towards Jamaa El Fna.
The energy is electric, food vendors touting for business, dancing, drumming, and crowds of people everywhere.
The smell of food makes me hungry, so I decide to find a nice place to dine.
I choose a place overlooking the square and observe the action from above, sat on the rooftop.
I enjoy a traditional tagine, flavourful and aromatic. I’m tempted by the exotic sounding smoothies on the menu and treat myself to one containing dried fruit.
I watch the beautiful sunset and everywhere has a golden glow.
Once dinner is finished, I nip into The Clock, situated in the square to listen to some traditional storytelling.
After an interesting time immersing myself in the culture of Morrocco, I decide to head back to my riad.
I pick up a few souvenirs along the way.
Back at the riad, I sit in the courtyard reflecting on my day.
The staff in the riad are happy to help me decide where to go the following day.
We chat about possibilities, and they help me put together the perfect plan for another day sightseeing.
I have had a perfect day…
I have experienced a different culture, tasted delicious food, watched a magnificent sunset, chatted with the locals, and navigated the maze of the souks successfully.
I have made a mental note of some of the things I want to buy to take home with me, and I look forward to haggling for a fair price before the end of my trip.
I fall asleep, happy and content, ready to do it all again tomorrow..
It’s a hidden gem, a peaceful retreat from the madness of the souks, and Jamaa el Fna.
It is a little oasis with exotic plants and flowers where you can sit and enjoy the calm and beautiful surroundings.
There is a beautifully painted pergoda in the centre.
It comprises of two large gardens and one of the highest towers in the medina.
There is a museum, boutique, and two coffee shops on site also.
Le Jardin Secret dates back 400 years ago to the Saadian dynasty and was left to decay before being discovered and renovated in the nineteenth century.
It is the perfect example of Islamic art and architecture, and you can read all about its history inside the museum.
The beautiful gardens of Le Jardin Secret
The gardens are simply beautiful with Cacti, palm trees, and other floral plants and shrubs.
The sound of birdsong and toads in the little pond feels like a world away from outside the walls.
As you wander around the tranquil gardens, you forget you are inside the busy medina, dodging motorcycles and donkey carts.
The stunning tilework on the floor.
There are plenty of benches dotted around the gardens to sit peacefully and enjoy the tranquillity and beauty surrounding you.
Sat observing the peace and quiet inside Le Jardin Secret.
Le Jardin Secret is located at,
121 Rue Mouassine
Marrakech 40030 Morocco.
Opening times vary depending on the time of the year.
It costs 100 dirhams to enter.
It is wheelchair user-friendly.
The cafe has a nice selection of sandwiches, pizzas, and salads with fruit and vegetable smoothies, hot and cold drinks, and homemade cakes.
The first time I visited Marrakech, I stayed in Monriad.
This is where my love affair with the medina began.
I had no idea what to expect and was absolutely amazed at the wonderful experience I had staying in a traditional riad for the first time.
Monriad was so pretty.
The courtyard was tranquil, and the sound of the trickling water and birds singing was blissful.
Inside Monriad
The owner and her staff were friendly and helpful, greeting me with the ultimate respect and offering traditional mint tea with olives on arrival.
A welcoming glass of mint tea.
I was given helpful advice about the area surrounding the riad and popular excursions I might wish to book.
She also suggested that I could eat dinner in the riad with the other guests and recommended places of interest close by.
The rooftop was glorious, and watching the sunrise up there each morning really was a blessing.
Sunrise from Monriad rooftop.
My room was impeccable, with traditional and good quality furniture and a beautiful bathroom with a traditional basin.
The riad smelt amazing. Cleanliness was a top priority for the staff.
There was a large, traditional, carved wooden door into the riad. I wasn’t given my own set of keys, but it was never a problem.
I did eat dinner once inside the riad, and the food was quite good. It was popular with other guests who seemed to really enjoy dining inside the riad.
The breakfast was very good.
Monriad is tucked away down a quiet little street.
It’s a pleasant, safe area with several cats and kittens who have also made the surrounding streets their home.
Making friends with the locals.
Monriad is close to Jamaa El Fna and points of interest, such as Bahia Palace, yet it is peaceful and secluded.
It is considered a mid price riad but has still maintained a family and welcoming feel about it.
It remains my mission to stay in as many different riads as possible in Marrakesh, but I would definitely consider returning to Monriad.
Sounds Of The Souks 