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;
It is the first Moroccan tea house in marrakech, serving 12 teas from the 12 areas of Morrocco.
Set inside a former riad, it is a beautiful place to come and sample the 12 delicious teas on offer, along with modern oriental cakes.
They serve breakfast and lunch.
The food is nicely presented with table service, tasty and varied.
There is a selection of light snacks available on the menu also.
Images by Freebird Tracey.
The name 1112 signifies the date 1700 in the gregorian calendar and is etched into the wooden ceiling of the riad.
The riad was beautifully restored by a morroccan family who have been renowned for their expertise in the restoration of such properties since the 1990s.
The architecture is beautiful. Wooden ceilings, intricate tile work, and exotic plants make it a delightful environment for sitting and reflecting on the past history of the importance of tea in Morrocco.
There are interesting facts about the introduction of tea into Morocco and a shop selling nicely packaged tea if you’re looking for a gift to take home with you.
Images by Freebird Tracey.
1112 has a nice rooftop.
After exploring the museum, it is worthwhile taking a look around this exquisite riad and savouring the whole experience.
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.
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.
Kabana Rooftop Bar is a lively, popular place serving a wide range of cocktails and other alcoholic beverages.
They also have a good selection of dishes on the menu to suit all palates.
You enter the bar via steps, and from the road, it looks rather unassuming.
Entrance to Kabana rooftop bar.
Once inside, it’s tastefully decorated with lanterns hanging everywhere and music playing on a large television screen.
It’s a very busy venue, and booking is essential to be guaranteed a seat.
The bar is huge, and you can either sit inside or outside, where most people prefer to hang out.
Selection of alcoholic beverages at the bar.
I took my son for his birthday meal and he chose the steak. He said it was cooked to perfection.
Other people had mixed reviews, saying waiting times were long and that it was pricey for food and drinks.
The food is Mediterranean inspired, and they also have a sushi menu.
It was always full, and on the occasions we simply visited for cocktails, we couldn’t always be guaranteed a seat on the rooftop for a cocktail.
However, after waiting for approximately 30 minutes inside the bar area, we eventually got a place.
There is table service.
The unisex bathroom is a treat, beautifully decorated, modern, and traditional.
Kabana rooftop bar seems to be one of the more popular places for drinks in the medina and lacked authenticity for me.
The surroundings were nice with plenty of greenery, and the lanterns looked very pretty after dark.
There is a view of Koutoubia Mosque from the rooftop, but it’s slightly shielded because drinking alcohol with the Mosque in full view is prohibited in Islamic culture.
View of Koutoubia Mosque.
Kabana rooftop bar has a very cosmopolitan vibe, attracting all age groups.
It is situated at the gate of the medina and open daily from,
11.00am-2.00am
They play DJ sets, and it’s a vibrant setting with a more relaxed dress code.
It is not an intimate place for a romantic meal, in my opinion, and I found it difficult to have a conversation amidst the crowds of people and loud music.
However, there are plenty of traditional, authentic places in the medina to dine out if you prefer a quieter environment.
Kabana is a cocktail bar similar to the places in the new town, with the same energy but within walking distance for those people staying in the medina.
It’s definitely worth a visit.
The address is,
Kissariat Ben Khalid R’mila,
1 Rue Fatima Zahra,
40000 Marrakech Morocco.
A refreshing cocktail inside the Kabana rooftop bar. (more…)
Sounds Of The Souks 