With fragrant mint teas and sumptuous meat dishes infused with exotic Arabic flavors, Marrakech is a foodie traveller’s dream destination.
When you travel somewhere new, understandably you want to go off the beaten track – to experience the city and its atmosphere as a local would, as opposed to a tourist.
In Marrakech, that fact is no different. The vast city can be overwhelming at first, but there are plenty of authentic restaurants and eateries tucked away that the locals have kept a secret.
This self guided food tour of Marrakech will help you uncover those and to eat your way around Marrakech like a local.
It leads you on a loop around the city, starting in the bustling main square of the Djemma El Fna, through crowded souks and winding alleys, back to the heart of the action again as the sun goes down.
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10am Have Breakfast at Cafe Glacier L’Opera
Cafe Glacier is a breakfast place that is frequented by locals as much as it is by tourists.
This is a great opportunity to experience a traditional Moroccan breakfast which is something of a feast! Typically, this consists of Baghrir (Moroccan semolina pancakes), Khobz (bread), Amlou (Moroccan dip made from almonds, argan oil and honey), fresh goat’s cheese, olives, fried eggs, squeezed orange juice and of course, Moroccan mint tea.
The beauty of this particular café is that it overlooks the Djemma El Fna giving you a perfect chance to people watch as you eat.
11am Experiment with Olives at Souk Ableuh
Head northwards now past the Jemaa El Fna sqa and into the beating heart of Marrakech’s souks. There is a small lane opposite Rue des Banques that leads to Souk Ableuh – Morocco’s olive souk.
Here, stall after stall is packed with beautiful coloured olives available in hundred of different variation all seasoned and spiced with weird and wonderful flavours with vendors eager to let you sample their finest wares.
11.30 Stop by a Bakery
As you wander through the souks, you will see numerous communal ‘bakeries’ comprised of large, open clay ovens.
Many years ago, the people of Marrakech did not have an oven in their own homes so they would bring all of their dough here for the resident baker to cook.
Nowadays, though people do cook their own bread (or “khobz” as it is known locally), there is still a demand for the expertise of these bakers.
12pm Wander Down Mechoui Alley
A stroll down Marrakech’s Mechoui alley is as much a fascinating sightseeing experience as it is a foodie one!
Mechoui is actually only one of the options that is on sale at the aptly named Mechoui Alley.
All of the stalls here sell three dishes: mechoui (slowly roasted lamb served with salt and cumin), tanjia (seasoned lamb, preserved lemon and spices) and sheep’s head (for the more adventurous foodie).
The sheep’s heads and the mechoui are cooked in underground clay pits inside some of the shops. The mechoui and the tanjia are tender and delicious, cooked just so that the meat falls apart in your mouth.
A lot of the stalls here have been operating for several generations and have been passed down to family members. They all have a pretty good reputation so you can browse the area and visit whichever takes your fancy.
2pm Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
The next stop on our food tour of Marrakech is a bit of a walk from Mechoui alley but allows you time to digest your food and burn those calories! Svenj, Moroccan donuts are a local delicacy and their taste and texture is somewhat similar to New Orleans style beignets.
There is a small store at 275 Rue de la Kasbah where a local baker prepares svenj of excellent quality – deep fried and dusted with sugar.
The nearby café clock is one of the most revered café chains in Morocco and is a pleasant place to stop for a mint tea or a smoothie to break up the day’s walking.
4pm End the Day at the Djemma El Fna
Every day, countless vendors set up their stalls at the Djemma El Fna. By night, the market really comes alive with snake charmers, fortune tellers and musicians.
This site is popular with tourists, but eating at the stalls here and haggling with the local vendors is certainly an experience that needs to be on your Morocco bucket list so what better place to end our food tour of Marrakech?
If you’re still a little peckish, try a hot dog with a twist at the Hassan No.31 stall.
Simply make your way through the crowds, past the overzealous salesmen and follow the mouthwatering scent of meat being grilled over an open fire. The stall serves the most perfect grilled mini sausages served with bread and tomato sauce.
If you’re feeling brave and have room for another local delicacy, you can round up the evening with a digestive – escargot, aka snails in broth.
Moroccans believe that this aids digestion and the broth is served with licorice, cloves and green tea over at the Hassan No. 3 stall.
Q: What is Mechoui Alley in Marrakech?
A: Mechoui Alley in Marrakesh is a place to go to eat authentic mechoui, a slow-roasted whole lamb or mutton dish cooked in underground clay pits. The alley is known for its many family-owned stalls that sell the meat by weight and serve it with bread, cumin salt, and mint tea.
The meat is tender and flavorful due to the slow cooking process and generous portions are available.
To get the best cuts of meat, it you should arrive early. The sheep’s head and eyeballs are also highly sought after delicacies in Morocco.