RESTAURANTS
Le Foundouk
55 Souk Hal Fassi Kaat Bennahit, El Moukeff, Medina North
Tel: 0524 37 81 90
CLOSED: MONDAYS
Traditionally, a ‘foundouk’ was a resting-place for tradesmen passing through town for the night. Most of them are now used as artisans’ workshops, but this one has been transformed into a restaurant by a pair of French furniture designers. It has three floors of galleries (including the ground floor) centred around a courtyard, which serves as a funky pre-drink/ snack/ lunch spot, with nifty décor and cool music. The first floor is très chic, arranged for intimate dining, while in summer, the roof terrace is illuminated by candles at night and offers sweeping views over the Medina. The menu is innovative and elegant, offering all the Moroccan staples and then a mix of French and Italian dishes. With good service, a congenial ambience and decent, reasonably priced food, this is definitely one of Marrakech’s hotspots.
Café des Epices
75, Rahba Lakdima (Spice Square in middle of Souks), Medina
Tel: 0524 39 17 70
Set snugly into the corner of the old spice market, where old women gather to sell knitted woolly hats and older men sit and sell spices, the Café Des Epices is in a perfect location for taking a break from the heat and hassle of the souks. The building and menu are simple and charming and the juices are fresh and the sandwiches tasty.
Terrasse des Epices
15, Souk Cherifa, Sidi Abdelaziz, Medina
Tel: 0524 37 59 04
No alcohol. Wi-fi.
This is a venture from the owners of the ever-popular Café des Epices. The restaurant is sprawled over the entire roof terrace of a Moroccan artisan shopping centre in the medina. There are plenty of cosy alcoves for groups on either side of the terrace, as well as tables and cushioned areas in the central area for sun-seekers. Straw hats or jellabas are provided to diners depending on the season!
The menu changes daily and is more varied and substantial than at Café des Epices. Specials are set out on handwritten boards that are brought to each table by the waiters and provide a mix of Moroccan and international cuisine. This is a particularly good venue for lunch as there is a good range of salads and brochettes. All orders include mounds of olives and an assortment of bread and are also extremely good value for money – particularly for such a central location.
Earth Cafe
N2, Derb Zawak, Riad Zitoun Kedim, Medina
Tel : 0661 28 94 02
Marrakech’s only vegan/vegetarian restaurant, located just off the main square. Most of the ingredients are grown on the owner’s farm just outside of Marrakech. Fresh, healthy, imaginative dishes, delicious even for meat eaters.
Dar Cherifa Literary Cafe
8 Derb Charfa Lakhir Mouassine, Medina
Tel: 0524 42 64 63
Opening Times: 09h00–19h00 daily
A splendorous oasis of calm in a crazy city full of odours and noise, Dar Cherifa has to be experienced at least once during a trip to the Medina. With its elegant columns, relaxation salons and Zen-like atmosphere, it’s like receiving an architectural massage. There’s not much of a menu but there are regular exhibitions and a small but perfectly formed library.
SPAS/HAMMAMS
Hammams were, and still are, an essential method of hygiene in the Medina where running water was not an everyday occurence. The steam of the hammam opens all the pores, while the gommage and
rubdown exfoliates and cleans the skin. One emerges glowing and clean with a keen feeling of well-being.
Hammam Sidi Ben Slimane
rue Sidi Ben Slimane Daily 05h00-23h00
Our local hammam, just 2 minutes from Dar Zaman. Clean, well serviced hammam, series of small low ceiling rooms, from cool to very hot. Buckets provided, shampoo and soap available for purchase. Ask one of the attendants to do the gommage for you – there’s no price list as it’s generally just locals, so give a 30 dirhams tip or more depending on your level of appreciation! (Take your own towel and shorts/swim wear. When undressing, preserve your modesty and keep yourself covered).
Hammam Dar el Basha (The Pasha's Bath).
20, rue Fatima Zohra, Medina Daily: Men 04h00-12h00 and 19h30-23h00; Women 12h00-19h30
As far as public hammams go, this is one of the largest and most accessible. Even in its current rundown condition you get a good sense of how impressive this hammam must have been in its heyday. Instead of the typical series of small low rooms, here you bathe in large, white-tiled chambers that give a pleasant sense of space. After your bath, dry and dress in a huge domed hall skirted with inset stone benches. (Take your own towel and shorts/swim wear. When undressing, preserve your modesty and keep yourself covered).
Hammam Ziani
14 rue Riad Zitoun Jdid
Tel: 0662 71 55 71
At Hammam Ziani you can get a massage, scrub, seaweed bath, mud wrap, bathrobe, and toiletries bag for 300dh. A simple massage and scrub is 155dh. Open daily for men and women (separate entrances) from 8am to 10pm.
Medina Spa
27, Derb Zaari, Kennaria (behind Café de France, off Rue de Banque)
Tel: 0524 38 50 59
Unpretentious, convenient location, reasonable prices. Comprises two hammams, eight massage cabins, Jacuzzi. Various massage techniques offered: Eastern relaxing, Japanese shiatsu, Moroccan tonic, Indian Abhyanga, plantar reflexology.
Isis Spa
12, Derb Jdid, Der Debachi (north east corner Jemaa el Fna)
Tel: 0524 38 45 50
Same ownership/style as Medina Spa. Reasonable prices, three hammams, eight massage cabins, two baths.
Les Couleurs de L'Orient
22, Riad Zitoune Lakdim, Derb Lakhdar
Tel: 0524 42 65 13
This hammam is in a riad near the Djemâa el Fna, with affordable prices from 50 DH for massage and hammam. Relax with a mint tea on the terrace. No credit cards.
Hammam Hilton
Ave. de Targa
Tel: 0524 49 31 29
A short petit-taxi ride (15 DH-20 DH) will bring you to an upscale private hammam in the Targa district of Marrakesh that few tourists know about. In addition to the hammam, it also offers massage (100 DH). 40 DH. No credit cards.
Les Bains de Marrakech
2, Derb Sedra, Bab Agnaou, Kasbah
Tel: 0524 38 47 13 or 17
This opulent spa includes milk baths with orange water and rose petals, massages with argan oil, body treatments with essential oils, and rubdowns with mint-steamed towels. By appointment, 1-2 days in advance. Credit cards accepted. Warning – mixed reviews. Some people rave about it, but it can be hit and miss and feel like you’re on a factory conveyor belt.
Beldi Country Club
Km 6, Route du Barrage, Marrakech
Tel: 0524 37 68 78
Beldi Country Club offers a beautiful spa, a range of body treatments and exclusive natural beauty products. Set in gorgeous rustic grounds, with swimming pools and a restaurant, you can spend an entire day here pampering all the senses.
La Maison Arabe
1, Derb Assehbe, Bab Doukkala
Tel: 0524 38 70 10
A morning or afternoon spent in this hotel's hammam will make you feel like royalty. The tayebas may not scrub you quite as hard as you like, but the hammam room is beautiful and the small pool filled with roses is just for you. It's popular, so call at least two days in advance. 650 dirhams for hammam and massage. By appointment. Credit cards accepted.
