Eating in Marrakesh [moved from UK/Ireland]

[Cookie Boy]

My Wife and I will be spending a long weekend in Marrakesh and i am looking for great food recomendations, i am not only looking for places to eat but markets, farms, producers etc, i want to experience the best street food, local traditional eateries as well as any top level restaurants.
Thanks
G

[thew]

the main market in the medina of marakesh at night is one of the worlds great food experiences.

here is someone's blog w/ good photos
http://fxcuisine.com/default.asp?Disp...

don't miss the snails, or the million variations of kebab and grilled meat
and olives and a million other delights

[Simon Majumdar]

I have to say, I was disappointed with Marakech for food, in comparison to Casablanca and Fes with many of the restaurants seemingly predicated on supplying very ordinary food to the many tourists

The evening in the Jemma El Fna is, as Thew says, good fun and the stalls have some decent food. The snails, fresh juices and even the sheep's head. Although levels of cleanliness are, shall we say, variable.

Riad Dar Mimoun supplied one of the best of the Royal Morrocan meals I tried in the old city. Most of the Riads work on the basis of set menus which will involve starters of Pastilla (pigeon or chicken) and main dishes of tagine (classics being lamb with almonds and prunes)

Do try one of the store front rotisserie joints. The spit roast chicken is served with flat bread and olives in a sauce made form the juices and lemon juice. A great, cheap lunch meal. The best are, again outside the walls of the old city

By far my best meal there was in the new city which often gets neglected. Rotisserie De La Paix is best known for its grilled meats and the "Royal" mixed grill contains chops, chicken, sausages and, of course, Kebabs. They have a lovely, shaded, peaceful garden in which you can have your meal and the service is friendly and efficient.

Most of the Old City is dry apart from a few places, but in the new town many places serve the local wines which can be excellent. The rose in particular.

Finally, on the ring road around the old city, there are some wonderful shops selling Moroccan pastries. Very addictive

Hope this helps

S

[food.snob]

It is a little late, I realise, but I just uploaded a post on Marrakesh, so I thought I would add it here for future info seekers.
I spent a week here in August and generally found Moroccan food very pleasing: I only had one bad meal the whole time and that was at Bô & Zin i.e. fushion Thai food, not local cuisine. In Marrakesh, I had a good meal at la Maison Arabe and an unforgettable one at Dar Marjana. I also stayed a couple of nights at Kasbah du Toukbal in the Upper Atlas Mtns. where I enjoyed several decent meals - these were mainy in the form of tagines.

Here is my Bô & Zin post:
http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/bo-zin-marrakech/

This is Dar Marjana:
http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/200...

[food.snob]

Just in case anyone read those above, I thought I would post a link for La Maison Arabe too:

http://foodsnobblog.wordpress.com/200...

[Ericandblueboy]

We went to Dar Marjana because it was highly recommended by Fodor's. It was definitely hte best food we had in Morocco. I still can't find cous cous as good as theirs. Also, the lamb restaurant just north east of the square in the souk is fantastic. They roast the lamb whole in the ground, called mechoui.

[joypirate]

Absolutely agree on the rose's in Morocco. I was worried about sweetness but they had a nice, well-balanced dryness and fruitiness, in general.