A gastronomic guide to the best Moroccan dishes to eat in Marrakech – and where to find them (2023)

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A gastronomic guide to the best Moroccan dishes to eat in Marrakech – and where to find them? ›

Couscous. Known as Morocco's most popular dish, the Couscous tops our list of the top ten best Moroccan food & dishes. The couscous is made from crushed steamed wheat, and it is served with a spicy stew that contains a lot of meat.

Couscous. Known as Morocco's most popular dish, the Couscous tops our list of the top ten best Moroccan food & dishes. The couscous is made from crushed steamed wheat, and it is served with a spicy stew that contains a lot of meat.

Food in Morocco is delicious and amongst the best in the world. However, you should only eat fruit or vegetables that have been peeled, washed or thoroughly cooked prior to eating. Seasoned travelers avoid salads altogether unless they're sure they've been prepared hygienically.

Couscous: Often referred to as the national dish of Morocco, couscous is made of teeny-tiny balls of wheat semolina, steamed so they're soft and fluffy.

The main Moroccan dish people are most familiar with is couscous; lamb is the most commonly eaten meat in Morocco, usually eaten in a tagine with a wide selection of vegetables. Chicken is also very commonly used in tagines or roasted. They also use additional ingredients such as plums, boiled eggs, and lemon.

Dinner tends to be served after the sunset prayer, and is more along Mediterranean and Latin times, from 7 or 7:30pm to 10:30 or 11pm.

While tipping isn't mandatory in Morocco, rounding up the bill and leaving tips at restaurants and cafes is standard practice. If you're happy with the service provided by waiters, drivers and other service workers, leaving a small tip is a good way to show your appreciation.

In Marrakech, you should be fine if you stick to the city center and avoid the suburbs. While all central areas are safe during the day, you should avoid walking around the narrow streets and alleyways alone at night. The safest and most popular areas to stay for tourists are: What is this?

In Morocco, the left hand is reserved for bathroom hygiene and dirty chores. So it is considered incredibly rude to eat, shake hands, give a gift, or leave a tip with your left hand.

Is it safe to walk in Marrakech at night? ›

For example, it's not recommended to walk in the alleys of the medina at night (after 10 pm). You should stay in places where other people can see you at this time of night. Marrakech is not just flowy dresses and water fountains like some travel influencers would have you believe.

Brushing your teeth with this water should be fine. In remote or rural areas, stick to treated water, by either filtering or purifying it yourself, or purchasing a large bottle.

There's a lot more to Moroccan cuisine than couscous and tajines. From cooked vegetable salads and slow-cooked meats to fresh fruits and flaky pastries, the traditional foods of Morocco are mouth-watering.

It's advisable to continue nibbling even if you are full – if you stop eating, everyone else may stop as well, even if they aren't full. If you dine at a Moroccan home and receive a gift, don't refuse.

What is a typical breakfast in Morocco? A Moroccan breakfast features bread, jams, and spreads. You'll often find a barley soup option as well as mint tea and coffee.

The most popular drink in Morocco is green tea with mint. Throughout Morocco, making good tea is considered an art form and it is considered a tradition to drink tea often with family and friends.

Syrah, grenache, cinsault and carignan are the predominant varieties. Moroccan food pairs well with wine, particularly wines from the south of France and neighbouring Spain. Young fruity Riojas and other tempranillos work particularly well with meat-based tagines.

Moroccan bread, also known as khobz, is a staple ingredient in any Moroccan spread and is known for its distinguishable round, flat shape. Today we are making it using 5 simple ingredients: flour, salt, sugar, oil, and yeast.

Rabat may be the Moroccan capital, but Fez is its undisputed capital of food. Home to 1.4 million people, Fez sits at the crossroads of northwest Africa.

While tipping isn't mandatory in Morocco, rounding up the bill and leaving tips at restaurants and cafes is standard practice. If you're happy with the service provided by waiters, drivers and other service workers, leaving a small tip is a good way to show your appreciation.

Can I wear jeans in Marrakech? ›

Yes, you can wear jeans in Marrakech. You might want to avoid really tight-fitting jeans, partly because when it's hot they'll be really restrictive, and you might get stared at a little more. You can always wear a longer top that covers you up if you're worried about feeling uncomfortable.

Shoppers can haggle for the majority of items sold in a Marrakech souk, but it's also not worth negotiate prices on everything (ie. food).

One of the most popular things that Morocco is famous for is the cuisine. There are delicious cooked vegetable salads and side dishes, scrumptious soups, tantalizing tajines (stews of meat, vegetables, and fruit), the best couscous you have ever had, and tasty bread used to scoop up each mouth-watering bite.

The Moroccan family diet is punctuated by four daily shared mealtimes: breakfast (ftour) (in addition to the morning snack that children take to eat at school), lunch (ghda), afternoon snack at home (cascrot, lgoté: a snack eaten by children after school) and dinner (3cha).

Popular fruits and vegetables are: apricots, artichokes, cabbage, cardoons, cauliflower, fennel, grapes, lemons, olives, oranges, peaches, peppers, plums, pomegranates, pumpkins, quinces, tomatoes, turnips, and zucchini. Moroccan cuisine uses many spices and herbs, especially cilantro.

Hygiene. In Morocco it is very common to find squat toilets, which are flushed with a bucket of water. Moroccan toilets almost always do not contain toilet paper and it is a necessity to carry toilet paper and/or hygiene wipes if you will be away from the hotel for an extended period of time.

Other than these high-end places, Morocco is a largely cash-based society and it's advisable to carry cash with you most of the time for purchases. If you do decide to use your debit or credit card in Morocco, make sure your bank knows that you're planning a trip. If not, they may block your cards.

Yes you can wear shorts, as mentioned there's no dress code for Morocco specifically. You're more likely to find shorts being worn in coastal areas. Really short shorts are not advisable and to be honest, wearing loose fitting, longer pants is often much cooler than wearing shorts where a lot of skin is exposed.

Marrakesh is the fourth-largest city in Morocco and is one of the country's major tourist spots. To see it, ideally, you'll want to allocate at least 2-3 days, although those with less time to spare can still enjoy the experience.

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Morocco. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Morocco.

How do you say hello in Moroccan? ›

Moroccans will say “salaam alykum” (hello) to everyone, even in large gatherings and they'll ask about your health and the wellbeing of your family and children.

On the bottom, jeans, maxi-skirts, dresses and slacks are perfectly acceptable for female tourists in Morocco. As a rule of thumb, it is best to wear bottoms that are at least knee length, and preferably longer. Similarly, loose-fitting items are preferred over tightly-fitting items.

Choukran: thank you [arabic] : pronounced 'Shokran' {Choukran is French spelling. Shokran is nearer to Arabic.} Please: minfadlik (rarely used in Moroccan Arabic) Afak (Moroccan) or "Lah ihefdak" (may god protect you) pronounced Lay hefdak.

Morocco's official spoken language is Moroccan Arabic, which is slightly different from other forms of Arabic. Nevertheless, thanks to its varied historical influences, part of the population also speaks French. Those working in the tourism industry normally also know English and Spanish.

Travel in Morocco

The wearing of face masks in public spaces remains mandatory.

You can let your guard down in Marrakech, a little. Shorts are ok – just ensure they're way, way beyond cheek-grazing territory. Similarly skirts – though in the heat, we'd always opt for long and flowing. Baggy t-shirts are as skimpy as you'll want to take things.

You can't flush toilet paper in Morocco

No, that's right. No toilet paper down the toilet. It goes into the bin next to you. It even is advisable to have some toilet paper with you as it sometimes isn't offered in remote places.

In the major cities in Morocco, the tap water is chlorinated and will usually cause no harm, but it's still wise to either purify this water yourself or choose another water source, as your body may react to unfamiliar bacteria in the water, causing sickness or diarrhea.

Breakfast usually includes bread with olive oil, olives and cumin, or for those with a sweet tooth, some honey or jam. Eggs will be on the breakfast menu at any local café, either fried or in a simple omelette.

Do you haggle for street food in Morocco? ›

The haggling culture in Morocco is an essential part of the local economy, with street vendors and shopkeepers engaging in intense negotiations over prices. This practice has become an integral part of Moroccan life and it is something that tourists should experience when visiting the country.

Are there Mosquitos in Morocco? Mosquitoes are a common insect in the country and can be found biting year-round. Mosquito repellent is recommended for travellers to prevent bites and exposure to mosquito-transmitted diseases such as malaria or dengue fever.

We recommend that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry into Morocco. It's advisable to take a number of photocopies of your passport with you. During your stay you should carry a photocopy of your passport at all times.

Avoid wearing flashy/expensive jewellery

Again, showing off your expensive jewellery or your Rolex around will get you noticed. Reduce the risk and leave everything you don't need in your hotel, or better yet, back home. If 'would-be' thieves can't see anything to steal it's highly unlikely you'll run into trouble.

Tipping When Eating Out in Morocco

And in nicer restaurants, a typical tip is between 7-10 percent of the bill. NOTE: Your tip should always be paid in cash and left on the table. Don't simply add it to your bill when paying with your bank card.

The most popular drink in Morocco is green tea with mint. Throughout Morocco, making good tea is considered an art form and it is considered a tradition to drink tea often with family and friends.

The country is home to gardens of apple, avocado, almonds, bananas, kiwi, plums, persimmons, nuts, grape, pomegranate, and orange trees. In Morocco, oranges and clementines account for more than eight percent of the fruit grown in Morocco.

Couscous is the national dish of Morocco and is traditionally served every Friday following Jummah prayer. Couscous is prepared using the semolina wheat grain that is a staple in Moroccan kitchens. There are a variety of ways the dish can be prepared depending on the geographical region and preference of each family.

Crushed, shaken, and poured, Moroccan mint tea is a common accompaniment to traditional Moroccan spicy foods. The best Moroccan mint tea is made fresh in front of you, but if you're in a hurry, you can find this traditional Moroccan drink served in large vats in restaurants or market squares.

Is Morocco friendly to tourists? ›

There is rarely violent crime in Morocco and it almost never targets foreigners. The Moroccans are very welcoming and love to share their traditions and culture with foreign tourists. Moroccans love to meet foreigners and practice their English with them…

Morocco is home to the world's largest desert known as the Sahara desert! In Africa, Morocco is the 25th largest country with a population of almost 34 million. Since its foundation by Idris I back in 788AD, the country has been under the rule of a series of independent dynasties.

Beer and wine are produced domestically. They also tend to be the most popular drinks in Morocco. Various types of wine are available, including Moroccan grey wine.

Yes, you can drink alcohol in Morocco

You can buy all kinds of alcohol all over Morocco. They even produce their own beers, wines, and liquors. However, where and how you consume alcohol is what lawmakers and their enforcers care about.