Marrakech has one of the most interesting food scenes in North Africa right now. Between the old medina and the modern streets of Gueliz, you will find everything from family-run tagine spots to specialty coffee bars and contemporary brunch addresses. There are now so many good restaurants in Marrakech that choosing can be difficult. This guide is here to help you figure out where to eat in Marrakech, neighborhood by neighborhood, meal by meal.
If you are planning a trip to Marrakech or you already live here and want to expand your usual rotation, the following pages cover the best places to eat in Marrakech, what to order at each meal of the day, and where to go for the kind of restaurant that locals actually return to. Expect honest recommendations on the best food in Morocco, with a clear focus on Gueliz, the medina, and the spots in between.
Why Marrakech Has Become a Real Food City
The food in Marrakech has changed a lot over the past ten years. The city used to be defined almost entirely by Moroccan-style restaurants serving couscous and pastilla to tourists. That side of the city is still very much alive, but a new generation of chefs has added something different: cafes with proper espresso, brunch menus that hold up against any in Europe, and bistros that mix local produce with international techniques. You can eat a classic Moroccan tagine in the medina for lunch and a proper eggs Benedict in Gueliz the next morning, and both will be done well.
The best restaurants in Marrakech now compete on real things: ingredient sourcing, kitchen skill, and how the room feels. Olive oil from the Atlas, citrus from the Souss, vegetables from the Ourika valley. Travelers from Paris, London, and Dubai expect a lot, and restaurants in Marrakech have adapted to those expectations. The result is a more varied and competitive food scene.
The Best Neighborhoods to Eat In
Gueliz: Where Modern Marrakech Eats
Gueliz is the part of the city that feels closest to a European capital. Gueliz is known for its tree-lined streets, art galleries, and mix of locals and expats. It is also where you will find some of the best restaurants in Marrakech for modern food, weekend brunch, and good coffee. If you want a restaurant in Gueliz that fits the easy mood of the neighborhood, this is the area to walk around in.
Gueliz is also the center of the city’s coffee culture. Gueliz offers a calmer atmosphere than the medina, and the cafes here are comfortable places to spend time: working on a laptop, reading a book, or meeting a friend for an hour. The cafe in Gueliz scene now includes plenty of places that take coffee seriously and pair it with proper bistro food at the same address.
The Medina: Old-City Dining
No food guide to Marrakech is complete without the medina. The narrow streets hide some of the best restaurants in the medina, from quiet riads serving slow-cooked lamb to rooftop terraces with some of the best views over the old city. Atmosphere is an important part of eating in the medina. Candlelit courtyards, fountains, and the sound of the souks just outside.
For visitors, dinner in Marrakech‘s medina is something to plan around. Book a table a few days ahead, give yourself plenty of time, and arrive hungry. Portions are generous, and meals usually last longer than expected, which is part of the appeal.
Breakfast and Brunch: How to Start the Day
If one meal has changed the most in Marrakech, it is breakfast. The city now takes breakfast in Marrakech seriously. Not a quick coffee on the way to somewhere else, but a proper sit-down meal with fresh juices, eggs cooked the way you like them, warm breads, and seasonal fruit.
Brunch as a Weekend Habit
Brunch in Marrakech has turned into a weekend habit for residents and a regular stop for visitors. Brunch portions are usually generous: eggs done six different ways, smoked salmon, avocado toast, granola bowls, and house-made pastries, all served with refillable coffee. Brunch in Marrakech works because the best places mix international classics with local ingredients. You might see khobz next to sourdough on the same table, or argan oil drizzled over an avocado half. For more on the city’s brunch in Marrakech culture, the variety of options keeps growing each season.
The word brunch was originally coined to describe a late-morning meal that combines breakfast and lunch, and that is exactly how it works here. A good brunch in Gueliz can run from late morning into early afternoon, with people often ordering both savory and sweet dishes over a long meal.
Pancakes, Eggs Benedict, and the Classics
Two dishes have come to define brunch in Marrakech: pancakes and eggs Benedict. The American-style stack with maple syrup, fresh berries, and a dusting of powdered sugar has become a favorite, and the best pancakes in Gueliz are worth seeking out. Good pancakes depend on proper preparation, and the better kitchens treat them as a real dish, not an afterthought.
Eggs Benedict is often a good test of kitchen quality. You need a properly poached egg, a fresh toasted English muffin, good ham or smoked salmon, and a hollandaise made by hand. When all four parts come together, it is hard to beat. If you want a textbook version of eggs Benedict in Marrakech, Gueliz is the place to look.
Coffee Culture in Marrakech
You cannot talk about where to eat in Marrakech without talking about coffee. The city has always had a strong cafe tradition, but the past few years have brought a wave of specialty coffee shops that take sourcing, roasting, and brewing seriously. A good flat white, a properly pulled espresso, or a slow matcha latte are no longer hard to find.
The best cafes in the city combine the social side of the old Moroccan cafe, where people sit for hours over a single coffee, with the technical side of modern third-wave coffee. These cafes work well for conversations, work sessions, or quiet breaks. Plenty of locals start their day there before heading to brunch or lunch. The atmosphere in these cafes is one of the reasons Gueliz has become such a popular meeting point, and a cafe atmosphere of this kind is increasingly part of what visitors look for.
Desserts and Sweet Finishes
Marrakech has a serious sweet tooth. The pastry scene here pulls from both French and Moroccan traditions, so you get everything from honey-soaked chebakia to clean, well-made mille-feuilles. Modern restaurants have taken it further with deconstructed tarts, chocolate fondants with sea salt, and seasonal fruit desserts that compare well with anything in Europe.
For a sweet finish to a meal, the best desserts in Marrakech usually come from kitchens with a dedicated pastry chef and house-made ice creams. A strong dessert menu usually reflects a serious kitchen, not just on the mains but on every course.
Lunch and Dinner: Eating Through the Day
Lunch in Marrakech is usually lighter than dinner, especially in summer. Fresh salads, grilled fish, and roasted chicken are popular midday choices, and many of the best lunch spots in Marrakech are built around shaded terraces or cool, airy interiors.
Dinner is when many restaurants become busier. The best dinner in Marrakech options run from small Gueliz bistros to big riad restaurants in the medina. Many visitors alternate between styles: one night a Moroccan-style restaurant with live music, the next a quieter contemporary dinner in a more relaxed setting. Both belong on a proper Marrakech itinerary.
Family-Friendly Restaurants
Visitors with kids should know that Marrakech is genuinely good with families. The best family-friendly restaurants in Marrakech have kids’ menus, high chairs, and a relaxed mood where families feel comfortable. This makes lunch and early dinner easy, even with younger ones in tow.
Drinks: From Fresh Juices to Signature Milkshakes
Marrakech’s drink scene goes well beyond mint tea, though mint tea is still essential. Fresh juices are a daily ritual here, from a basic orange juice to mixes with beet, ginger, and pomegranate at the better cafes and brunch spots. The drinks menu at a good Marrakech restaurant now gets as much attention as the food, with house-made lemonades, iced matchas, and signature milkshakes alongside the usual options.
For something more indulgent, a thick milkshake or a well-made iced coffee is a good afternoon stop between sightseeing.
What Makes a Restaurant Stand Out Here
After spending time in restaurants across the city, a few common patterns stand out. The best restaurants in Marrakech share a few habits: they source carefully, they cook with respect for the ingredient, and they make a room that feels personal instead of generic. Food quality matters most, but so does the music, the service, and the small details that improve the dining experience.
If you are trying to find the best places to eat in Marrakech on your next visit, look for kitchens that change their menus with the seasons, cafes that take their coffee seriously, and dining rooms where the staff actually seem happy you came. Those are often the restaurants locals return to regularly, and almost always the ones worth telling a friend about.
Final Thoughts: Eating Well in Marrakech
Marrakech offers a wide range of food experiences across the city. Have brunch in Gueliz one morning, sit in a quiet cafe in the afternoon, and end the evening on a medina rooftop near the Koutoubia. Move between traditional and modern, between street food and tasting menus, between mint tea and specialty coffee. That variety is what makes eating in Marrakech interesting today, and the real answer to where to eat in Marrakech.
The food scene here is still growing. New openings, new chefs, and new ideas show up every season, but the basics stay the same: warm hospitality, generous portions, and a real respect for flavor. Marrakech remains one of the most interesting cities for food in North Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eating in Marrakech
Where should I eat brunch in Marrakech?
Guéliz is the centre of Marrakech’s brunch scene. Lily Billy, on Rue Loubnane, is one of the most consistent brunch spots in the city, with Eggs Benedict in four house variants (Healthy, Royal, Nordic, Amsterdam), mascarpone pancakes, French toast, and granola bowls. Brunch runs daily from 9h to 15h, and until 17h on weekends.
Is Guéliz or the medina better for restaurants?
Both. Guéliz is the right pick for café-restaurants, brunch, weekday lunches, and easy navigation. The medina is the right pick for rooftop dinners and riad meals. A well-planned trip mixes one or two meals from each neighbourhood.
How do I find a good coffee shop in Marrakech?
Look for cafés in Guéliz with their own espresso machines and a focus on specialty coffee. The best ones combine the social side of the old Moroccan café (slow pace, comfortable seating) with technical brewing. Many also serve full brunch or lunch menus.
Do I need to reserve a table in Marrakech?
Yes, especially on weekends and during the high season (October to April). For brunch, dinner, or any group of more than four, reach out a few days ahead. WhatsApp is the most widely accepted way to book in Marrakech.
What is the best food to try in Marrakech?
Classic Moroccan plates (tagines, couscous, bastilla, slow-cooked lamb) at a Moroccan-style restaurant or riad table, plus at least one full brunch in Guéliz to see what the new generation of kitchens is doing with eggs, pancakes, and specialty coffee. End with a fresh juice or an iced matcha in the afternoon.
Visit Lily Billy
Address: 2 Rue Loubnane, Guéliz, 40000 Marrakech
Phone: +212 657 092 589 / +212 808 529 976
Email: reservation@lilybilly.ma
Brunch: Monday to Friday, 9h to 15h | Weekends 9h to 17h
Open daily, please contact us for current hours
