One of the things I loved most about Marrakech was how much choice there was when it came to eating out. There are little cafés serving traditional Moroccan food for just a few pounds, rooftop restaurants overlooking the medina and some really beautiful places for a special evening out.
When my husband and I visited Marrakech in February, we decided to treat ourselves to a few of the more expensive restaurants. We don't normally spend a fortune on meals when we're away, but after looking at the prices, we realised we could enjoy restaurants that would probably be well outside our usual budget back in the UK.
We booked tables at Dar Dar Rooftop, La Trattoria and Nobu Rooftop Garden, and although we enjoyed all three for different reasons, there was definitely one that didn't quite live up to our expectations.
Of course, eating out in Marrakech doesn't have to mean spending lots of money. There are plenty of cheaper restaurants and traditional Moroccan cafés, so it's easy to mix a few special meals with some more budget-friendly options.
In this guide, I'm sharing our own restaurant experiences, what we actually paid, some of the best cheap eats in Marrakech and how much to budget for food and drinks during a visit.
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Best for rooftop dining: Dar Dar, El Fenn and Kabana
Best for cheap eats: Snack Adam, Café Chez Ahmed and Café Baba
Best for a special meal: La Trattoria, Dar Dar and Nobu Rooftop Garden
Best for traditional Moroccan food: Local restaurants around the medina and Kasbah
Best for Italian food: La Trattoria in Guéliz
Best for rooftop drinks and atmosphere: Nobu Rooftop Garden
Of the three restaurants we personally visited, Dar Dar was our favourite for the combination of food and views, while La Trattoria had the most beautiful setting. Nobu was still worth visiting for the rooftop atmosphere, but we preferred the food and service at the other two.
One of the biggest questions when planning a trip is how much to budget for food, and the good news is that eating out in Marrakech can be relatively inexpensive.
Prices vary quite dramatically depending on where you go. A simple meal from a local café can cost just a few pounds, while dinner at a popular rooftop restaurant or luxury hotel can cost considerably more.
The biggest difference tends to be between smaller local restaurants and places aimed at tourists, particularly those with rooftop views, entertainment or alcohol on the menu.
For a cheaper meal, the food stalls and small cafés around the medina are worth exploring. Traditional Moroccan dishes such as tagines and couscous can be very affordable, especially away from the busiest tourist areas.
As a rough guide, some of the lower-priced options we've come across include:
These are indicative budget prices rather than guaranteed current menu prices. Some restaurants, especially in the busiest parts of the medina, will charge considerably more.
I'd always recommend checking the menu before sitting down, particularly around Jemaa el-Fnaa where prices can vary between restaurants just a short walk apart.
For a more traditional restaurant meal, I'd allow around £10 to £20 per person, depending on the dishes and drinks ordered.
At the more expensive restaurants, it's quite easy to spend £30 to £50 per person or more, particularly when adding wine, cocktails or several courses.
We spent £62.50 between us at Dar Dar, including drinks, and £90 at La Trattoria, where we enjoyed a three-course meal with wine and beers.
Both felt like good value for the overall experience, especially compared with what we'd expect to pay for a similar evening back home.
Marrakech has plenty of places to eat without spending a fortune, and it's well worth trying some of the smaller cafés and restaurants rather than sticking entirely to the bigger tourist spots.
The following are some budget-friendly restaurants to compare when planning where to eat. We haven't personally eaten at these, so I'd recommend checking recent reviews and menus before visiting.
Café Chez Ahmed (Medina)
Café Chez Ahmed is one of the cheaper options to look at in the medina if you're after traditional Moroccan food rather than a fancy restaurant experience.
Tagines, couscous and other local dishes are the sort of meals to look out for, with older budget estimates around £3 to £6.
It's worth checking recent prices and reviews, as these can change.
Snack Adam (Near Jemaa el-Fnaa)
Snack Adam is another option to consider for a cheaper meal around the main square.
It's more of a casual place for grilled food, sandwiches and simple meals, rather than somewhere to book for a long evening out.
Older prices suggested meals starting at around £2.50, although I'd check the current menu rather than relying on that figure.
Café Baba (Kasbah)
For anyone exploring the Kasbah area, Café Baba is another name to look into for inexpensive Moroccan dishes.
It's the sort of place to compare for tagines, couscous and fresh bread, particularly if the plan is to stop for something to eat between sightseeing.
Previously published budget estimates were around £3 to £5 for simple meals.
The nice thing about Marrakech is that there are plenty of affordable places beyond these three. It's often worth looking at cafés a little further away from the busiest tourist streets and checking menus as you walk around.
One thing Marrakech does particularly well is rooftop dining. There are restaurants overlooking the rooftops of the medina, terraces with views towards the Atlas Mountains and some lovely places for an evening meal as the sun goes down.
We booked Dar Dar during our trip and absolutely loved it, but there are a few other well-known rooftop restaurants worth comparing.
Dar Dar was one of our favourite restaurants in Marrakech, and I'd definitely recommend putting it on the shortlist for a special meal.
It's located in the medina and has a beautiful rooftop terrace with views across the city. We visited for dinner and thought the food, service and atmosphere were all fantastic.
I've included our full experience further down, along with what we ordered and the total bill.
El Fenn is another popular choice for rooftop dining in Marrakech, particularly for its stylish setting and views across the medina.
It's part of a boutique hotel, so it has a slightly different atmosphere from some of the smaller traditional restaurants.
I'd compare it for a special lunch or dinner, but check the latest restaurant arrangements and booking requirements before making plans.
Kabana is another well-known rooftop venue in the medina, with a more modern restaurant and bar atmosphere.
It's worth considering if the evening is as much about the setting and drinks as the food, particularly for couples or groups wanting somewhere lively.
As with the other popular rooftop venues, I'd check the latest menu, booking requirements and recent reviews.
These are the three restaurants we personally visited during our February trip, and they're the ones I can give a proper opinion on.
We decided to spend a little more than we normally would because we wanted to experience some of Marrakech's more upmarket restaurants, particularly while the prices were still relatively reasonable compared with similar places in the UK.
All three offered something different, and we came away with two firm favourites.
Dar Dar was probably my favourite restaurant of the entire trip. Located in the heart of the medina, it has a beautiful rooftop terrace with views across the city and towards the Atlas Mountains.
We'd booked a table in advance, and as soon as we arrived, I could see why it's such a popular place. The rooftop setting was lovely, especially as the evening went on and the city started to light up.
The food was incredible too, and everything arrived fresh and beautifully presented.
We started with BBQ Chicken Wings before ordering the Chiche Brochette Poulet Marino Sauce Yaourt, which was chicken skewers served with a yoghurt sauce and the most delicious homemade wedges.
In fact, we'd spotted the chicken skewers on the table next to us and asked the people eating them what they'd ordered because they looked so good!
The service was equally lovely, and the whole evening felt like a proper treat without being ridiculously expensive.
At the time of our visit, the menu prices were approximately:
Starters: £8 to £10 Main courses: £11 to £24
Desserts: £6 to £11
Our total bill, including drinks, came to £62.50 for two people.
For the quality of the food, the service and those rooftop views, I thought it was excellent value.
It's definitely somewhere I'd return to, and if you're hoping to eat on the rooftop around sunset, I'd recommend making a reservation in advance.
If Dar Dar was our favourite for the food and views, La Trattoria was my favourite for the atmosphere.
Located in Guéliz, this Italian restaurant is set in the most beautiful surroundings, and it really does feel like somewhere special as soon as you arrive.
I remember pulling up outside and being impressed before we'd even reached our table. The whole place is absolutely gorgeous, with a setting that feels far more expensive than the prices on the menu.
The restaurant is known for its Italian food and has long been associated with Marrakech's more glamorous dining scene, including a connection with Yves Saint Laurent.
We decided to go for a full meal, including starters, mains, desserts and drinks.
My husband ordered the Agnello Brasato, a braised lamb shank served with risotto, while I went for traditional lasagne.
For dessert, I had the Melting Cappuccino Foam, which combined confit pear, baked chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
My husband chose the Panna Cotta Brûlée Style with raspberry sorbet.
Everything was beautifully presented, but it was the surroundings that really made the evening for me.
At the time of our visit, prices were approximately:
Starters: £10 to £14
Main courses: £11 to £26
Desserts: £6 to £9
Our total bill came to £90 for two people, including wine and beers.
Considering we'd enjoyed a lovely meal in such beautiful surroundings, I thought that was a fair price.
If you're looking for somewhere a bit special during a trip to Marrakech, particularly if you fancy a change from Moroccan food, La Trattoria is definitely one I'd recommend.
On our final evening, we visited Nobu Rooftop Garden, which was probably the restaurant I was most excited about before the trip.
The rooftop is part of Nobu Hotel Marrakech and has a circular pool deck, restaurant and panoramic terrace with views across the city and towards the Atlas Mountains. It's a completely different atmosphere from the traditional restaurants in the medina, with music, cocktails and a much more modern, upmarket feel.
The setting was absolutely gorgeous, and looking out across Marrakech at night was one of my favourite memories from the trip.
In terms of price, Nobu was the most expensive restaurant we visited in Marrakech, but compared with some Nobu restaurants around the world, where a meal can easily cost hundreds of pounds per person, it was actually very reasonable. That was one of the reasons we decided to book, as it gave us the chance to experience a Nobu restaurant without spending anything like we might elsewhere.
Unfortunately, the service didn't quite live up to the setting or the name. We found it quite difficult to get the attention of a waiter when we wanted another drink, and nobody came back to check whether we were enjoying our food. The strangest part was being asked to settle our bill before our desserts had even arrived because our waiter was finishing his shift. It felt as though he was more interested in collecting his tip before leaving than making sure we'd finished our meal.
The food was a little disappointing too. I ordered the mushroom risotto, but it wasn't particularly hot when it arrived, and by the time I started eating, it had already begun to set.
Having enjoyed such lovely food and attentive service at Dar Dar and La Trattoria, the difference was quite noticeable. It wasn't that Nobu was a terrible experience, because the rooftop itself was fantastic, but the overall service just felt a little lacking compared with the other two restaurants.
At the time of our visit, menu prices were approximately:
Starters: £10 to £16
Main courses: £11 to £70
Desserts: £3 to £10
Nobu was the most expensive restaurant we visited during our stay, and although I thought the food and service could have been better, the rooftop atmosphere was fantastic.
Would I go back? Absolutely, although probably more for the rooftop, the music and a cocktail than for another full meal.
It's worth noting that Nobu Rooftop Garden isn't the same as the hotel's Japanese restaurant. The rooftop has its own dining concept, so check the correct menu and reservation details before booking.
If you're looking for traditional Moroccan food without spending a fortune, here are a few more local restaurants worth checking out. We haven't personally tried these, so it's worth looking at recent reviews and menus before visiting.
Restaurant El Bahja: Traditional Moroccan dishes, including tagines and couscous, with budget-friendly options.
Café Clock (Kasbah): Moroccan-inspired food alongside cultural events and activities.
Chez Brahim (Medina): Affordable grilled meats, salads and Moroccan dishes.
Restaurant Imlil (Medina): A casual option for simple, inexpensive Moroccan meals while exploring the medina.
Yes, Marrakech can be a very affordable place to eat, particularly if you stick to smaller local restaurants, traditional Moroccan cafés and street food.
It's also somewhere you can spend quite a lot of money if you choose luxury hotel restaurants, rooftop bars and more expensive dining experiences.
That's one of the things I liked about Marrakech. We could have a simple lunch for a few pounds and then spend a little more on dinner somewhere special without feeling like every meal had to be expensive.
I wouldn't assume every restaurant in the medina is cheap, though. Places with rooftop views or those around the busiest tourist areas can charge considerably more, so it's always worth checking prices before ordering.
Traditional Moroccan food is a big part of eating out in Marrakech, and tagine is probably the dish you'll see most often on menus.
Tagine is a slow-cooked dish traditionally prepared in a clay pot, usually with meat, vegetables, spices and sometimes dried fruit.
You'll find chicken, lamb and vegetable versions, and the combination of sweet and savoury flavours is quite common in Moroccan cooking.
Other foods worth trying include couscous, pastilla and grilled meats, along with fresh bread and Moroccan salads.
Of course, Marrakech has plenty of international restaurants too, including Italian, French and Japanese-inspired dining, so there's no shortage of choice if you fancy something different.
Alcohol is generally much more expensive than food in Marrakech, particularly when comparing it with the prices of local meals.
It isn't served everywhere either, so if you're hoping to have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner, it's worth checking whether the restaurant has an alcohol licence before booking.
You'll usually find a wider selection of alcoholic drinks in larger hotels, upmarket restaurants and some rooftop bars.
At the more expensive places, drinks can add quite a bit to the final bill, especially if you're having wine or cocktails with dinner.
Beer prices vary depending on whether you're drinking in a restaurant, bar or luxury hotel.
As a rough guide, the following are useful budget ranges rather than guaranteed current prices:
For wine, previously published price ranges were around:
The difference between restaurants can be enormous, so I'd check the drinks menu when comparing places to eat.
We enjoyed wine and beers during our meals at the more upmarket restaurants, and although it increased what we spent, our overall bills still felt reasonable compared with similar evenings in the UK.
For popular rooftop restaurants and more expensive dining experiences, I'd definitely recommend booking in advance.
We arranged our restaurant reservations before travelling, particularly because we had a short trip and knew exactly where we wanted to eat.
Dar Dar, La Trattoria and Nobu were all places we'd specifically chosen, so I didn't want to risk turning up and finding there wasn't a table available.
If you're planning to eat somewhere popular around sunset, I'd book as early as possible, especially if you have a particular time or rooftop table in mind.
For smaller local cafés and inexpensive restaurants, it's generally much easier to be flexible.
I'd also check whether a reservation requires a deposit or has a cancellation policy, as arrangements can change.
If you're planning a Marrakech city break, I've put together several other guides covering where to stay, what to do and how to make the most of a short visit.
Where to Stay in Marrakech: Best Areas, Riads and Hotels
We've stayed in a traditional riad in the medina, and I've put together a guide to choosing between riads, modern hotels, villas and all-inclusive resorts, depending on the type of holiday you're planning.
Everything worth knowing before visiting, including practical advice to help plan a first trip to Marrakech.
How to Spend 3 Perfect Days in Marrakech
Our three-day itinerary brings together the main sights, experiences and places worth visiting, making it a useful starting point for planning a short city break.
Best Things to Do in Marrakech
From exploring the souks and visiting beautiful palaces to rooftop terraces and day trips, discover some of the best things to see and do in Marrakech.
Marrakech is a brilliant city for mixing inexpensive local food with some really lovely restaurants, and I'm glad we decided to spend a little more on a few meals during our visit.
Dar Dar and La Trattoria would both be high on my list if we returned, and although Nobu wasn't quite as good for the food, I certainly wouldn't say no to another evening enjoying those rooftop views.
Whenever I spot great-value flights and accommodation for DIY breaks to Marrakech and other destinations from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club, with links to book each part independently.
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