Morocco Restaurant Tips by mafi_moya

Get the beers in

Morocco is a Muslim country so alcohol isn't as common as many places. But it's also quite a liberal Muslim country so there are some bars and pubs where you can get a drink if you want one. These range from the ultra-fashionable chic bars of Marrakech to the down to earth locals of the towns, complete with bar stools and sawdust floors. Popular local beers include bottles of Flag Speciale and Stork. Alcohol is pretty expensive (relatively speaking) even in local bars - in tourist areas and hotels it can be a lot more. Morocco also produces its own red wine - I tried one variety and wasn't too impressed (a bit like drinking vinegar mixed with washing up liquid)... but maybe I was just unlucky!

Rating: 0

Theme: Other

Moroccan Whisky

The national drink of Morocco is mint tea (atay in Arabic), often confusingly called "Moroccan whisky" (no idea why, and nobody else seemed to know either as unlike Irish coffee it has absolutely nothing to do with alcohol!) It's Chinese style tea served in small glasses with lots of sugar, and traditionally poured from a slim silver jug filled with mint leaves.

It's poured from a great height to mix the flavours in the glass - managing not to splash it all over the floor can be counted as a success on your first go! - and don't be surprised to see the first glass taken back off you and poured straight back into the jug - apparently it makes it brew better.

Rating: 0

Theme: Local

Jus d'Orange

In the time I was in Morocco I think I had one single banana - every other piece of fruit I ate was an orange! Moroccan oranges are seemingly found everywhere and are the juiciest and tastiest I've ever had. You can buy them from market stalls to eat, and there are also drink stalls that will squeeze you a fresh glass of pure juice right before your eyes (no water or sugar here). I think I had more orange juice in a week here than in a year anywhere else. Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech is a particularly good place for juice stalls - literally dozens of them encircling the square.

Rating: 0

Theme: Other

Moroccan food

Moroccan food is excellent. If I have any complaint it's that the standard restaurant menu can get a bit repetitive - tagine, couscous, and brochettes. But if you do have to eat the same thing again and again then at least it's delicious!

Tagine is a kind of stew, slowly cooked over a charcoal fire and served in special conical pots. It's most commonly made with chicken and can include dried fruits but my favourites were lamb with eggs, and fish tagine. Couscous is well known outside Morocco and here is usually served with vegetables and chicken. Brochettes are skewered kebabs - again chicken is most popular but all kinds of meat are available. Moroccan vegetarians are I believe quite rare, but it's an excellent country if you are a veggie as meat-free tagines and couscous are available most places. Moroccan food generally takes a long time to prepare so at good authentic places you'll have to order several hours in advance.

In big cities and on the coast fish is commonly eaten. There are also more unusual Moroccan delicacies - snails (the French influence?) and all kinds of slimy seafood and animal parts that would usually end up in my bin rather than my stomach! For dessert, pastillas are fairly good sweet pastries.

All Moroccan meals are served with bread, the staple food. It's usually excellent quality French style or flat bread. Better restaurants often serve a free starter of sundried tomatoes, French stick and olive oil - absolutely delicious and practically a meal in itself!

Rating: 5

Theme: Local