Marrakesh Restaurant Tips by aaaarrgh

Restaurant Name: Place Djemaa el Fna

The Place Djema el Fna becomes a MASSIVE outdoor restaurant as evening draws in.

The name translates as "Dead Men's Square", but this was not because of the quality of the food!!

There are dozens of stalls, surrounded by tables and benches. The vendors are very imaginative and entertaining in the ways they try and encourage you to eat at THEIR tables.

But everyone seems to sell the same thing - kebabs, fish, meat, cous-cous, soft drinks, water etc. Our strategy was to try and find a stall which seemed to be popular with Morocans. But of course, as soon as we sat down, the number of Europeans grew!

The food was fine! As long as the food is freshly cooked and hot then it should be OK.

Favorite Dish: We found that the 'waiter' tried to give us every dish available, whether we asked for it or not. So we ended up trying a bit of everything. If you want to eat cheaply, I guess you will have to be firm but polite.

Don't forget the fresh orange juice stalls too. Perfect for the evening heat.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Place Djema el Fna
Directions: Centre of the city - everyone ends up there - near the Koutoubia Mosque tower.

Restaurant Name: Sheraton Hotel, Marrakesh

Well, this wasn't where I expected to spend a lazy afternoon, in a 5-star luxury hotel. But the Sheraton, on the outskirts of Marrakesh, has a bar which serves cool lager, so my friends caught a taxi there as soon as they could ;-)

The Sheraton is like an oasis of luxury for western tourists. The hotel is wrapped around an enormous swimming pool, with palm trees, deck chairs and another bar half submerged in the blue water. The food was served outside on the terrace under large umbrellas next to the sunbathers.

And the sunbathers are an attraction if you like that sort of thing. This is one of the few places where topless sunbathing is tolerated. There were more than a few local Morrocans (as well as a few lecherous Europeans) hanging around to get an eyeful :-)

This could also be a nightlife tip. We returned late on Friday evening to find an African band playing in the bar.

Favorite Dish: As well as the intricately decorated bar and reception area, they Sheraton also serve a variety of European food dishes. I had a pizza for around about 90dh, which is about European prices too!

And the beer was about 40dh a glass!!

If you want a luxury setting at a fraction of the Western price and/or you are desparate for a cool alcoholic drink, then this may be the place for you.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Southwestern outskirts of Marrakesh
Directions: Oh, catch a taxi, after all you are heading for a luxury hotel. The three of us were charged 50dh for the journey in a large taxi. This seemed to be the standard rate but I'm sure you could negotiate a bit cheaper.