As someone that's passionate about food one of my favourite gastro-tourism trips is to Marrakesh, Morocco. The Djemaa el Fnaa is a Unesco heritage site which features everything from snake-charmers to storytellers and also has some of the most amazing food on offer so you can eat like a local.
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| The Djemaa el Fnaa by night and it's amazing food stalls |
A Guide to the Best Place to Eat and Drink in Marrakech
If you're looking to experience the real Marrakech and eat like the
locals you need to be looking to eat out in the open air on the Place Djemaa el
Fna.
The Djemaa el Fna square comes alive of an evening with makeshift mobile
restaurants and stalls serving local delicacies with the odd Western
influences. Moroccan cuisine is hearty, tasty, and healthy and best of all well
priced so many of the food stalls on the Djemaa el Fna attract many locals as
well as gastro-tourists looking to savour the local culinary delights.
The Djemaa el Fna is an experience like no other on the face of this
earth. The UNESCO Heritage Site features a barrage for the senses
To the west of the square closer to the towering Koutoubia Mosque
minaret; Local Berbers in traditional dress, Berber dancers and storytellers
delight captivated locals, while snake charmers and henna artists work their
magic by their side.
To the Eastern side
of the square you'll find market stalls which lead you into the myriad souks of
the Marrakech Medina to sharpen your bargaining skills while orange juice
sellers help to quench your thirst by day and food stalls tempt you to fill
your stomach by night. If you want to eat like the locals there's no denying
where to eat in Marrakech.
Drink Fresh Fruit Juice by Day to Refresh Your Moroccan Thirst
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| Orange juice at a stall on the Djemaa el Fnaa, Marrakesh |
If you fancy a drink during the day you could head for one of the many
terraces that surround the Place Djemaa El Fna however there's a time to do
that and it's as night falls for the best views of sunset over the city.
By day grab a quick orange juice on the move at one of the many fruit
juice stalls. Expect to pay (Correct as at November 2012)
How much does orange juice cost on the Djemaa el
Fna?
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Fresh Orange Juice- 4 Dirham (Jus D'Orange)
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Fresh Grapefruit Juice 10 Dirham (Jus Du Pompelmous)
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Fresh Lime Juice 10 Dirham (Jus Au Citron)
All drinks are prepared right in front of you by friendly sellers who
will provide a small amount of banter to visit their stall. If you're brave try
the Lime juice which is very tart and packs amazing flavour if your palette
will allow. We even saw a seller offering a shot of grappa in your juice if you
wished despite consumption of alcohol being forbidden within the view of a
mosque. Coincidently the stall had an excellent view of Koutoubia Mosque!
It's popular for the juice sellers to allow you to have a photo taken
behind the stall (see below for a typical example). It's always recommended to
leave a small tip as a thank you
If you don't want a
drink just say "No Thank You" and keep walking.
Grab Yourself a Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice on the Djemaa El Fna
Fancy Some Snails? French Culinary Influence in Marrakech
While it might seem like a scene from 'I'm a Celebrity- Get Me out Of
Here'. Snails are a delicacy to consider sampling whilst you're in Marrakech.
For around 10 Dirham’s (About $1.20 usd or £0.70gbp) you can take the
plunge into trying L'escargot when eating in Marrakech- A bastion of French
inspired culinary delights. A small bowl is a great early evening snack as an
appetizer to your main meal and at the advertised prices you're not going to
lose out if you choose they're not for you.
Snail is also an
extremely healthy food with mainly consisting of around 80% water, 15% Protein
and just 2.4% Fat according to the Dietary Fibre Food website
French influence on Marrakech Food- Snails
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| A snail seller in Marrakesh- French influence on Moroccan cuisine |
It's Not ASDA Price. Not even Primani Price. It's Not Just Food, It's
Better Than M+S Food
Marakshi's are great salespeople and the food stalls and open air
restaurants on the Djemaa El Fna employ a number of touts to drive tourists and
locals into their respective dining rooms and earn themselves a living. These salespeople
have an amazing skill for languages and developing a rapport with potential
customers.
Their knowledge of the English language comes from a lot of television
and in particular adverts so be prepared for someone that comes across as a
young Moroccan 'Derrick Trotter'.
One of our favourite touts came to us with the line
"It's Not ASDA Price. Not even Primani Price. It's Not Just Food, It’s
Better Than M+S Food"
In some ways that's
a part of their charm. It has a comic edge to it which really breaks the ice
and gets complete strangers sat together talking. Just because you're not
English doesn't mean you're safe- One Australian group of females we spoke to
told us of how they'd been advised that the chef would 'Fire Up The Barbie,
Sheila'. It's all in good humour.
What to expect at the Djemaa El Fna Food Stalls
Upon sitting down you'll be issued with a menu board which will show you
what your chosen food stall has available although a range of the below are
likely to be available depending on the stall. All served with a piece of the
local khobz (unleavened flat bread) to soak up any grease and a plate of tomato
or deliciously spicy chilli based dip.
Harissa- A local soup delicacy. A good vegetarian option made with chick
peas
Brochettes- meat skewers and kebabs. Generally of lamb
Vegetable Couscous- A Berber traditional classic served with fluffy
couscous that locals eat by hand.
Shrimps, Octopus
and the option of a Mixed Fish Plate for around 60-70 Dirham's.
Poisson Mixte- Mixed Fish at a Djemaa El Fna Food Stall, Marrakech
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| A plate of mixed fish on the Djemaa el Fnaa, Marrakesh |
Sweet and Savoury All in One Mouthful- Pastilla
Moroccan Pastilla is a traditional Berber delicacy and is definitely
worth tasting on any trip to Marrakech. It is effectively a sweet and savoury
pie made with traditional werqa dough with a savoury spiced meat centre topped with sugar. Sometimes the
meat is chicken and sometimes it is made with pigeon.
For a Pastilla you'll pay around 30 Dirham on the Djemaa El Fna.
The savoury and
sweet elements complement each other well with a distinct taste of cinnamon
spiced meat (You'll see 'Cannelle' which is its French translation on lots of
menu boards).
Dining Out On a Budget in Marrakech
The Food Stalls on the Djemaa el Fna are exceptionally good value if you
want a light dinner or a full 3 course meal.
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| A buffet fit for a king (and queen) for less than twenty quid. |
Be aware that the khobz and any dips often have a small charge attached
to them (generally about 5 Dirham) however everything you can wish for is
exceptionally well priced by Western standards. You'll get a meal for a family
on the food stalls for the cost of one person at home. This makes dining on a
budget a realistic possibility during your visit to Marrakesh.
It's also traditional for
the stall to serve you Moroccan Mint Tea as an after dinner drink.
Marrakech Is a Barbecue Lovers Heaven
Traditionally the Berber people of Morocco cooked over hot coals and
that tradition has been maintained when you're eating out in Marrakesh on the
Djemaa el Fna. Look for the small number of food stalls with smoke bellowing
upwards towards the panoramic terrace of the Restaurant Glacier to the
South-East of the square near the office of Maroc Poste.
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| Cooked over a chargrill |
You can watch and
smell as your meat skewers are cooked to perfection in front of you. It's
cooking at its most simplistic but it makes for some of the most succulent meat
you'll taste from a barbecue. Expect to pay between 30-60 dirham for brochettes
depending on your choice from the menu.
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| Carnivore Heaven on the Djemaa el Fna- Brochettes- Kebab Style Meat Skewers |
Go for the Sheep’s Head If You're Feeling Adventurous
If you're feeling adventurous visit the stall that's serving up Sheep
and Goat's Heads.
For Dessert Head to the Spice Cake Stalls
To the Western side of the food stalls are a row of separate cake stalls
for the sweet toothed amongst us. These sell a selection of flavour packed
spice cakes for you to really indulge your taste buds
Wash the spice
cakes down with a cup of Ginseng and Cinnamon Tea but be prepared to be awake
for the rest of the evening. A cup of tea will set you back around 5 Dirham.
