9 Best Restaurants in Morocco

Founded in 1928 as the town’s first store, gas station, post office, telephone booth, dance hall, and restaurant, Dimitri's is the fun and lively heart of Ouarzazate, and the food—whether Greek, Moroccan, or even Thai—is invariably excellent. The owners are friendly and helpful, and the signed photographs of legendary movie stars on the walls are sometimes enhanced by real stars at the next table.

This modern terrace café at the edge of the Marrakesh Plaza, in the heart of Guéliz, is a popular lunch spot. The range of salads is imaginative, and even the half portion makes a satisfying meal; main dishes include chicken in mushroom sauce as well as several great pasta options. A kids' menu is available, as well as ice cream, delicious homemade pastries, and cakes.

If you're looking for light, healthy meals or snacks Ayaso functions as both a restaurant and a specialty food store catering to vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets. The fresh juices and smoothies are worth the stop alone.

Fantastic camel tagines remain the highlight of the largely international menu at this beachside restaurant, as the name suggests. Like its neighbors, it caters to all audiences with candlelit tables, flat-screen TVs, live music, and a wine list. The restaurant also has a private beach area where you can rent a sun bed and get food and drinks delivered. It's not a great option for vegetarians, but everyone will enjoy watching the evening promenade along the beach.

Snazzy, jazzy, and a little razamatazzy, Le Comptoir is a fusion of bar, club, and restaurant that's been a nighttime draw for hip Marrakshis and visitors since the turn of the 21st century. The restaurant serves Moroccan, international, and Asian dishes; it's expensive, but the main attraction isn't the food, it's the trendy atmosphere and free entertainment---live musicians, belly-dance cabaret (starting at 10:30 pm), and an upstairs DJ spinning chilled-out world-music vibes until 3 am. There's a small dance floor for those who want to swirl to the tunes.

Upon entering, you’re greeted by a wall of lanterns reflected in a central pool, and meals are served in six intimate areas, each with a different decorative scheme (imagine an Amazigh salon or a patio with tables on terraces surrounded by water). The food is imaginative, mixing French-Moroccan influences in dishes such as confit of rabbit, with spices, honey, and peach sauce. Fine cuisine and a magical setting combine to make dining at La Kasbah des Sables a special event.

This family-run and family-friendly eatery at the edge of Guéliz serves up tasty homemade French-style tarts and quiches, along with daily specials such as moussaka with salad. On Thursday the house special is English-style fish-and-chips, which are possibly the best in town. The French owners, Axel and Charlotte, are both delightful and you'll soon feel like part of the family. Fresh juices, and homemade cakes and desserts such as strawberry gâteau and lemon-meringue pie, are served in huge portions.

It's cash only and there's no alcohol.

Le Loft is popular for its chic setting and bistro menu of steaks, giant Caesar salads, pasta dishes, and various vegetarian options. Bentwood chairs, cushioned booths, bare brick walls, suspended industrial lighting, and huge pop-art prints give a funky, modern vibe. It can also get very smoky and noisy. The fixed-price two-course lunch menu is a good value at 130 DH.

On a rooftop hidden deep within the northern quarter of the souks, this all-day (and evening) restaurant is a popular spot for expats, tourists, and trendy locals. The menu mixes Moroccan and international cuisine, with everything from fish tagine and tanjia (slow-cooked beef or lamb) to pasta dishes and steaks. The contemporary variations on a Moroccan theme extend also to the decor—intimate cushioned booths are lit by woven lampshades and decorated with modern artwork. It's a good place for families who want a little space out of the mayhem of the souks where tired kids can sprawl on the benches. In the evening, the lantern-lit terrace provides the perfect ambience for cocktails and music. Alcohol is served.