Café Clock Marrakech

Café Clock began in Fez and opened its Marrakech branch in 2014 in a former school building in the Kasbah district. The project was created by its founder, Mike Richardson, and from the start it set out to be more than a café: a meeting place where visitors and young Marrakchis share food, music, stories and classes.

The menu mixes modern Moroccan dishes with international café favourites, iced drinks and coffee. The camel burger is the signature that most first-time visitors order, but vegetarians are well catered for, with options such as falafel bowls and a vegetable pastilla. The roof terrace has views across the rooftops of the Kasbah and is a pleasant place to watch the sunset.

What sets Café Clock apart is its cultural programme. Live music is a regular fixture, with Amazigh and gnaoua concerts among the sessions, and there are informal exhibitions by local artists. Its storytelling evenings, where local storytellers perform traditional hikayat in a mix of Darija and English, revive an art once found in Jemaa el-Fnaa and are a memorable way to spend an evening. The café also runs workshops in subjects such as Moroccan cooking, calligraphy, Darija and the oud, which can be booked through the website.

It suits solo travellers, families and anyone curious about contemporary Moroccan culture, and the atmosphere is friendly and informal. Check the website or call ahead for the current events programme and opening times, as they vary through the week and the seasons. Allow an hour for a meal, or longer if you stay for an event. The building has several levels connected by stairs.

Café Clock is in the Kasbah, in the southern medina, about fifteen to twenty minutes' walk from Jemaa el-Fnaa, close to Bab Agnaou and the Saadian Tombs. It makes a good lunch stop on a day spent visiting the Kasbah's monuments and El Badi Palace, or an evening outing combined with dinner and a show. Petits taxis can drop you near Bab Agnaou, from where it is a short walk through the Kasbah lanes; ask locally for Derb Chtouka if you lose your way. Workshops have limited places, so book a few days ahead if there is a particular class you want to join, and check whether ingredients or materials are included. The café's staff can also suggest other cultural events taking place in the city during your stay, which is useful if you want to go beyond the main sights.