Bar
Le Comptoir Darna
A long-running Hivernage restaurant and club combining Moroccan and Mediterranean dinners with belly dancing, live music and DJs every evening until late.
A Guéliz cocktail bar that calls itself Morocco's first mixology bar, using house-made infusions, bitters and spices, with an adjoining restaurant and mixology classes.
Good to know
Baromètre, in the heart of Guéliz, describes itself as Morocco's first mixology bar, and it remains the address that cocktail enthusiasts seek out in Marrakech. Its interior has a North African flavour, with hammered copper, latticework and a back bar lined with jars of spices and botanicals that hint at what goes into the drinks.
The team makes its own infusions, bitters and macerations, and the cocktail list draws heavily on Moroccan ingredients, from spices and herbs to citrus and flowers, giving familiar classics a local twist. If you are unsure what to order, ask for a recommendation based on the spirits and flavours you enjoy. An adjoining restaurant serves fusion dishes if you want to eat before or after drinks.
The bar also runs mixology classes in the late afternoon before it opens for the evening, a fun option for a group of friends or a couple wanting a hands-on activity. Classes have limited places, so arrange them in advance. In the evening the atmosphere is sociable but conversation-friendly, suited to couples, friends and solo travellers who appreciate a well-made drink rather than a club.
The bar opens in the evening, and weekend tables fill quickly, so booking ahead is wise on Fridays and Saturdays. Cocktail prices are high by local standards but typical for a specialist bar. Allow an hour or two. Note that as an alcohol-focused venue it is aimed at adults.
Rue Moulay Ali is in central Guéliz, the new town, a short taxi ride from Jemaa el-Fnaa. It is close to Al Fassia Guéliz and the Grand Café de la Poste, so it pairs naturally with dinner in the area. Guéliz is generally easier to navigate at night than the medina, with taxis readily available on the main boulevards for the trip back to your hotel. If you are visiting the Jardin Majorelle or the Musée Yves Saint Laurent during the day, an evening drink here makes a natural end to a day in the new town. Note that the official website gives little information, so phone or check recent listings for current opening times before making a special journey. Groups of more than a few people should reserve, as seating is limited and the bar is popular with residents as well as visitors.
A cocktail bar in Guéliz that describes itself as Morocco's first mixology bar.
The team makes its own infusions, bitters and macerations, often using Moroccan spices and botanicals.
Yes. An adjoining restaurant serves fusion dishes.
Yes. Mixology classes run in the late afternoon before the bar opens.
In the evening; classes take place beforehand.
Booking is advisable, especially at weekends.
On Rue Moulay Ali in central Guéliz.
Restaurant
A long-established Guéliz restaurant run by an all-female team, serving traditional Moroccan cooking such as pigeon pastilla, tagines and a spread of cooked salads.
Café
A relaxed café overlooking the medina's spice square, with a roof terrace of low tables and cushions, Moroccan breakfasts, fresh juices and light meals.
Attraction
Jacques Majorelle's cobalt-blue villa and cactus garden, later owned by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, with a museum of Amazigh culture inside the villa.
Thing to do
The medina's main square, recognised by UNESCO for its oral heritage, where juice stalls, performers and storytellers give way to open-air food stalls at night.