Café
Bacha Coffee
An opulent coffee salon inside the Dar El Bacha palace museum, serving a long list of 100 per cent Arabica coffees with pastries and light meals.
Café des Épices
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.
At a glance
- Type
- Café with roof terrace
- Area
- Medina (Rahba Kedima), Marrakech, Morocco
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:00–23:00
- Official site
- cafedesepices.ma
Good to know
- Roof terrace
- Moroccan breakfast
- Fireplace indoors
- Vegetarian options
Why we recommend it
Café des Épices sits on Rahba Kedima, the triangular spice square in the middle of the souks, and it has become one of the most popular places in the medina to stop for a drink and a rest. It belongs to the same family of venues as Nomad, which stands at the other corner of the square, and it shares the same relaxed, modern approach to Moroccan hospitality.
Inside, the walls are finished in red Marrakech tadelakt, the traditional polished lime plaster, and the decoration by Anne Favier draws on Moroccan art and crafts. There are wooden tables and chairs and a fireplace for cooler winter days. The roof terrace is the place to be in good weather, with low tables and Berber cushions, views over the square below and, on clear days, the Atlas Mountains on the horizon.
The menu is broad and reasonably priced. A traditional Beldi breakfast is served from 09:00 to 12:00, and later in the day there are fresh seasonal juices, salads with vegetarian options, burgers served in traditional bread, sardine dumplings and Moroccan pastries and desserts. It is equally good for a full lunch or just a mint tea and a slice of cake while you watch the trading in the square below.
The café opens every day from 09:00 to 23:00, which makes it a handy fallback at almost any time. Seats on the upper terrace fill up around midday and sunset, so arrive a little before if you want a view. It suits solo travellers, couples and families alike, and staff are used to visitors lingering. The roof terrace is reached by stairs, which may be a consideration for visitors with limited mobility.
Rahba Kedima is about ten minutes' walk north of Jemaa el-Fnaa through Souk Semmarine. The square itself is worth a look before or after your visit, with stalls selling spices, baskets, hats and traditional cosmetics. Nomad is across the square for a more substantial meal, the Mouassine quarter is a short walk west, and the Ben Youssef Madrasa is within fifteen minutes on foot to the north. Card payment is not guaranteed in every medina café, so it is sensible to carry some cash.
Café des Épices FAQs
What are the opening hours?
The café is open every day from 09:00 to 23:00.
When is breakfast served?
A traditional Beldi breakfast is served from 09:00 to 12:00.
Does it have a terrace?
Yes. The roof terrace overlooks the spice square and, on clear days, the Atlas Mountains.
Is it expensive?
No. The menu is reasonably priced for the medina.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes. Salads and several other dishes are suitable for vegetarians.
Is it connected to Nomad?
Yes. Both belong to the same family of venues and face each other across Rahba Kedima.
How do you get there?
Walk about ten minutes north from Jemaa el-Fnaa through Souk Semmarine to Rahba Kedima.