Le Foundouk

A foundouk was the North African equivalent of a caravanserai: a building near the city gates where travelling merchants lodged with their animals and stored their goods. Le Foundouk occupies one of these old inns in the northern medina, restored in its entirety in 2000 and converted into a restaurant and bar. The arrangement of rooms around a central courtyard still reflects its original purpose.

The menu brings together Moroccan and international cooking, so you can choose between familiar tagines and couscous and lighter Mediterranean-style dishes. It also has a proper cocktail bar for an aperitif, which is still relatively rare inside the medina, and the dining rooms are air-conditioned for hot evenings. Group menus are available for larger parties.

The roof terrace is the best place to sit when the weather allows. It looks out over the medina rooftops, and after sunset it is lit by candles, which makes it a favourite for couples. The restaurant has been included in international lists of rooftop dining spots, and the view at dusk explains why. Inside, the courtyard and salons are atmospheric in cooler months.

Opening times are listed slightly differently on different pages of the website, but the restaurant states that it is closed on Wednesdays and focuses on evening service. Book ahead online, especially for a terrace table, and confirm the times when you reserve. Allow two hours for dinner. Expect stairs to reach the roof terrace.

Le Foundouk is in the northern medina near the Musée de Marrakech and the Ben Youssef Madrasa. If you come by taxi, ask to be dropped at the Mokef, the nearest landmark, and walk the last few minutes; the restaurant suggests this route. On foot, it is about fifteen to twenty minutes from Jemaa el-Fnaa through the souks. Dinner here combines well with an afternoon at the madrasa and the museum, and the restaurant can advise on getting back to your riad after dark. Vegetarians will find options on both the Moroccan and international sides of the menu. The surrounding lanes are quiet at night, so it is sensible to agree a route back in advance or ask the staff to call a taxi to the Mokef.