Restaurant
Nomad
A modern Moroccan restaurant just off the spice square in the medina, reworking traditional dishes with fresh seasonal produce, open from noon until 23:00.
Al Fassia Guéliz
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.
At a glance
- Type
- Traditional Moroccan
- Area
- Guéliz, Marrakech, Morocco
- Price
- $$$ · Upscale
- Official site
- alfassia.com
Good to know
- Women-run kitchen and dining room
- Lunch and dinner
Why we recommend it
Al Fassia started in Guéliz with an idea that was unusual at the time: a restaurant where the cooks and the dining-room staff would all be women, trained in-house. The family behind it, founded by Mohammed Chab and his late wife Fatima, later opened a second branch, Al Fassia Aguedal, on the Ourika road, but the original on Boulevard Zerktouni remains the easier one to reach and serves both lunch and dinner.
The cooking sticks to the classic Moroccan repertoire, made with care and with produce from small local growers. Most meals begin with a spread of small cooked salads, such as aubergine, carrots, peppers and courgettes, eaten with bread. Then choose between pastilla, the sweet and savoury pigeon pie in fine layers of pastry that the restaurant is known for, slow-cooked tagines of lamb or chicken, and couscous. Briouates, small filled pastries, make a good shared starter. Leave room for Moroccan pastries and mint tea.
The dining room is comfortable rather than showy, with cushioned seating and white tablecloths, and the atmosphere is calm. It is popular with Marrakchi families and business diners as well as visitors, which says something about its consistency. Portions are generous, so sharing several dishes is the best approach for couples or groups. It also suits travellers who want a reliable introduction to Moroccan food in the new town rather than in the medina.
Book ahead, particularly for dinner and at weekends, by phone or through the website. Service is attentive but unhurried, so allow a couple of hours for a full meal.
The restaurant is on Boulevard Mohamed Zerktouni in central Guéliz, a short taxi ride from Jemaa el-Fnaa. It combines well with an afternoon at the Jardin Majorelle and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, and the bars and cafés of Guéliz, including Baromètre, are close by for a drink afterwards. If you prefer a garden setting for dinner, the Aguedal branch is the alternative. Taxis wait along Boulevard Zerktouni, so getting back to the medina after dinner is straightforward. The restaurant is in the commercial heart of Guéliz, so it is also convenient if you are staying in one of the new town's hotels.
Al Fassia Guéliz FAQs
Is Al Fassia run by women?
Yes. The restaurant was founded on the principle of an all-female team in the kitchen and dining room.
What is the signature dish?
The pigeon pastilla is the best-known dish, alongside tagines, couscous and cooked salads.
Does it serve lunch and dinner?
The Guéliz restaurant serves both lunch and dinner.
Do you need to book?
Yes, booking ahead by phone or online is advised, especially for dinner.
Is there more than one Al Fassia?
Yes. Al Fassia Aguedal on the Ourika road serves dinner in a garden setting.
How long should you allow for a meal?
About two hours for several shared courses.
Where is it?
On Boulevard Mohamed Zerktouni in central Guéliz.