Tour operator
Plan-it Fez
A Fes-based company, trading as Plan-it Morocco, that runs food tours, cooking classes, medina and craft tours and day trips to Volubilis and the Middle Atlas.
Café Clock Cooking School
The classes programme of Café Clock in the Fes medina, covering traditional Moroccan cooking, baking and patisserie, oud, calligraphy and Moroccan culture.
At a glance
- Type
- Cooking and culture classes
- Area
- Fes el-Bali, Fes, Morocco
- Official site
- cafeclock.com
Good to know
- Cooking classes
- Baking and patisserie
- Oud and calligraphy lessons
Why we recommend it
Café Clock is best known as a café, but its classes have made it one of the most popular places in Fes to learn about Moroccan food and culture. The programme is run from the café's house on Derb El Magana, a lane off Tala'a Kebira near the Dar al-Magana water clock and the Bou Inania Madrasa, and it is part of the wider cultural mission of the café, which also hosts live music every night, storytelling and film screenings.
The traditional Moroccan cooking class is the most popular option. Classes have long included a visit to a local market to buy ingredients, followed by hands-on cooking and a meal of the dishes you have prepared. A separate baking and patisserie class is an excellent complement for anyone who has fallen for the pastries of the medina. The café publishes an FAQ page on its website covering how classes work.
The programme goes well beyond the kitchen. Café Clock offers oud lessons for anyone curious about the instrument at the heart of Arab music, Arabic calligraphy classes and a session called Moroccan Culture 101. Moroccan storytelling sessions are another way to engage with Moroccan culture beyond the monuments.
Classes suit solo travellers, couples and families, and the sociable atmosphere makes it easy to meet other visitors. Because the café is open every day from 9am to 11pm, you can combine a class with breakfast, lunch or an evening concert. Book ahead through the website or at the café, as cooking classes in particular can fill up, and mention dietary requirements when booking.
To find it, walk down Tala'a Kebira from Bab Bou Jeloud and follow the signs to the lane near the water clock opposite Bou Inania. The café also has branches in Marrakech and Chefchaouen, so if you enjoy the Fes programme you can look it up elsewhere in Morocco too. Café Clock is a good choice early in a trip, as it gives you skills and context that make the rest of your time in Fes richer. Founder Mike Richardson's idea of the café as a cultural meeting place is clear in the mix of visitors and local people who come for classes and concerts, and that exchange is a large part of the experience.
Café Clock Cooking School FAQs
What classes does Café Clock offer?
Traditional Moroccan cooking, baking and patisserie, oud lessons, Arabic calligraphy and Moroccan Culture 101.
Where are the classes held?
At Café Clock, 7 Derb El Magana, off Tala'a Kebira in the medina.
Do cooking classes include a market visit?
Cooking classes have traditionally included a market visit to buy ingredients; check the current format when booking.
How do I book?
Through the café's website or in person at the café.
Can I combine a class with a meal?
Yes. The café is open daily from 9am to 11pm.
Is there entertainment too?
Yes, live music every night, storytelling and cinema screenings.
Is it suitable for solo travellers?
Yes, the sociable atmosphere makes it easy to meet others.
Are there other branches?
Yes, in Marrakech and Chefchaouen.