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 rooftop bar and restaurant facing the Koutoubia, serving cocktails, Mediterranean dishes and sushi from late morning until 02:00, with DJs and live music.
Good to know
Kabana is a rooftop bar and restaurant on Rue Fatima Zahra, at the edge of the medina just north of the Koutoubia, and its open-air terrace looks straight across to the great minaret. That view, especially at sunset when the tower turns golden and then lights up, is the main reason people come, and it has made Kabana one of the most popular rooftop spots in the city.
The drinks list covers cocktails, wine and spirits, which is still relatively unusual in the medina, and the bar team mixes both classics and house creations. The food menu blends Mediterranean-inspired dishes with a sushi selection, so you can stay for a full dinner or simply share a few plates with your drinks. In the evening the mood becomes more energetic, with DJ sets and live music on the terrace.
It suits couples, groups of friends and solo travellers looking for a sociable place to watch the sun go down, and it works as a first stop before dinner elsewhere or as a destination in its own right. The atmosphere is relaxed in the afternoon and livelier later on, so choose your time according to the mood you want. Younger children may find the late-evening music loud.
Kabana is open every day from 11:00 to 02:00, which makes it useful for a long lunch with a view as well as for evening drinks. Book through the website if you want a table at sunset, as the best spots along the edge of the terrace are taken first. The venue can also be booked for private events. Access is by stairs. Allow an hour or two.
The bar is a few minutes' walk from the Koutoubia gardens and about five to ten minutes from Jemaa el-Fnaa, making it easy to combine with an evening in the square. Taxis can drop you on the nearby roads, and Le Salama and the rooftops around the square are within walking distance if you want to continue your evening. El Fenn is also close by. In winter, evenings on the terrace can turn cool after sunset, so bring a light layer. Weekends are the busiest time, and the terrace may be reserved for private events on some dates, so check before making a special trip.
Kabana is open every day from 11:00 to 02:00.
The open-air terrace overlooks the Koutoubia minaret.
Yes. It serves cocktails, wine and spirits.
Mediterranean-inspired dishes and a sushi selection.
Yes. There are DJ sets and live music.
Booking is advisable for sunset tables, through the official website.
About five to ten minutes on foot.
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.