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What’s it like to solo travel Marrakech? Read on for my experience and tips on the best places to eat and drink, where to stay and things to do, whether you’re travelling solo or otherwise.
Solo Travel Marrakech Contents
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SOLO TRAVEL IN MARRAKECH: WHAT IS IT LIKE?
Souks filled with spices, textiles, leather and glassware; beautiful architecture covered in brightly coloured tiles and carved plaster; an abundance of rooftop cafes and bars.
All of these things meant I was sure this city would swiftly become one of my favourite destinations, but in reality I found it quite tricky to solo travel Marrakech as a female.
Stepping into Marrakech feels like a sensory overload that took me a few days to get used to and I found how disorientating the Medina was to be quite stressful – something that threw me a lot as I’m usually like a homing pigeon!
There is of course the extra unwanted male attention you’ve probably heard about, though I do think this can be minimised by wearing culturally appropriate clothing (as you should do anyway) and simply not reacting to it.
I’m quite good at blocking this sort of thing out – let’s face it, if you’re a woman you’ve probably been heckled in your home town on the reg. It’s crap, but it’s par for the course a lot of the time. I do want to state that I never felt unsafe, but I did feel like I needed to be more alert than I might be elsewhere.
Overall, I simply think that Marrakech would be more fun with a few pals, and would advise that if you’re not a practised solo traveller to choose somewhere else for that adventure.
Throw in some disappointing restaurants and a bad bout of food poisoning, it certainly wasn’t my favourite destination, but despite the some negatives I’ve talked about in this post (just trying to be honest!), there are lots of great things about this city. Wonderful architecture, great sights and museums, far too much good shopping for my baggage allowance and oh my, the riads! Just beautiful.
FOOD AND DRINK IN MARRAKECH
Food and travel are intrinsically linked to how much I enjoy a place. Disappointing food has really hindered my experience of a place in the past (Philippines) and elevated others beyond my dreams (Italy, Mexico, Thailand).
I can’t sugar coat it, the food in Marrakech really fell short of my expectations. I definitely found my groove with places as my time there went on, so I’m not sure if I simply don’t love Moroccan cuisine or whether I was going to recommended places that just weren’t my cup of tea – maybe a bit of both.
I will mention a bit about places I didn’t rate as highly as everyone else seems to here, because they will come up as recommendations a lot and I’d rather give you my honest opinion on them rather than not be thorough.
Given a lot of places don’t sell alcohol in Morocco, I’ve also listed this where relevant as I know for many people that may dictate whether they have lunch or dinner there. There will certainly be no judgement from me!
Kabana
Kissariat Ben Khaled R’Mila, 1 Rue Fatima Zahra
Serves alcohol
I really liked this spot! I only went for a drink and a small plate (cigarettes of feta in filo with honey and pistachio – banging) but would absolutely book for a full sunset dinner here next time. It’s not the cheapest – one cocktail, aforementioned small plate/starter and a large water cost me around £30 which was a bit of a shock for the opening drink of the trip, but given how a lot of places I was recommended didn’t live up to my expectations, I would say this place is worth it.
It’s got a great vibe and the rooftop is beautifully designed – well protected from the sun with plenty of parasols in the day and the misters periodically cooling you down. The sun sets in the distance behind Koutubia Mosque, so it’s one of the better rooftop views you’ll get in Marrakech.
El Fenn
Derb Moulay Abdullah Ben Hezzian, 2
Serves alcohol
Very much one of those places that make you queue and then it appears there was no need when you actually make it inside, El Fenn is just the right side of A Bit Pretentious – the kind of place that you can forgive because it does what it does well, and has a lovely vibe in a gorgeous setting.
A beautifully designed rooftop with a bar in the middle and an inviting pool to one side (only for hotel guest use unfortunately, I checked), this is a lovely spot for drinks. I had a great raspberry mojito and the popcorn chicken from the bar bites menu (banging), rounded off with a Moroccan white as the sun set over the Kotubia Mosque.
DarDar Rooftop
4 Rue Riad Zitoun el Kdim
Serves alcohol
DarDar was GREAT. I made a booking two weeks in advance and yet still could not get a space on the roof, so make sure to be super organised with this one. I had a table inside and had two of the small sharing plates, with the intention of having at least four as the menu read so well.
Sadly the small stomach/solo travel issues kicked in and I was full after a stunning plate of tuna tataki and some excellent duck spring rolls. This would be a sure fire return on another trip and I wouldn’t say no to two sittings given the calibre of the food.
Mazel Cafe
8 Place des Ferblantiers
No alcohol
Great little cafe to stop for lunch before or after exploring Bahia Palace and El Badi. I ate a fresh pita stuffed to the brim with delicious pulled lamb and mint sauce, washed down with a fresh lemonade. Lovely spot, good for people watching – and cheap, too.
Kosybar Marrakech
Place des Ferblantiers
Serves alcohol
Cute shaded rooftop near to Bahia Palace and El Badi. I didn’t eat here as I’d just eaten at Mazel across the way, but enjoyed a couple of glasses of white Moroccan wine whilst reading my book and hiding from the blazing midday sun.
Bacha Coffee
Dar El Bacha, Rte Sidi Abdelaziz
Set in the Museum of Confluences, Bacha Coffee is super famous and expensive for reasons I’m still not entirely sure of. The museum (and therefore the Bacha Coffee Café) opens at 10am, and by 9.30am there will be a fairly sizeable queue at the door, so factor that in.
Should you rock up later, say at 2pm like I did, you may be told that the wait for the café is 3 hours (!!) long. You do get a buzzer so you don’t have to actually hang around that long in person, but I decided seeing the museum (more beautiful Moroccan architecture) and grabbing some Bacha Coffee from the shop would suffice.
I always buy coffee abroad to take home, but definitely check which one you’re going for at Bacha as I very nearly accidentally parted with £60 for a 250g bag of beans. They do come in a pretty bag though.
Nomad
1 Derb Aarjane
No alcohol
Nomad is one place that comes up repeatedly when you ask around for recs for Marrakech. I could be convinced to re-visit if my travel companions were super keen, but given the amount of people raving about it, I did think it was a little overrated. It’s one of those places that’s seemingly difficult to get a reservation, but then have plenty of space when you actually arrive (which I found with a few places in Marrakech).
It’s a beautifully designed restaurant with gorgeous inside space and a terrace set over two levels, overlooking Souk Epices. I had the beetroot, goat’s cheese and lentil salad which was good, but honestly I wasn’t that enthralled by the menu, and I missed having a glass of wine at this spot.
Had this been one of the places that serve booze and had it not been 38 degrees, I may have stayed longer and Nomad may have warmed to be a little more – certainly enough people seem to really rate it given how much it comes up. But sometimes the vibe is just not vibing!
Cafe des Epices
75 Derb Rahba Lakdima
No alcohol
Cafe des Epices is from the same group of restaurants as Nomad but I enjoyed it more than the former. Although in fairness, the more I think about it, the more I think the 38 degree heat may have hindered my enjoyment of Nomad somewhat. Anyway, lovely spot for lunch, set over a few floors with a rooftop overlooking Souk Epices. The hummus and salads are good!
Narwama
Rue Koutoubia
Serves alcohol
Narwama is tucked away really well, but when you reach it you’ll find a beautiful open air restaurant set with tables all in the round, focusing on the centre of the courtyard where you will be periodically entertained by traditional musicians and belly dancers. It’s a lot of fun! Be sure to arrive for a later sitting to catch this part, as whilst the food is decent (the menu is a mix of Moroccan and Thai), the real draw is the entertainment.
La Pergola
Rue Riad Zitoun el Kdim
Serves alcohol
A wrap-around rooftop bar that looks down onto the pool of the riad it’s built at the top of, La Pergola is a lovely shaded escape. They have a long list of cocktails on a happy ‘hour’ running from lunchtime to early evening, and around 9pm onwards they have live jazz wafting up from the poolside to entertain you.
Atay Cafe
62 rue amsafah, Rte Sidi Abdelaziz
No alcohol
Set over a few floors, with two levels of terrace with sweeping views of the Atlas Mountains, Atay Café is a really great lunch spot in the medina and the perfect place to break from shopping.
Their cheese briouats were fantastic (definitely order a multiple plates of these if there are a few of you – at least two servings), and although their chips were a little anemic, the chicken skewers were well marinated and served with a good harissa mayo.
Limoni
40 Rue Diour Saboun
No alcohol (officially..?)
In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have persevered with my dinner plans at Limoni when battling food poisoning, but it was my final night and I had to try. A genuinely good Italian, my tagliatelle with Bolognese was gorgeous, even if I couldn’t finish it due to aforementioned illness. The pasta was clearly freshly made and was served with a ‘help yourself’ bowl of parmesan, which is always an insant way to my heart.
Limoni is technically a no alcohol zone, but I’ve heard there is booze available off menu, and I know an Aperol spritz when I see one, even if it is served in a tumbler. I can also spot the difference between a coke and red wine, even from a distance.
Good Italian food and sneaky drinks served under big lemon trees in an old riad, through an unassuming antique door? This is essentially a perfect dining experience to me. I need to go back to Marrakech to do Limoni justice.
Terrasse des Epices
Sidi Abdel Aziz، 15 souk cherifia
Serves alcohol
I’m including this place at the end to say my piece on it, because it comes up in all recommendations, even from the riads I stayed in. I don’t usually write about places I don’t rate, I’m not a critic. But this place disappointed me hugely. I paid £20 for an overcooked piece of salmon that was served with grated parmesan (ew).
I should’ve complained; I was too tired to bother. Other people rate this place highly, so give it a go if you must but definitely do not order the salmon, and be prepared to pay a higher price than a lot of other restaurants in Marrakech.
Cafe Chez Zaza
Bab Ftouh, 40000, 21
No alcohol
Traditional home cooked Moroccan food at affordable prices. The restaurant has a rooftop terrace, perfect for people watching whilst you wait for your food.
Sabich Marrakech
Dar El Bacha, N° 110 Rue Fatima Zahra
No alcohol
Tiny hole-in-the-wall place in the medina selling fantastic pita sandwiches with fillings like chicken, tuna and saffron slow cooked beef. Good fuel for your shopping afternoon as it’s right by a lot of the souks.
Le Jardin
Rue Harroun Errachid Quartier de
No alcohol
Le Jardin serves a mix of traditional Moroccan dishes such as tagine, chicken couscous, briouates, and western food like chicken sandwiches, burgers and lamb chops amongst – you guessed it – a peaceful garden setting tucked away in the Medina.
Medina Burger
Au 1er étage du Medina Mall, 91 Avenue Homman Fetouaki
A slightly random addition, but Medina Burger serves fantastic burgers. A great alternative for lunch when you’re bored of tagine, or overdid it on the overpriced booze the night before.
WHERE TO STAY IN MARRAKECH
A lovely riad that’s available at a really good price. The aesthetics are gorgeous and the staff are wonderful; they couldn’t be more helpful. The roof terrace is tiered with some sunbeds, a plunge pool and seating where you can watch the sun set over Marrakech and eat breakfast looking out to the Atlas Mountains beyond. A gem of a place. Book here.
The interior design at Riad Rafaele is truly stunning, and the French couple who own the place are lovely. The door to the riad is hidden down what looks like a dodgy alley (it isn’t), but once you’re in, it’s a beautiful oasis, with an inviting swimming pool on the ground floor.
Beds and bedding are ridiculously comfortable and the attention to detail in the design accents are something else. Riad Rafaele has a rooftop where you can catch the sun, or have a drink at the small bar up there. The rooftop is where you’ll have breakfast, and they offer a set dinner which is excellent (booking in advance is required). Book here.
Be Marrakech is one of the most beautiful riads in Marrakech. The intricate tiles, plush furnishings and absolutely stunning softly lit pool is what hotel shaped dreams are made of. It’s in a great location, has it’s own restaurant and there is a terrace with the view of the medina. Book here.
Riad Kasbah’s courtyard pool is stunning, with thick mattress sunbeds and soft lighting framing it. Rooms are individually designed, there’s a spa on site and the riad also boasts a rooftop terrace with views of the Atlas mountains, which is where breakfast is served in the morning. Book here.
Located in an excellent area, Dar Kandi offers stunning design throughout the hotel. There is a gorgeous rooftop pool, so you can really catch the rays during a chilled afternoon; a rarity since many of the pools are on the ground floor of the riads. Book here.
THINGS TO DO IN MARRAKECH
Ben Youssef Madrasa
This 15th century college has been restored to its former glory and is without question my number one place to see in Marrakech. The detail in the tiles, carved walls and doors that surround the courtyard with reflecting pool in the middle is among the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.
Get there first thing if you want the place to yourself before the crowds arrive en masse, and be sure to take your time to go inside and upstairs to explore.
The House of Photography
A small but perfectly formed museum of the history of photography in Morocco in an old Riad, with a lovely courtyard, tumbling plants and a gorgeous terrace.
The museum is a short walk from Ben Youssef Madrasa, so a good one to combine and stop for a refreshment at their rooftop cafe with sweeping views across Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains.
Hamman
Getting a hammam in Morocco is a must – I recommend Les Bains D’Orient for a traditional hammam and a back massage: both were absolutely excellent.
Le Jardin Secret
A beautiful, calm oasis in the midst of Marrakech’s Medina, this garden is full of interior inspiration. There are two cafes inside to grab a mint tea or soft drink, one of them being on the terrace that overlooks the garden and pergola. Go early to beat the crowds.
Jardin Majorelle & Yves Saint Laurent Museum
Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic garden is full of tropical plants, beautiful landscaping and structures painted in bold green, yellow and bright blue. This is the one garden you must book online in advance and get there for your selected time slot – but it’s worth planning for.
A combined ticket will get you into the small Berber museum exhibit inside the gardens and the YSL museum next door. The latter doesn’t allow photography but the dresses on show inside are a stunning example of timeless elegance and exquisite draping.
El Badi Palace
Another palace, this time dating back to the 1500s, and very much left in ruins. An excellent example of palatial history in Marrakech.
Bahia Palace
Marrakech is not short of beautiful examples of architecture, and Bahia is another example of this. The former palace dates back to the mid 19th century and is absolutely worth a visit. It gets crowded by midday, so as with anywhere in Marrakech, it will be more enjoyable if you arrive first things and beat the crowds.
Jemaa el-Fnaa
The famous square bustling full of street food traders and snake charmers comes alive at dusk and late into the night. It’s classic Morocco, but if you want to stay out of the chaos (and risk bumping into a snake), stop for a mint tea at one of the rooftop cafes that surround and take in the square from above at sunset.
Souks and Medina
Marrakech’s Medina (ancient walled city) is full of different souks (markets) and any hotel or Riad will be able to tell you which souk to go to for spices, leather, glassware, ceramics, textiles.
The shopping in Marrakech is excellent; take a look at what you think you may want to buy towards the start of your trip, and then go out near the end in a targeted shopping trip. And haggle! It’s basically law.
GETTING TO MARRAKECH
Flights from London to Marrakech are around 3.5 hours long, so given the length it’s a good value flight to purchase with Avios points: 27500 Avios + £1 or 18500 Avios + £35.
I highly recommend booking an airport transfer with your riad for ease on arrival in Marrakech from your flight. It’ll cost you more, but taxis won’t give you a local rate, so you’ll end up spending more anyway. In addition, they will only be able to take you so far due to the narrow streets of the Medina, so without someone meeting you to help guide you to your riad it could get stressful.
GETTING AROUND MARRAKECH
Download offline Google maps or Maps.Me to help navigate the tricky streets of the Medina. Trust me, I can find my way almost anywhere, but Marrakech THREW me. You can easily walk around on foot in Marrakech if you have a map to refer to.
TIPS FOR MARRAKECH
- Stay in a riad within the Medina rather than a hotel outside. The riads are stunning, have few rooms and a lot are family run, so personable service tends to make your stay more special, plus their location is much better than if you stayed outside of the Medina.
- Factor in time to chill in the riad. Marrakech is hectic, so time on the rooftop or by the pool is a welcome and peaceful reprieve from the outside world. You’ll want to enjoy the beauty of the riad you choose to stay in.
- Dress appropriately. You will garner more unwanted attention if you’re knocking around in hot pants and a strappy top. Wear skirts and dresses below the knee, trousers and cover your shoulders. A loose shirt to throw over your outfit is a great shout.
- Be wary of scams. Locals will tell you that you MUST go to X, Y, Z and that it’s only open right now, until lunchtime for one day a month. They’re lying. I had someone tell me Le Jardin Secret was closed for prayer time. A minute later I had walked in to a very open Le Jardin Secret.
- Go in winter or shoulder season. It was unseasonably hot when I went (more like July temps for a few days) and it was incredibly trying. You can’t dictate the weather, but going between October and April will help avoid unbearable temperatures.
FOUND THIS SOLO TRAVEL MARRKECH GUIDE USEFUL? PIN FOR LATER!
Updated July 2025.
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