TOP 5 AL FRESCO LUNCH SPOTS IN MARRAKECH
You can eat outside all year round in Marrakech. But spring and summer mean lingering just a little longer al fresco to soak up the sun. We’ve picked our favourite places to eat outside in the warmer months.
LUNCH IN THE COUNTRY
Built on an old olive grove, the vibe at Berber Lodge is laid-back chic. Lunch is served outside in the garden and cooked by a small team who serve a daily menu depending on what’s in season. Or head to the newly-opened Olinto Hotel in the Ouirgane Valley. Its stunning gardens provide a memorable backdrop to lunch on the terrace.
LUNCH WITH A VIEW
If you want lunch with a side of dramatic views, Bab Ourika is perched on the cusp of a hill with a 360 degree view of the beautiful Atlas Mountains. The hotel is about an hour’s drive from Marrakech so you’ll also get to see life in the Ourika Valley on your way there and the menu uses produce grown in the hotel gardens.
LUNCH WITH LUXURY
If you’re marking a special occasion, or just want to dial up the style factor, then head to Amanjena. The hotel design channels Moorish palace meets Zen luxury vibes. Salads, grilled meats and seafood are served on the gorgeous terrace – and pizzas are also freshly baked in the hotel’s wood-fired oven.
LUNCH WITH A SIDE OF POOL
A pool day with lunch at Beldi Country Club is a Marrakech institution. You’ll find fellow travellers there throughout the week, but it’s also the place to be for Marrakchis at the weekend. They all come for the beautiful pool surrounded by olive trees. After lunch at the terrace restaurant, spend the rest of the day beside the pool with a bottle of rose. Or two.
LUNCH WITH SOUL
Friday couscous in the garden of the Amal Cafe is a great way to eat really authentic food – and support a non-profit organisation that trains disadvantaged women for jobs in the catering industry. The cafe at their headquarters serves food all week but on Fridays the women prepare a delicious couscous that’s served on platters in the pretty garden. It’s always packed.
