Moroccan Food Guide: What to Eat in Marrakech?

Moroccan cuisine is one of the richest in the Mediterranean basin, blending spices, slow cooking and a real art of the table. Here are the essentials to try during your stay in Marrakech.

Tagine, the iconic dish

Named after the cone-lidded clay pot it's cooked in, tagine slow-simmers meat or fish with vegetables and spices, gently preserving every flavour. Chicken with olives and preserved lemon, lamb with prunes, or a vegetable tagine: every family has its own recipe.

Friday couscous

Traditionally served on Fridays, the day of communal prayer, Moroccan couscous pairs steamed semolina with vegetables and meat in a fragrant broth. It's a convivial dish, often shared from one large platter among family or friends.

Pastilla, sweet meets savoury

Originally from Fez and now found across Morocco, pastilla layers thin, crisp pastry (warqa) with a filling — traditionally pigeon, today often chicken or seafood — almonds, and a dusting of icing sugar and cinnamon. A genuinely unique contrast of flavours.

In Morocco, mint tea isn't just a drink — it's a ritual of hospitality, poured from height to form a light foam on top.

Mint tea, the art of hospitality

Nicknamed "Moroccan whisky", mint tea accompanies every moment of conviviality. Made with green tea, a generous handful of fresh mint and sugar, it's enjoyed at any time of day — breakfast included.

Street food at Jemaa el-Fna

From nightfall, Jemaa el-Fna square fills with smoking food stalls: grilled skewers, harira (a traditional soup), snails, msemen (flaky pancakes) and freshly squeezed orange juice. An experience worth having at least once during your stay.

Moroccan breakfast at Riad Davina

You don't have to go far for a first taste of local flavours: every morning, Riad Davina serves a generous continental breakfast — coffee, tea, milk, fruit juice, pancakes, pastries, eggs, omelette, fresh fruit, cheese, butter, honey, jam and bread. The perfect way to fuel up before setting off to discover the flavours of Marrakech. Learn more about your stay on our Why Choose Riad Davina page.