A Guide to Morocco
There was so much to see and do while we were in Marrakech and I am eternally grateful to our wonderful guide for making our trip the best it could’ve possibly been – it’s because of his expertise and knowledge of the land that we were able to take in every site and experience everything the local way. But more than that, it was because of his hospitality and excellent service. Karim brought us everywhere and showed absolutely everything – and before we left, his wife prepared some authentic Moroccan pastries for us to bring back home. They were so delicious and fresh, you could just tell they were handmade with love.
Top: Bash Paris; Purse: Chanel; Shoes: Alexander Wang
So, in the spirit of paying it forward, here is my guide to your next trip to Morocco, because if you’re thinking of going, there is never enough time to take it in, so it’s best to go prepared!
Some of the more obvious things you might think to do while traipsing the streets of Marrakech include dromedary rides, ATV rides through the desert, taking in a sensational sunset and gaze at the stars, and of course, drink mint tea 4 or 5 times a day. There are the museums and cultural sites we all know about, but the real question is: where to eat, shop and party.
I ate like a queen while I was in Marrakech. The food is outstanding and because I’m already familiar with a lot of the flavours and cook some of the stuff myself at home, it felt like brand new cuisine mixed with comfort food all at the same time. The presentation everywhere you went was always magnificent, but I think we can chalk that up to the bold colours they use in all their cooking. A few great restos I can vouch for are: Terrasse des épices, Café de la poste, Royal Mansour, Nomad and Le Jardin. The salads are bountiful and the desserts are so good you won’t be able to eat just one (hence the 4 pounds I put on while I was there!). I personally loved the Palais Dar El Bacha for breakfast at the Bacha coffee, it’s in the palace and has the best croissant, and trust me, I’m a baker’s daughter, I know my croissant. They also had the biggest selection of coffee I’ve ever seen (move over Starbucks!).
I know some people love room service and hanging low while they’re away, but I just couldn’t get enough – plus, I love a great excuse to dress up and go out for a romantic din with my plus one! We loved La Sultana, Al Fassia, Palais Ronsard and Dar Yacout. There is always a mix of traditional and progressive cuisine everywhere you go, so no matter where you are, there is something you’ll find and love.
Before you head out, whether for dinner or for a night on the town, I love to make an extra pit stop for drinks – it just sets you in the mind frame for the night. We tried our own hotel for drinks La Mamounia, but there is also the Royal Mansour.
One of the more cultural experiences we had (outside of riding a dromedary, lol!), was taking in a show at dinner. It is so amazing to see how the culture is expressed through dance and music, through décor and even through the way we sat, so low to the ground and in such a beautiful red room. All shows are not created equal, but to my esteem, they are all so great. Jad Mahal – was the full experience and is so elegant (and not that touristic). The Comptoir Darna is also a nightclub and has been around for a pretty long time. Speaking of night clubs, the Babouchka was so spot on, if you had just one night to party in Marrakech, this is your place – best music and such a fun scene.
Now let’s talk shopping – the way to my heart. You might think that I’d be all about the glitz and glam, but I can shop a souk as good as the next chick (especially with Karim’s help!). We hit Max & Jan for a traditional/contemporary vibe, Cabi Chic for a resto/spa experience and I bought a beautiful tea set at La boutique la Mamounia. Then we hit the souk and visited Karim-approved shops: the Palais de la Menara has the most beautiful handmade antiques, Château des souks has incredible carpets, L’ourika costumes kaftans straight out of a movie, and the Galerie dar El Bacha – trust me, you’ll be glad you stopped by. No trip is complete without a little high-end shopping, and so we hung out on 33 rue Majorelle and took in some upscale fashion, accessories and even home décor.
Our trip was out of this world for so many reasons, and I’m not kidding when I saw that Karim is one of those reasons! You might think I’m playing him up, but he’s legit. In fact, here’s his contact! No joke!
