Marakesh is something of an institution. As the only Moroccan restaurant in the capital, it’s famed for its post-midnight, buzzing atmosphere which is fuelled on occasion by belly dancers, deafening music and the odd disco light flashing across the walls. Unless you’re there on one of the buffet evenings, or attending one of the many private functions the restaurant hosts though, the venue is much quieter. All the predictable Moroccan dishes are on the menu, including tagines, couscous and mixed grills.
It reads slightly better than it tastes – promises of sweet flavours and exotic spices translate into far less dramatic platefuls, but for the most part they’re all cooked tenderly and authentically. Service can be outrageously slow, but is warm and charming enough that you can overlook that, so Marakesh is definitely worth a visit, if just for a meal that’s a little bit different.
