In love with Marrakech + mini travel guide
New year, new inspiration trip
New Year, New trips! Where we used to have good resolutions regarding healthier eating, less snacking, and more sleep, our resolutions nowadays are more focused on ‘just getting EVERYTHING out of life that it has to offer’. And for us, that means making even more beautiful trips together. Sunkissed 2018 ahead, that is our goal.
And we immediately take action on the good resolution. We celebrate New Year's Eve in the Netherlands and spontaneously book a trip to Marrakech right after before flying back to Bali. With Pris’ sister Charlene (she has her own business as a stylist and photographer Story River) and Eve's hubby to be Stephen, we board the plane. Boyfriend Arnaud is keeping watch at home in Bali and surfed into the new year. Marrakech it is, a city that has been on our wishlist for so long. The breathtaking riads, Instagrammable rooftops, walls, and kilometers of souks filled with wicker bags, rugs, and cushions seemed like a perfect reason for a fresh New Year's inspiration trip.
We set up an Instagram collaboration for two nights in a beautiful riad (a riad is a type of hidden boutique hotel, with a courtyard and a rooftop): Ryad Dyor, set up by a Spanish owner who also has several design villas in Bali and Ibiza. For the next three days, we explore the city (read: mainly a lot of delicious vegetarian food) and peek behind every door to treasure hunt in the souks. We also made a magical trip to the Agafay desert, something you really must do when you go to Marrakech.
Below are some of our favorite tips and a (tiny) guide for when you plan a trip to Marrakech:
Stay:
Ryad Dyor
Really a beautiful riad, within walking distance of the souks. A bit more luxurious than the other riads, as each room has a bit more privacy. There is a beautiful rooftop terrace where you also have breakfast, and a hammam!
Riad Jardin Secret
By far the most beautiful riad we have seen. The pink rooftop is truly heaven. The food is delicious; everything is vegetarian. If you’re not staying here, definitely book a lunch with star chef Mohammed.
El Fenn
You can get so much design inspiration from this place. Again, there is a beautiful rooftop terrace. And a plunge pool, awesome.
Berber Lodge
If you want to stay just a bit quieter outside the busy Marrakech, then this is a real design dream place.
Tip: arrange a driver through the riad where you are staying to pick you up and take you to the airport. Don’t try it with a taxi or public transport, that will cost you too much effort and stress.
Food:
Be Marrakech
You can also stay here, but if you stay somewhere else, you must plan a lunch here. By far, this is absolutely the place where we ate the best in all of Marrakech. You can book a lunch and dinner on the roof by reservation. Everything is vegetarian. Since that day, we have dreamed about this lunch every night. Forever missing it.
La Famille
This is a nice, hip spot to have lunch in a very beautiful garden, and there is also a boutique.
Nomad
Here you can dine during sunset on the rooftop. Do book your spot in advance. Café Des Épices and Le Jardin (both owned by the same owner) have become quite touristy, so nice to have eaten there, but not a real must, in our opinion.
Shopping in the Souks:
The medina (the old center) of Marrakech is the shopping paradise. It is a large maze of shops in small alleys, courtyards, large squares, and hidden shops behind large colored doors.
The most famous is of course the large square Djemaa el Fna. Now we are not really into tourist attractions, so we quickly passed by here, especially since they walk around with snakes that they happily put on your neck and because the pickpockets are clearly lurking. Okay, bye!
Below are a few hidden gems from the Souk that we found fantastic!
Mustapha
In this narrow street behind the large bronze door at address 144 Arset Azoual Road, you will find a three-story shop filled with interior treasures that will make your eyes pop. If you are looking for your ‘dream rug’, you will find it here.
Shoe stand
In that same street, we found the cutest shoeshop ever. We both bought about five pairs of sandals here, for about six euros each (see the negotiation tips below).
Bag paradise
The square of Nomad and Café Des Épices is filled with cute wicker baskets and bags in all sizes and shapes. There are also some breathtaking shops with rugs and poufs. For a straw roundie, you pay about five euros.
Spices and tea
Everywhere you find stalls with spices and tea. We bought a delicious rose tea blend and some special herbs to make delicious curries at home. They cost one dirham per hundred grams everywhere.
Tip: negotiate! We are somewhat used to it in Bali, so we managed quite well. And with Eve's dark brown locks, they also thought she might be local, so a big plus, haha.
Always start with a tenth of the price they ask. If they say a thousand dirhams, you say a hundred dirhams. And ‘work your way up’ until you reach a maximum of a third of the price they started with.
It doesn’t work if you see something and think: ‘I’ll come back later’. It’s a maze and besides, it’s too much effort. Like it? Get it.
Don’t be surprised if they suddenly start making it very difficult during the negotiation or get very stressed. That’s part of the game. Get yourself a bit stressed too and don’t hesitate to walk away, rest assured the seller will then agree to your last offer. If not? Then there are still countless other stalls where you can probably buy a similar shoe, bag, or accessory.
P.S.: Withdraw your dirhams at the airport. Withdraw enough, because there are very few ATMs in Marrakech and many machines were not working when we were there. A waste of time to walk around looking for a working ATM and you will probably spend more money if you, like us, enjoy shopping.
Do:
Jardin Majorelle & Musée Yves Saint Laurent
A breathtaking tropical cactus garden, in the design style of painter Majorelle. Inspiration at its best.
Dar El Sadaka
A famous architectural residence, where, if you are not staying there, you can also book a tour through the gardens and the special residence.
Le Bains de Marrakech
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to go to the hammam, but it is said to be fantastic.
A trip to the Agafay Desert
We actually found this the highlight of our trip and next time we want to stay here longer. We visited Scarabeo Camp, one of the ‘glampings’ in the Agafay Desert, about half an hour's drive from Marrakech. We went there with our driver from hotel Moustafa. On the way, you can also take a beautiful (sunset) camel ride. If you have the chance, book a lunch or dinner at Scarabeo (you really have to book, as it is usually full if you go spontaneously). A magical experience. The silence and the view are breathtaking; you have a view of the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains. Wow.
Chill on the rooftop of your riad
Make sure to take your time here. After shopping in the souk, order some ‘briouettes’ and mint tea and soak up all the beauty of the day you have seen in the sun.
So far, we will definitely seek out the sunny, colorful streets and warm people of Morocco again this year. First, we are heading to sunny Cape Town.
Sea you soon!
Eve & Pris
xx
