Traditional dinner in a Marrakech riad

Away from the noise of the alleys, the courtyard of a riad is the perfect place to discover Moroccan food as it is served in Marrakech homes. The meal starts with a round of cooked salads – smoky aubergine zaalouk, cumin carrots, grilled peppers – followed by pastilla, flaky and scented with cinnamon.

For the main course, choose lamb tagine with prunes and almonds, chicken with preserved lemon and olives, or seven-vegetable couscous. Dinner ends with almond pastries and mint tea poured from high above the glass, as tradition requires.

We choose riads where the food is cooked on site by Moroccan cooks (the “dadas”) with produce from the market. Vegetarian options are available on request.