Last updated: January 08, 2025
Nestled within the bustling streets of Marrakesh’s Medina, you’ll find a doorway off the alleyway that leads up to Dardar – one of the city’s coolest restaurants. This fabulous fusion of traditional Moroccan charm and contemporary dining oozes cool vibes, culture and good food from the moment you ascend the stairs upwards. At the top of the restaurant, Dardar’s rooftop dining space is intimate and vibrant in equal measure.
Dardar’s decor is understated and elegant, with soft lighting, plush seating and no windows, instantly inviting the outside in and creating even more atmosphere with views of the Atlas Mountains, the Koutoubia Mosque (all beautifully lit up at night), and the main square – Jemaa el-Fnaa.
This welcome escape from the lively chaos of the Medina is a prime spot to enjoy cocktails. While most restaurants in Marrakech don’t serve alcohol, Dardar does, and its cocktail menu is innovative and interesting. We try the classic margarita, the Nigroni Sbigliato with Campari, Martini Rosso and Prosecco, and the more complex Marrakech Sour – a blend of orange infused bourbon, honey, cinnamon and lemon. A range of mojitos, virgin cocktails and an excellent selection of Moroccan wines are also available – we found during our trip that they go brilliantly with the food and we actually drank this in most restaurants during our trip.
We start with the pastilla poulet amande – a dish which has Spanish and Berber origins. Pie-like in texture, the meat filling is combined with herbs, spices, eggs and almonds encased in crispy pastry, so you get a mix of sweet and savoury in every bite. This traditional dish originally had icing sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top of it and our pastilla does. It’s nice to start our meal eating something we wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to and we devour every single mouthful. We also go for the ‘Bad Girls’ – a nice light starter of thinly sliced mango rolled up and stuffed with crab and avocado.
The main menu isn’t huge, but is split into Medina and Classic. Classic dishes include beef tartare with chips, poke bowls with salmon and crispy chicken caesar salad but because we’ve just arrived and want to sample as much Moroccan cuisine as possible, we go for the beef skewer and the lamb tagine. The lamb shank is huge and the meat slides off the bone. The sauce is rich and juicy and there are plenty of almonds to sweeten up the dish while adding texture. My beef is perfectly seasoned and comes served with steamed vegetables.
As we’re finishing our main courses, there’s a hive of activity on the stairs and we’re treated to some traditional Moroccan music, while the men swing the tassels on their shashiyas (traditional hats). They go right the way around the restaurant interacting with guests and entertaining, while a magician also treats us to some table magic. The combination of the theatre, mixed with the incredible views, and the beautiful ornate lanterns on the roof make for an intoxicating combination!
The perfect spot for a long lazy lunch, a couple of small plates or a special dinner, Dardar’s DJ sets, great staff, amazing cocktails and that incredible location make this an absolute must-visit while you’re enjoying the buzz of Marrakesh. Book here.
