L'mida

L'mida occupies a traditional two-storey house in the medina, just off the Rahba Kedima spice square, in the tangle of alleys where most visitors would walk right past if they weren't looking. The name comes from Darija, the Moroccan dialect word for table, and the place was founded by two friends, Omar Lyazidi and Mohammed Sebbagh, who wanted something that felt both rooted in Marrakech and completely modern. The interior, designed by Noon Interior Studio, blends industrial edges with Moroccan craftsmanship: white marble tables, deep green and mustard banquettes, rattan seating, and raw materials that catch the light well. The real draw is upstairs. L'mida's rooftop is one of the highest terraces in the medina, with unbroken views across the rooftops to the Koutoubia minaret and the Atlas Mountains beyond. It fills with jasmine scent from the garden below and turns golden at sunset, which is when you want to be here. The kitchen is run by Nargisse Benkabbou, a Moroccan-born, London-trained cookbook author whose menu takes traditional recipes and reworks them with a light, confident hand. A signature burger reimagines makfoul tagine with harissa mayonnaise; Berber gnocchi crosses Italian technique with local flavours; roasted cauliflower and lentil croquettes hold their own alongside slow-cooked lamb and fish tagine. No alcohol is served, but the fresh mocktails and mint tea suit the setting. L'mida is not trying to be a palace dining room. It is a smart, well-priced neighbourhood restaurant that happens to have one of the best views in the city and cooking that rewards the walk through the souks to find it.