Rooftop El Fenn in Marrakech

El Fenn: a drink facing the Koutoubia

A medina hotel that opens onto its rooftops

El Fenn is a hotel set in riads in the medina, a stone's throw from Bab Laksour, one of the medina's gates. Its roof terrace, of around 1,300 m², is open to non-residents: you reach it directly through the hotel shop, on rue Fatima Zahra, without going through reception. The minaret of the Koutoubia rises very close by, above the palm trees, and on clear days the view stretches as far as the peaks of the Atlas.

Daybeds at noon, candles in the evening

During the day, you can choose between loungers, daybeds and shady corners under red-and-white striped parasols. At sunset, the team lights the candles and a DJ sets up on some evenings. When the nights turn cool, open fires warm the lounges.

Moroccan cocktails and seasonal cuisine

Behind a long marble bar, the bartenders prepare a menu that draws on the country's flavours: hibiscus and ginger margarita, spiced negroni, mule made with saffron-infused vodka or date martini. Most of the house creations cost 180 dirhams, up to 250 dirhams for the fig negroni; the great classics are 160 dirhams and alcohol-free cocktails 110 to 120 dirhams. Wines and spirits complete the menu.

A snack menu is served all day, and the rooftop restaurant offers seasonal cuisine at lunch and dinner, prepared with produce from the region's farms and markets. Two private terraces can be hired to celebrate an occasion with family and friends.

Practical information

The roof terrace is open every day from noon to 11pm, with last entry and last orders at 10.30pm. No reservations for drinks: places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and the terrace fills up quickly at sunset. The restaurant (12.30pm-3pm and 7pm-11pm) can be booked online; groups of ten or more must write two weeks in advance, with a deposit and arrival before 8pm. Alcohol is served. No dress code. Jemaa el-Fna square is about a five-minute walk away, and taxis drop off in front of the shop.