Where to Eat Near the Ben Youssef Madrasa: Streets, Terraces and Traps

Updated on October 8, 2026

Around the Ben Youssef Madrasa, you eat best in the alleys ten minutes' walk away, towards Mouassine, Bab Debbagh or the Spice Square, rather than on the square itself. It is one of the most visited areas of the medina: the most visible places live off groups, and the good tables are often a little further and discreet. This guide describes streets, types of places and traps rather than a price list, because they change. We publish neither restaurant prices nor a ranking of addresses: read recent reviews and check prices on the menu before sitting down. ## What to remember - Look for menus with prices displayed and no tout at the door. - For a quick break: msemen, mint tea or fresh orange juice from an alley stall. - For a proper lunch: a terrace or riad-restaurant, booked in high season. - Visit the madrasa early, and lunch after the crowds, around 1:30 pm. ## On Ben Youssef square and the first street ![Courtyard of the Ben Youssef Madrasa, Marrakech](https://images.parisauthority.com/images/uploads/commons/ben-youssef-madrasa-dscf6013.jpg) The Ben Youssef Madrasa and the Marrakech Museum face a small pedestrian square lined with cafés and shops. It is handy for a juice or tea after the visit, less so for a meal: prices are often higher and menus aimed at groups. Do not choose a restaurant because a waiter calls out to you in French or English at the mouth of the alley. ## In the north medina alleys Beyond the square, towards the Maison de la Photographie and the Almoravid Koubba, the streets are narrower and the places more modest: tagine and skewer snacks, small neighbourhood restaurants, msemen crêpe stalls. Rooftop terraces give a view over the medina, often with higher menu prices. The north medina guide details these streets. ## Towards Mouassine and the Spice Square Ten minutes' walk away, Mouassine concentrates riad-restaurants and designer cafés, with more varied menus. To the south, the Spice Square has terrace cafés well placed for lunch between two souk visits. For the dishes to try, see what to eat in Marrakech; for a sweet break, tea, cafés and pastries. ## Traps around the madrasa - **The spontaneous "guide"** who leads you to a "family" restaurant: he takes a commission, which you pay in the bill. See scams to avoid in Marrakech. - **The menu without prices** or an unspecified "set menu": ask the price of each dish, and of bread, water and tea, before ordering. - **"Extras"** brought without asking (olives, salads): check whether they are charged. - **The "free" juice or tea** that comes before a purchase or a meal. - **Bottled water**: ask for it sealed, and prefer tea or pressed juice if in doubt. - **Peak hour**: from noon to 2 pm the terraces are full of groups. Book, or lunch before noon or after 2 pm. ## For a stress-free lunch Combine the madrasa in the morning with the northern souks, lunch in the alleys around Mouassine, then visit the Jardin Secret for a calm break. In the hot season, keep the end of the day for Jemaa el-Fna; to eat on the square itself, see Marrakech at night.