A Gastronomic Journey at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum in Marrakech
- Malika
- Jun 24
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 5
If there’s one place that took me by surprise on my most recent visit to Marrakech, it’s the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum. To be honest, I didn’t end up here intentionally - I just saw it on Google Maps as I was navigating my way to Bahia Palace and decided to take a look inside.
I ended up spending ages exploring its three floors and multiple courtyards, all of which are free to access. I was blown away by how beautiful the museum is and shocked that there weren’t more tourists there.
So what exactly is the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum and why should you add it to your Marrakech itinerary?
In this article, I’ll explain exactly what you can see and experience at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum to help you plan your visit.
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Occupying an 18th-century palace, the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum opened in late 2019 and is the first museum of its kind in the country. It’s dedicated to sharing the history and heritage of Moroccan gastronomy, making it a must-visit for foodies visiting Marrakech. Or, in my opinion, anyone who loves beautifully restored buildings.
When you step inside, you arrive in a concept store selling artisan foods and kitchenware. This is a great place to browse Moroccan-inspired culinary gifts for friends and family back home.
It’s also here that you’ll find the reception to the museum, which is manned by friendly staff who will explain the layout of the former palace and what you can expect to see.
Spanning three levels, the building has been lovingly renovated and showcases an abundance of zellige, sculpted plaster and hand-painted cedar wood in the traditional zouaké style.
Throughout its warren of rooms and corridors, you’ll find exhibits detailing the ingredients, methods and tools used to create Morocco's most renowned dishes, such as harira soup, couscous and tagines.
I love that the information is provided in English, which is a welcome addition as many of Morocco’s museums only have descriptions in French and Darija. There are also several video displays illustrating the cooking processes.
The Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum is one of the 8 stops on my recommended one-day Marrakech itinerary.
On the ground floor of the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum, you’ll find two stunning interior courtyards embellished with zellige tiles and beautifully carved columns. The first courtyard features a stunning Carrara marble fountain, surrounded by four olive trees and two salons with soaring ceilings.
I sat in this courtyard for ages, just soaking up the peaceful atmosphere and the architectural splendour. When I was there, only a few other tourists passed through and I felt like I had it almost completely to myself. This was in stark contrast to the crowds of Bahia Palace right next door!
Also on the ground floor is Le Salon de Thé - one of my favourite parts of the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum. Here you can sip on mint tea and sample traditional sweets, backed by some incredible murals. The atmosphere is divine - I could spend all afternoon here with a good book.
Cooking classes at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum
On the second level of the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum, there's a huge kitchen with 34 interactive stations where hands-on cooking classes take place. These are led by “Dadas” - guardians of traditional culture and culinary knowledge, who pass this down from generation to generation.
From slow cooking to the art of blending spices, these women know everything you need to know about becoming a master of a Moroccan kitchen!
Classes are held every day of the week, with three time slots to choose from: 9 am, 11 am and 3 pm. There are set menus, depending on which day of the week you choose, so I’d recommend checking out their current menus here before locking in your dates. Some are perfect for vegetarians while others are suitable for pescatarians.
All of the menus include two starters, a main course and a dessert, which you can enjoy at the end of your session with your fellow classmates in the rooftop restaurant. You’ll also get a certificate as proof that you’re now a whizz in the Moroccan kitchen!
Classic Cooking Classes at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum cost 700 DH per person.
Aside from its Classic Cooking Classes, the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum also runs classes focusing on Moroccan Jewish cuisine (on request) and Premium Cooking Classes. The latter include a welcome tea, a collection of recipes featuring the prepared menu and a branded "Musée de l’Art Culinaire Marocain" cooking apron.
Premium Cooking Classes at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum cost 1050 DH per person.
Looking for more cooking class inspiration in Marrakech? Check out my detailed article here.
Le Douar Medina
On the rooftop of the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum is Le Douar Medina, a restaurant specialising in classic Moroccan dishes. It’s open from 12 pm to 4 pm each day and is a great spot to enjoy a leisurely lunch after your museum visit, accompanied by wonderful views across Marrakech.
On the menu, you’ll find favourites like meatball tagines and chermoula-stuffed fish, as well as lots of dishes you won’t find on most tourist restaurant menus in Morocco. This includes Fassi-style sea bream and El Jadida-inspired couscous, as well as Gazpacho-style cold carrot and citrus soup. Le Douar Medina is a fantastic place to broaden your Moroccan culinary horizons.
Coincide your visit with a Friday for their couscous special (I’ve had the vegetarian and it was delicious) or splurge on the Sunday morning brunch to sample a wide range of dishes. This includes some decadent deserts, which range from traditional Moroccan meringue to berkoukch with amlou and homemade yoghurt.
What I really love about Le Douar Medina is that it reflects the diversity of Moroccan cuisine and highlights specialties from lesser-known cities, towns and villages across the country. While we often lump Moroccan food into one big box, the reality is that there are lots of different products and traditions that have influenced regional cuisine.
Le Douar Medina provides a rare opportunity to sample some of these often forgotten recipes, making it a "must" for foodies visiting Marrakech!
The Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum is open from 9 am to 8 pm and entrance is free.
