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A palace and museum in one and well worth a visit. The palace is opulent and beautiful in itself with a lovely courtyard where you can relax and take some pictures. The museum's displays are well laid out and include jewelery, costumes, ceramics, daggers and other artifacts. The museum is open daily with a couple of hours break for lunch.

The Medersa (Koranic School) was built in the 16th century by the Saadians and could house up to 900 religious students. The architecture is beautifully preserved and you can explore the tiny rooms where the students used to live. The mosque is adjacent to the Medersa.

This palace is a wonderful example of the best of Moroccan architecture. There's lots of detail, arches, light, engravings and what's more it was built as a harem's residence, which makes it even more interesting. The palace is open daily with a break for lunch although it is closed when the royal family visits.

The Djemma el Fna is really the heart of Marrakech. It is a large central square in the old city (Medina) and during the day it's a perfect place to grab a freshly-squeezed orange juice and a handful of dates. At the end of the afternoon the Djemma el Fna transforms into an entertainers paradise -- if you're into snake charming, juggling, music and that sort of thing. Snack stalls are replaced with stalls offering more substantial fare and the square comes alive with entertainment that hasn't changed much since medieval times. The Djemma el Fna is surrounded by cafe's overlooking the square so you can just relax and watch the world go by if you're tired of jostling the crowds below. Be prepared to be asked for money when you take photos of the performers and stop to watch the entertainment.

In the 1920's, French artists Jacques and Louis Majorelle created a stunning garden in the middle of Marrakech's new town. The Majorelle gardens are filled with color, plants of all shapes and sizes, flowers, fish ponds and perhaps the most pleasing aspect, tranquility. The designer Yves Saint Laurent owned the gardens and also built himself a house on the property. He later donated the gardens to the people of Morocco. The building that gets most of the attention however is the bright blue and yellow building the Marjorelles used as their studio and which now houses the Museum of Islamic Art. This small museum includes some good examples of Moroccan tribal art, carpets, jeweler, and pottery. The gardens and museum are open daily with a 2 hour lunch break from 12-2pm

A small museum that houses many interesting objects - and the building itself is worth a visit. Dar Si Said highlights Marrakesh's beautiful riad architecture and its local craftsmanship. Visiting Hours: Friday: 9:00 to 11:30 and 15:00 to 17:45. Other days: 9:00 to 11:45 and 14:30 to 17:45.

The Maison de la Photographie in the medina of Marrakesh is a fairly new museum – well worth a visit with its extensive archive of photographs from 1862 to 1950 that offer a rare glimpse of Moroccan life during this period. The images were collected over a period of nearly fourteen years from the archives of the French Protectorate. They must have the highest roof terrace in the medina with a splendid view over the flat rooftops of the old city of Marrakech.

On the lookout for architectural remnants with a Moroccan flavour? - seek here. There are loads of old wooden hand-carved doors, panels, metal grill work, decorative mouchroubia, carpets. There are several entrances to the flea market but the main one is the old city gate called Bab el Khemis (the Thursday gate).

Fabulous Moroccan restaurant just around the corner from Riad Ariha in the Sidi ben Slimane area of Marrakech medina. Great Moroccan food. The decor is sophisticated and the ambience is fantastic. Live Andalusian music, great service. Definitely worth a visit. Good restaurant for a special celebration. Alcohol served. You can pay by credit card.

Enchanting restaurant in a restored riad behind the Medersa ben Youssef. so right in the heard of the medina of Marrakesh. Romantic atmosphere. Mix of French and local cuisine.

Al Fassia has earned a great reputation for really good Moroccan cuisine. The restaurant is unique in that it is owned and run by women and you are served exclusively by women. You can order à la carte. Al Fassia offers a great selection of tajines and other traditional Moroccan food, including vegetarian dishes. Lovely atmosphere and well worth a visit. You feel exceptionally welcome, and the service is elegant, efficient and low key. It is a place to relax and enjoy your meal.

The restaurant is 3.5 kms out of town on the main road to the Ourika valley but well worth the journey. The restaurant offers a shuttle bus service. This is an amazing experience! The food is wonderfully tasting fusion food – a mix of French and Thai cuisine. The setting is stunning – the interior design is unique and the gardens are a mix of desert and oasis, all beautifully laid out. The restaurant itself has room for large and small groups, with small, intimate corners as well as tables overlooking the spectacular gardens. The gardens also offer more seating in cosy Berber style tents. This place has a wonderful atmosphere and makes a great evening out.

When you've been in Morocco for a while and would like a change of cuisine, try Catanzaro Restaurant. An Italian trattoria in the middle of Marrakech – home-cooked meals including pasta, pizza and gorgeous antipasti at reasonable prices. Lunch and evening meals. Booking essential for the evening.

Vegan-vegetarian restaurant. Lovely café in a typical small dar (home) serving fusion food with local, organic ingredients. Owner, Barakat, speaks very good English. Also has a gift store, Arganica, selling a large range of natural cosmetics, spa products and organic food, such as Argan oil and olive oil. He now has two other cafés, one in Marrakesh, near Musée Dar Si Said, and the other in Essaouira.

A new, welcome addition to the restaurant scene in Marrakesh is the Brasserie de Flore. An authentic French Brasserie (think early 20th century) in Marrakech Plaza, Place du 16 novembre in the heart of Guèliz, the new town of Marrakesh. The tastiest restaurant meal I’ve eaten in Marrakech is at Brasserie de Flore. The décor, typically French so you’d think you were in France, is one of understated elegance with crystal chandeliers and fans hanging from the high ceilings. It is spotlessly clean and offers great food at great prices and in very generous portions. Open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Another recent addition to the restaurant scene in the new town of Guèliz. The décor is modern industrial with some interesting heavy-duty ceiling fans. The look is cool and trendy with pop art on the walls and old Charlie Chaplin movies projected on to the wall above the seating area. International cuisine with good reviews. One drawback is that there is no roof terrace – so unless those fans are truly powerful, it may seem a little too warm in the summer. Moderately priced.

Café du Livre Marrakech is a bookstore/restaurant that specializes in international food and is often visited by ex-pats and book lovers. Located in the new city of Guèliz, it is hidden away just behind the rue Tarik ben Ziad, it is a quiet place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the streets. Here you can eat a meal, peruse their bookshelves, and take advantage of their wifi.

Café de la Poste, Marrakech, has been around for a long time – with authentic 1920s colonial décor--soaring high ceilings, wicker chairs, slowly rotating fans and potted palms. The Grand Cafe de la Poste is a favourite of Marrakech’s trendy local and expat crowd for long, casual lunches and indulgent dinners. The menu is a mix of Moroccan and French cuisine, featuring simple dishes ranging from croque- monsieur and goats cheese salads, to grilled sardines and roasted sea bass.

There were days when you could tramp around the markets for hours and never find a café to sit down and have a rest – now cafés in the medina are springing up all over. This one is just behind the main square, Place Jemaa’ el Fna’. It’s a welcome place to sit down and have a drink and quick sandwich or soup for lunch, or whenever you find it, and watch the action below. Roof terrace – sun hats provided. Free WiFi

Nawal, the owner of the store, has an eye for quality and design . You can order custom made Kaftans and Dresses. Beautifully tailored and with hand stitching and embroidering. She also sells select pieces for interior decoration. Best to go in the mornings when she is likely to be in the store. It is often closed in the afternoon. There are several photos of the rich and famous who have purchased in her store.

Another in our selection of stores with upmarket design products in Marrakech. Visit Akbar Delights’ website first to be inspired to seek them out. Lovely selection of tunics and other better quality clothing as well as smart household accessories. They now have a store in the medina and in Guèliz, the new town of Marrakesh.

Great shoe store where you can snap up a pair of great handmade Tod-style shoes in every colour and at a good price (about a fraction of what you would pay back in the UK or Europe). It's very busy with people in-the-know from all over trying on shoes.

Super chic store in the new town of Marrakech, Guèliz. Inspired by the medina of Marrakech and its craftspeople, Yann designer and style director, revisits traditional Moroccan embroidery creating clothing and interior design accessors in a pure spirit using couture techniques - the result: fabulous tunics, cushions and other items made a very high standard. Even the décor is super-stylish. Well worth the trip to visit. Sister store to Akbar Delights in Marrakech medina.

Ardevivre A boutique and showroom in the design district of Marrakesh, Sidi ghanem. Modern retro look in furniture, lamps, decorative items – all original and unique designs using natural materials: leather, linen, canvas, wood, stainless steel. .

A whole district of stores - to find newer designs, quality merchandise, this is a great place. On the outskirts of Marrakech on the road to Safi, this is actually an industrial area. So it doesn't look chic, but the dedicated shopper will find chic buys. See our blog item on Sidi Ghanem http://www.riadariha.com/blog-faqs/for-the-serious-shopper-in-marrakesh.htm

Lilah Spirit does great one-off objects, wonderful linen and L'Orientaliste scents.

Florence Teillet’s showroom for wonderful hand-woven fabrics - everything from desert tones to vibrant shades. She makes wonderful blankets, wall drapes and scarves. Her designs are executed by local weavers. Best to phone ahead to make an appointment to see her showroom as it is often closed.

Amira Candles -- If you are planning a big party or a wedding it's almost worth trekking here to source your candles, some of which are the size and shape of Ali Baba jars. There are some lovely wax holders with carved metal inserts that cast a lovely pattern from the candlelight emanating from the centre of the holder—don’t leave them out in the sun though otherwise they will melt as surely as those wings of Daedalus did when he tried to fly. If you can’t make it there, you can now buy their products online.

Les Sens de Marrakech For a great line of Moroccan beauty products, this store is worth a visit. Many products feature argan oil and are all organic and come in lovely containers.

Zid Zid Kids For wonderful kids’ stuff – toys, clothes, furniture for the kids—all with a Moroccan touch

Home furnishings online For the best in Moroccan home decoration, visit this online store. Bed linens, tajin pots, cushions, pouffes, bags …. http://lifestyle-from-amsterdam-to-marrakech.com/2012/07/06/for-babies-in-all-colors-from-pink-to-dark-brown/