Marrakech NightLife

Marrakech NightLife information

Music

The best music can be found right on Djemaa el Fna. Groups of musicians who appear to have walked right in from the High Atlas play traditional Berber music throughout the day. Also look out for the Gnawa musicians whose spiritual music was originally created for healing rituals, and whose proponents have included Robert Plant and Jimmy Hendrix. You may find it being fused with hip-hop or reggae nowadays. Dinner Theatre Chez Ali (Le Fantasia de Morocco) is as close as you'll get to Moroccan dinner theatre. A four-course dinner in one of 20 tents, is accompanied by belly dancing, camel riding, rifle shooting and even a magic carpet. Palmeraie de Marrakech, Route de Casablanca. To get there, drive 7km north of Marrakech on the Casablanca road, then turn left and continue for about 3km. Open nightly. Admission: MAD400. Call for reservations. Tel: +212 (0)24-30-7730.

Cinema

Le Colisée (Blvd Mohamed Zerktouni. Tel: +212 (0)24-44-8893) shows mainly European and North American films.

Casino

The Es Saadi casino is the prime spot in the city for a bit of a flutter. Ave El Quadissia (Hivernage). Tel: +212 (0)24-44-8811.

Nightclubs

Marrakech is surprisingly lively when it comes to nightlife, with a fair choice of clubs catering to most tastes. The majority of clubs are located within hotels in the Ville Nouvelle and are mainly populated by expats. Paradise Hotel Pullman Avenue de France Tel: +212 (0)24-44 8222 Trendy and pricey dance club that plays perhaps the most diverse mix of music, ranging from R&B to Rai. Le Diamant Noir Place de la Liberté Tel: +212 (0)24-43-4351 In the town centre at Hotel Marrakech, Le Diamant Noir is gay friendly but draws a diverse crowd. You will find the local young, wealthy, and beautiful mixed together with business travellers and other foreigners. Drinks are generally pricey and can be enjoyed from balconies overlooking the dance floor. Cotton Club Hotel Tropicana Tel: +212 (0)24-44-7450 The Cotton Club is a dance club that can be found in the Hotel Tropicana. The club plays some of the best rhythms in the Red City and is wildly popular for it. Pacha Nouvelle Zone Hôtelière de l'Aguedal Blvd Mohamed VI Ex Ave de France Tel: +212 (0)24-38-8400 Pacha has recently added Marrakech to its list of franchises around the world. Situated in the Ville Nouvelle, the super-club contains a main dance floor, chill-out room, two restaurants and a swimming pool. The décor is a mix of traditional Moroccan and slick modern design. Expect only the best international DJs and an enthusiastic jet-setting crowd.

Special Events

June/July The Marrakech Popular Arts Festival enlivens the city every June/July with more fire throwers, acrobats, storytellers, and crafts than any other time of the year. The crumbling El Badi Palace becomes the centre of the action. For more information contact the Morocco Tourist Office. July Fantasia is part of the Popular Arts Festival held in July - a horse-riding event where hundreds of charging horsemen and women dressed in traditional costume perform carefully choreographed tricks and routines. The colourful spectacle is performed every evening during the festival, outside the city walls at Bab Jdid. August Up to 40 couples wed every year in the Imilchil Marriage Feast, a traditional Berber marriage festival in the Middle-High Atlas Mountains. Many people travel from the surrounding towns and villages to witness the event and join in the festivities, and it is a great way to experience Berber culture first hand. Late September or early November A recent addition to the events calendar, the Marrakech Film Festival is slowly picking up momentum each year, attracting young filmmakers and Hollywood heavyweights such as Martin Scorsese. It's certainly not as glamorous as the Cannes or Venice festivals, but it does have the support from the Tribeca Film Institute who have helped set up workshops and screenings. The annual event is held in late September or early November, check with the tourist board beforehand.