Must-do Marrakech Autumn 2015

22 Oct Must-do Marrakech Autumn 2015

Marrakech is buzzing and there is certainly no shortage of great events happening this autumn. We tried to narrow it down to our top 10, but we just couldn’t resist adding one more!

Learn from the best
If you’re going to learn floral arrangements or chocolate making you may as well learn from the best! And with the masters from the Royal Mansour (remember, this hotel was hand-built by the finest craftsmen in the country), you’re sure to walk away with an impressive skill-set. Workshops are held the weekends of 24 October, 21 November and 19 December and the two- to three-hour workshops cost 1000.00MAD per person.

Pick up some rare finds
Pierre Berge will put his collection of Islamic art on the auction block on 31 October at 6 p.m. at the Es Saadi Palace in Hivernage. Viewing starts three days in advance and the collection includes carpets, textiles, pottery, jewelery and more!

Shop at the newest boutiques
Over on Rue de la Vieux Marrakchis in Gueliz, MarocNRoll has opened a new boutique where it sells its one-of-a-kind leather bags and clutches. The fall/winter collection is filled with studded accessories, making it very MarocNRoll.

El Fenn is opening its new shop in November and promises a line up of one-of-a-kind items including leather djellabas, carefully curated selection of coffee-table books and accessories. If the shops décor is anything to go by, the collection will be trendy and unique.

Update your wardrobe
The fall/winter collections from some of our favourite fashion designers have us swooning. Wool ponchos blended with traditional kilims at Hanout Boutique on 194 Rue Mouassine and the kimonos and accessories lines at Kaftan Queen (10 Galerie Jakar, Avenue Mohamed V) provide the perfect layers for a fall day.

Street art in Marrakech
The galleries are exploding with street artists this fall. BCK Gallery (Rue Ibn Aicha) will open an exhibition featuring Pop-Artists Benjamin SPaRK, Louis-Nicolas DARBON et Véro. CRISTALLI from 30 October.

The popular David Bloch Gallery will put the spotlight on Mist, a French painter and sculptor with a graffiti background and ranked as one of the top five world-renowned contemporary urban artists. The exhibit Into the Wild, Mist brings a renewed focus on lettering, sketching and “wild style” in particular, paying a vibrant tribute to his graffiti culture which is at the core of his artistic journey and identity.

Enjoy an intimate music festival
Bringing a completely different vibe than the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, the Festival des Andalousies Atlantiques brings together some of the best musicians of the genre while reminding concert-goers of Essaouira’s rich history. This year’s festival takes place from 29 to 31 October 2015 in the seaside town of Essaouira, just two hours from Marrakech.

Tuck in to a good book
Each September La Mamounia organizes its Prix litteraire de La Mamounia, bringing together a panel of judges to select on recipient from an impressive list of Moroccan authors and their works published over the course of the year. This year during its sixth edition, Leila Slimani walked away with the prestigious prize for her booked entitled Dans le Jardin de Ogre, a modern love story. In fact it’s the first time a female has been awarded the prize valued at 200,000 dhs (approximately £13800). The book is available at Libraire Chatr at 29 Avenue Mohamed V, Marrakech.

Saffron blooms
From mid-October to the end of November, saffron is in full bloom. Enjoy lunch at La Safranière de l’Ourika and admire the crocus plant in full bloom, ready for the harvest. While there, learn about the history of this spice and how to identify top-quality saffron.

Plan a day trip in the Atlas Mountains
The area surrounding Marrakech is filled with olive groves and autumn is the time of the olive harvest. Traditional methods are used to collect the olives, bringing the entire community together in the process. It’s also the time when the pomegranates are in season throughout the countryside. Lunch at Le Capaldi is an ideal place to enjoy the views of the Atlas Mountains.

Stargaze during FIFM
This year’s Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) kicks off on 5 December 2015 and will honour Canadian cinema. We’re anticipating screenings of Titanic and Jim Carrey classics on the big screen in Jemaa el Fna, while the jury reviews a carefully selected line-up of independent films from Morocco and around the world at the Congress Centre. For more information: http://www.festivalmarrakech.info/en/.

New menu at Riad 72
Using locally sourced ingredients and inspired by Moroccan and Italian flavours, visiting Italian chef Marco Chiacchiaretta and Mustapha El Bachna, resident chef at La Table du Riad, have created a refreshing new menu. Pastas served on eggplant roasted cream with fish meatballs. Veggie burgers prepared fresh using black beans, carrots and fennel seeds topped with avocado and broccoli cream sauce. Dining on our rooftop terrace, the menu is sure to stimulate the senses as much as the sights and sounds of Marrakech.

Book your stay in Marrakech at Riad 72 or Riad Due by emailing us today!