As evident in this blog, gastronomy and its establishments have become a draw for many travelers. That’s why it’s interesting to know if there are Michelin-starred restaurants in Morocco or ones awarded with some other alternative distinction. And that’s precisely what we do in this post, so you can take good note and taste Moroccan haute cuisine, if that’s one of the attractions that brings you here.
Are there Michelin-starred restaurants in Morocco?
As you may well know, the Michelin Guide is a reference in terms of gastronomic criticism: originating in France, it now covers the whole world and awards its ‘stars’ to the best restaurants, according to the criteria of its own critics, with three stars being the highest accolade.
However, none of the restaurants in Morocco have obtained a Michelin Star so far. Despite there being about a dozen recommended Moroccan cuisine establishments, they are all located in other countries, run by chefs from Morocco or with some other connection to the country.
High-end cuisine alternatives in Morocco
However, the fact that there are no Michelin-starred restaurants in Morocco yet doesn’t mean that haute cuisine is non-existent in the country. In fact, it is making its way strongly and other reference guides and lists are echoing this.
In this sense, we can mention another ‘institution’ in the evaluation of high-end restaurants: the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. This list, driven by the British company WilliamReed, selects the 50 best restaurants in the world each year. We don’t find any Moroccan restaurant there either, but we do in the lists that follow in importance: the regional ones, which are something like the ‘silver division’.
In this case, Morocco falls under what they call MENA: Middle East North Africa. And it’s here where Moroccan restaurants have a lot to say. More specifically, those in Marrakech, the only city in the country that ‘sneaks’ three establishments into this list, which is, by the way, dominated by restaurants based in Dubai.
The Marrakech restaurants are:
- La Grande Table Marocaine, in 27th place
- +61, in 42nd place
- Sesamo, in 45th place
Of these three restaurants, two are linked to one of the most luxurious hotels in the city: the Royal Mansour, which manages La Grande Table Marocaine and Sesamo. Of the first, the guide categorizes it as “emblematic Moroccan cuisine for serious gourmets,” as it highlights chef Karim Ben Baba’s work to take local dishes to another level and thus escape from the same salads and tagines that can be found anywhere else.
On the other hand, Sesamo is said to be a “refined Venetian with a touch of Moroccan style,” since the chef responsible for this restaurant is the Italian Massimiliano Alajmo, who tries to mix the best of both cuisines.
As for +61, MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants describes it as “pan-Mediterranean cuisine, casual and well-executed,” as it’s another example of how a foreign lover of the country seeks culinary fusion: in this case, by Australian chef Andrew Cibej.
In conclusion: although there are no Michelin-starred restaurants in Morocco at the moment, these three establishments in Marrakech represent a more than interesting proposition for lovers of high-end signature cuisine, who use their palate to connect with the most authentic and original aspects of the tourist destinations they visit. If that’s also your case, you can contact us to organize a tailored trip with this experience as an incentive.
