Marrakech is one of those magical places you read about in novels full of Arabian mystery and that sense of poetic chaos in the city is that exact same experience as you’re assaulted by lots of colours, sounds and haggling shop keepers. But it’s wonderful. Shopping? You’re spoilt for choice, it’s overwhelming! The medina is wonderful for knick knacks and you’re never be done combing the souk for treasures.
Here are my top 3 stops for artisan local designer goods, already curated and some of them exported to be sold in fancy boutiques.
1. Four Seasons Marrakech : Without sounding biased, but their store is a carefully and wonderfully curated boutique carrying the best of Marrakech designers and artists – from fashion to jewellery and leather goods. They also run pop-up events. The same designer labels and goods, you’ll find in various stores at the Medina. Absolutely perfect for gift shopping.
2. Les Petit Boutiques at the Medina. Whole floor of tiny shops devoted to creative artisan pieces from paintings to bags and accessories. Some of the same labels are carried in Four Seasons’ boutique, and if you’re a browser, you might enjoy going from tiny shop to tiny shop more. The layout is a little like Beijing Sanlitun’s Nali Patio.
15, souk Cherifia. Sidi Abdelaziz. Marrakech Médina
(a 150 m de Dar El Bacha) Right downstairs from Terrasse des épices
3. Kaowa is a cafe connected to concept store 33 rue Majorelle and Chabi Chic by Jardin Majorelle connected to an equally cool café. This is your equivalent of Kapok in Hong Kong or a Colette Paris, filled with crazy cool local designer crafts from posters (a whole series of Morroccan “Keep Calm” posters), utensils to bottled spices and high fashion.
Those amazing lamps above are in a secret furniture store that you have to cut through lanes like diagon alley. It’s super magical and I don’t have the address unfortunately and hope I stumble back inside there again next time.
There are currently most budget flights that go to Marrakech from Europe, so if you’re planning to shop, make sure you board with an empty hand carry – leave room for shopping. Unlike us, we didn’t make plans and we’re certainly going back for a lamp or two!
