Amine Laabi’s 5 Favourite Spots in Marrakech
In collaboration with Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport and Air France, here are Amine Laabi’s favourite spots in Marrakech!
Before Loumi, before Leila, before Les Chefs! and hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, there was a young boy from Morocco who arrived in Montreal at age 11 — already captivated by the energy of vibrant kitchens. Amine Laabi has since carved out a prominent place on Montreal’s culinary scene. Under the handle Just.AnotherCook, he has built a massive social media following. In 2023, alongside childhood friend Karim Mahmoud, he opened Loumi — the Mile End counter where halloumi takes centre stage. And in 2024, joined by Gregory Watson, Philippe Carile, and Giuseppe Carta, he put his name on Leila, a beloved Mile End address with its gaze firmly set on the Southern Mediterranean.
Amine cooking is a journey unto itself: Morocco, Italy, the south of France, Spain, Portugal, occasionally Greece. It comes as no surprise, then, that Amine draws deeply from his Moroccan roots — and that Marrakech holds a singular place in his imagination. It is a reminder of his childhood: the smell of spices at dawn, a tagine slowly simmering, a medina whose alleyways only reveal their secrets to those who return again and again.
When we set out to find someone who could speak about Marrakech and its food — without the clichés or tourist gloss, but with the eye of a chef who grew up in Morocco — the answer was obvious. Here are Amine Laabi’s five favourite spots in Marrakech, to tuck into your travel notes for your next Air France flight into the Moroccan sun.
La Pergola & Le Bistro Arabe
Perched on the rooftop terrace of Riad Monceau, La Pergola is one of the medina’s finest addresses for a memorable evening. Refined cocktails, flavourful cuisine, and live jazz from 7 p.m. — the atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between elegant and festive. Note: Reservations are strongly recommended.
Chez Lamine Hadj Mustapha
Marrakech institution for lovers of mechoui. The whole lamb, slow-roasted and served with spiced salt and freshly baked bread, is a moment of pure culinary joy. Arrive right when the doors open at noon — it sells out fast. Amine recommends budgeting around 260 MAD/kg. Important: No mechoui on Fridays.
Bacha Coffee
Housed inside the magnificent Dar el Bacha palace, this exceptional café offers over 200 varieties of 100% Arabica coffee, served in a room of breathtaking grandeur. The pastries and breakfast offerings are equally impressive. Plan to arrive before opening — the queue forms quickly.
Le Slimana Restaurant & Rooftop
Le Slimana offers a refined fine dining experience with sweeping views over the medina’s rooftops. The menu showcases modern Moroccan cuisine executed with precision and elegance. Amine’s top picks: the prawn tempura and the pistachio crème brûlée — two house signatures not to be missed. A more elevated address, with impeccable service throughout.
La Fontaine des Épices
Nestled in the Mouassine quarter, this three-storey restaurant culminates in a stunning terrace overlooking the medina. The Moroccan cuisine is generous and authentic — slow-cooked tagines, bold flavours, the real thing. In the evenings, the restaurant pairs its menu with live musical ambiance. The service is consistently attentive.
Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Marco Campanozzi (La Presse)
