Dar Yacout
Marrakech, Morocco
Dar Yacout turns dinner into an encounter with the architecture of a Marrakech medina house. Courtyards, decorative plasterwork, tiled surfaces and richly furnished rooms create a succession of spaces rather than a single conventional dining room. The building is a substantial part of the experience, with rooftop areas offering another perspective on the old city. The meal follows the generous traditions of Moroccan entertaining. A sequence of salads, cooked dishes and sweet finishes introduces the flavours and textures of the country’s culinary repertoire, with spicing, preserved ingredients and slow preparation playing central roles. It is an occasion to settle into a complete dinner rather than select a quick main course. The atmosphere is formal and theatrical, but grounded in the domestic scale of the riad setting. Travellers interested in decorative arts will find as much to notice around the table as on it. Book ahead, allow a full evening and arrange clear directions or transport for the approach through the medina.