Dar Cherifa review: our verdict
Push open a door at the end of a derb in Mouassine and you step into one of the oldest houses in the medina: a high patio spanning several floors, featuring carved stucco, cedar wood paneling, and a contemporary decor reminiscent of the Ben Youssef Madrasa. Since its rebirth in 2000, Dar Cherifa has served as a restaurant, gallery, and performance space all at once, with photographs adorning the walls, live concerts, and poetry evenings.
This is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner for two tucked away in a alcove, or for a quiet midday break far from the bustle of the souks, even though they are just nearby. The cuisine is traditional Moroccan: soups, salads, tangia, beef or lamb tagines, and couscous. The service is friendly but can be slow, and some starters lack execution. This is not a restaurant for a rushed meal or a tight budget: you are paying for the house as well.
The dish to order: the couscous, generous and the safest bet on the menu. The pitfall: the "guides" who improvise their way into the alleys to lead you there and then demand a tip; the address is located alone at 8 derb Chorfa Lakbir. The best time to visit: in the evening when the house lights up with candles; closed at 7 PM on Wednesdays.
