Health, diet & safety
Can you drink alcohol in Marrakech?
- Legal for visitors?
- Yes
- Where
- Licensed venues, some shops
- In cooking
- Not traditional
- Etiquette
- Discreet; not in the medina street
Quick answer
Yes. Although Morocco is a Muslim country where most people don't drink, alcohol is legal and available to visitors in licensed restaurants, bars, hotels, riads and some supermarkets. It's not part of traditional cooking or the everyday food scene, so drink it in licensed venues rather than on the street, and be discreet — especially in the medina and during Ramadan.
Legal, available, but not central
Yes, you can drink alcohol in Marrakech. Morocco is a Muslim-majority country where the great majority of people don't drink, and alcohol plays no part in traditional cooking or the everyday food culture — but it is legal, and it's readily available to visitors in the right places. Licensed restaurants, hotel bars, rooftop lounges, nightclubs and many riads serve wine, beer and spirits, and Morocco even produces its own respectable wines and beers.
So the picture is one of quiet availability rather than absence: alcohol exists comfortably for those who want it, but it sits at the margins of a food scene that's built around mint tea and fresh juices. This is why Moroccan food is halal and cooked without wine.
Where to find it
The most comfortable places to drink are licensed restaurants, hotels and bars, particularly in the newer Gueliz and Hivernage districts, and at rooftop venues and riads that hold a licence. Many upscale riad dinners can serve wine if you ask when booking, though plenty serve none. For buying to drink in your accommodation, larger supermarkets on the city's edges (and their dedicated alcohol sections) stock beer, wine and spirits; small medina groceries generally do not.
Prices are higher than you might expect due to taxes, and choice is widest in international and higher-end venues. Fresh juice bars, cafés and traditional eateries, by contrast, are alcohol-free — and wonderful in their own right, as the Moroccan drinks and juices guide shows.
The etiquette of drinking here
The key word is discretion. Drinking within a licensed venue is completely normal and accepted; drinking or being visibly drunk in public — in the street, the souks, the medina — is not, and is disrespectful in a conservative setting. Keep alcohol to the bars, restaurants, hotels and private spaces where it belongs, and don't carry open drinks through public areas.
Ramadan calls for extra sensitivity: during the holy month, many venues stop serving alcohol or restrict it, and drinking (like eating) in public during daylight is inappropriate. If you visit then, follow the local rhythm — our Ramadan foods guide explains the atmosphere.
You won't miss it at the table
One happy surprise for many visitors is how little alcohol is missed with Moroccan food. The cuisine is designed to be enjoyed with tea, water and fresh juice, and the ritual of mint tea poured from a height is a pleasure all its own. A meal of salads, a slow-cooked tagine and pastries finished with tea feels complete without a glass of wine.
If you want to experience the food scene at its most authentic, a where-locals-eat tour, a café-culture tour or a evening cooking class will show you an evening built around Moroccan hospitality rather than a bar — and you can always find a licensed rooftop for a drink afterwards.
Related questions
Is alcohol legal in Morocco?
Yes, alcohol is legal and available to visitors in licensed restaurants, bars, hotels and some supermarkets. Most Moroccans don't drink, and it isn't part of traditional food culture, but it's not prohibited for tourists.
Where can I buy alcohol in Marrakech?
In licensed restaurants and bars for drinking on-site, and in larger supermarkets (often on the city's outskirts) with dedicated alcohol sections for takeaway. Small medina shops generally don't sell it.
Can I drink alcohol during Ramadan?
It's much more restricted. Many venues stop or limit alcohol service during Ramadan, and drinking in public during daylight is inappropriate. Be discreet and follow local norms if you visit then.
Is it rude to drink alcohol in Morocco?
Not within licensed venues, where it's accepted. What's frowned upon is drinking or being drunk in public spaces like the street and souks. Keep it to bars, restaurants and private settings.