Souk
Souk Cherratine — the Leather Souk
Medina, northeast of Rahba Kedima toward the tanneries
Souk Cherratine is the medina's leather quarter, a network of small workshops where the hides cured at the Bab Debbagh tanneries are cut, stitched and dyed into babouche slippers, bags, belts, poufs and bound leather goods. It's less about food and more about the craft that surrounds it — but for many cooks a leather pouffe or a set of babouches is the souvenir that comes home.
Go here for
From tannery to workshop
The leather that comes out of the Bab Debbagh vats is worked here into finished goods. You can watch craftsmen stitch babouches by hand, stuff and stitch leather poufs, and stamp and dye belts and bags. Because it's a making souk, not just a selling one, quality ranges from tourist-grade to genuinely fine — and you can often tell the difference by handling and smell.
Good Moroccan leather has a rich, natural smell and even stitching; the cheapest goods feel stiff, smell chemical and have glued rather than sewn seams.
Buying leather well
Babouches are the classic buy — pointed traditional slippers in every colour, sold cheaply enough to buy several. Poufs are the other favourite, usually sold unstuffed (you fill them at home) so they pack flat. Check the stitching, flex the leather, and smell it before you commit.
Prices open high for tourists, so bargain — and cross-check against the fixed-price Ensemble Artisanal so you know what fair looks like.
How to shop like a local
- Smell and flex the leather; genuine, well-cured leather smells natural and bends without cracking, while cheap goods smell chemical and feel stiff.
- Check the stitching, not the surface — hand-sewn, even seams outlast glued ones.
- Buy poufs unstuffed so they pack flat; you fill them with clothes or stuffing at home.
- Buy several pairs of babouches at once for a much better per-pair price.
- Benchmark leather prices at the Ensemble Artisanal first, then bargain here from that anchor.
Bargaining etiquette
- Leather opens at big mark-ups — counter low and be ready to walk; there are dozens of stalls selling the same thing.
- Bundle purchases (two poufs, several babouches) for the best price.
- Warmth beats aggression; a friendly, unhurried haggle over tea gets you further than hard bargaining.
What to avoid
- Avoid glued, chemical-smelling goods; they fall apart fast — sewn seams and natural leather smell are the tells.
- Don't buy 'camel leather' claims at face value; most is goat or sheep, which is fine — just don't pay a premium for a story.
- Skip the first stall's first price; the same babouches are cheaper a few metres on.
Frequently asked questions
What is Souk Cherratine known for?
It's the leather souk of Marrakech, where tannery leather is worked into babouche slippers, bags, belts and poufs. Many workshops make on-site, so you can watch craftsmen and judge quality by handling the goods.
How do I tell good Moroccan leather from cheap leather?
Smell and feel it. Good leather has a rich, natural smell, bends without cracking and has even hand-stitched seams. Cheap goods smell chemical, feel stiff and have glued seams that come apart.
Are leather poufs easy to bring home?
Yes — they're usually sold unstuffed, so they pack flat in a suitcase and you fill them at home. Check the stitching and leather quality before buying, and bargain from a fair anchor price.
Keep exploring Marrakech food
Turn your market haul into dinner with a hands-on Marrakech cooking class, walk the souks with a guide on a market food tour, learn the Moroccan spices you just bought, or cook them at home with our Moroccan recipes. For the bigger picture, browse our food culture guides.