Eat: Bacha Coffee
Elegant coffee from afar in a hidden courtyard.
Marrakech, Morocco
This little cafe is certainly on the tourist trail in Marrakech. But, it’s so hidden that it is an adventure finding it: certainly worth braving a few foreigners for one of the best coffee experiences you’ll ever have.
Located within the Dar el Bacha Museum, a beautiful former home turned collection of fine art, visitors must pay the admission fee to even access the cafe. Wander through a series of rooms and dazzling tiled courtyards to the entrance of the coffee house to put your name on the list. (There are no reservations, and wait times are often a hour, so go immediately there before getting mesmerized by the art). While waiting, back track to enjoy the museum’s artistic wares.
Once inside, fez-capped servers in white jackets pour coffee from elegant silver kettles into signature ceramics and serve light lunches alongside the beverages. The coffee menu is multiple pages–organized by geographic origin. While I was dining, I had a coffee that was grown on Mount Everest in Nepal of all places. It is one of the most extensive collections of coffee choices I’ve ever seen. There’s also an elegant shop, where ochre-tinned beans are sold with foreigner prices. The experience was remarkable, and albeit touristy, I felt like I had found something rather special and kind of “secretive” given the buried location.
Bacha Coffee - Rue Fatima Zahra, Marrakech
Photo Source: Syllogi
Every publication will feature one unique restaurant, hotel, activity, or other travel discovery that stood out in our research. Some of these are established institutions that deserve repeat merit, while others are hidden gems that are often off the radar of most.