Marrakech may not have a huge nightlife scene, but in recent years there's been a (small) flurry of trendy bar openings in the Ville Nouvelle. Highlights include an industrial-chic wine bar, a buzzing roof terrace with live jazz, and a slick spot for sophisticated cocktails. The medina only has a handful of restaurants and bars licensed to serve alcohol, although many riads sell beer and wine to guests in the privacy of their inner courtyards.

Read on for our expert's top tips, while for further inspiration, here are our guides to Marrakech's best restaurants, attractions, shopping and hotels, plus how to spend a weekend in the city.

Medina Café Arabe

Tucked away in upmarket Mouassine, Café Arabe’s rooftop terrace is the best place for Medina drinks. Downstairs, tables sit snugly in an open-air zellij (mosaic) tiled courtyard, while upstairs curvaceous beige sofas sprawl across the shaded terrace, which is magically lit by candlelight at night. It attracts a fashion-forward crowd of designers and artists, who come here for well-priced bottles of peppery Siroua S., glasses of rosé and passable cocktails. There's a Moroccan-Italian dinner menu on offer, although the food is a tad bland. It's best to come here for an aperitif and then head on to dinner elsewhere.