8 DESIGN STORES WORTH A VISIT IN MARRAKECH
In November I finally visited Marrakech for 4 days … finally because it is a city that has always intrigued me and I’ve been wanted to visit for a long time. I can say I was not disappointed at all. Marrakech is known for the Jemaa el-Fnaa square, for its Medina, for the riads and hammams, the Jardin Majorelle and its atmosphere.
But Marrakech is famous especially for its huge souk inside the Medina, a magical place where to get lost and be overwhelm by the colours, the scents, the people and voices. The souk is definitely a shopping mecca for Moroccan style lovers: you will find everything for your home, from the beautiful Beni Ourain carpets to traditional Moroccan lamps, from home ceramics to leather poufs, from traditional tiles to blankets and pillows (stay tuned because I’m preparing a guide on what and where to buy in Marrakech).
But together with the tradition, Marrakech also has a modern side made of trendy restaurants and bars, showrooms of young designers, boutiques and new museums (such as the beautiful museum of Yves Saint Laurent which I talked about in this post).
So if you are looking for modern design pieces and you are tired of bargaining (in the souq you have to negotiate for nearly everything), I have prepared my selection of 8 design stores and concept stores worth a visit if you are in Marrakech.
1 – EL FENN BOUTIQUE
The shop is inside the El Fenn hotel and the shopping experience is definitely unusual. The shop is located in the middle of the bar / restaurant and offers an eclectic selection of products: home accessories, vintage clothes, linens, ceramics, coffee tables, handmade blankets and much more.
Derb Moullay Abdullah Ben Hezzian, Marrakech
2 – MAX & JAN
A concept store in the heart of the Medina opened by Max and Jam, a duo of Swiss-Belgian designers. In the boutique there is a wide and heterogeneous selection of products: creations of the two designers, colourful kaftans, traditional clothing for men and women, babouche slippers, souvenirs and many objects and decorations for the home. All products on display are designed and produced in Morocco. The concept store also houses a restaurant and offers yoga classes on the terrace.
14 Rue Amsefah, Marrakech
3 – CHABI CHIC
This brand offers ceramic objects for the kitchen and the table (like the traditional tagine) revisiting the traditional Moroccan style in a modern and chic way. All products are handmade in Morocco. There are several shops in the city, the most famous is located in the center of the Souq, in the Rahba Kedima square (also called Spice Square), under the restaurant Nomad (I recommend this restaurant for a quiet lunch break on the terrace).
1, Derb Arjan (on the ground floor of restaurant Nomad), Marrakech
4 – 33 RUE MAJORELLE
Next to the beautiful Majorelle Gardens, 33 rue Majorelle was the first concept store to be opened in Marrakech. You will find a selection of creations from the best independent Moroccan designers and a wide range of products: clothes and accessories, jewellery and scarves, household linen, ceramics and decorative objects. The two-storey shop is tidy (a contrast to the atmosphere of the souks) and also houses a nice coffee.
33 Rue Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech
https://www.33ruemajorelle.com/
5 -JARDIN MAJORELLE
This shop is located inside the beautiful Jardin Majorelle but has nothing to do with the souvenir shops we are used to. Forget postcards or magnets for the refrigerator, here you will find only incredible pieces that reflect the savoir faire of the Berber and Arab culture: embroidered leather bags, finely woven blankets, embroidered cushions and jewellery of tribal inspirations. And it’s no wonder because the garden was bought by Yves Saint Laurent in 1980.
Rue Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech
http://www.jardinmajorelle.com/
6 – SOME – slow concept store
Opened by the designers Mathilde and Noémie, this store is housed in a spacious villa in the Guéliz neighbourhood and mixes the artisanal style of Marrakech with today’s tastes and trends. You can find decorations items, tableware, ceramics, furniture and lighting from the designers’s brands, no.M and Casabeldi, along with other objects carefully selected and made by local artisans.
76 boulevard Mansour Eddahbi, Guéliz, Marrakech
7 – LRNCE STUDIO
LRNCE is a lifestyle brand based in Marrakesh that focuses on interior decoration and accessories. It was founded in 2013 by Laurence Leenaert and it is characterized by an unusual combination of materials and elements and the use of abstract shapes that make each piece unique. All the pieces are handmade in North Africa and this allows to maintain the essence of craftsmanship and tradition, even if adapted to the modern taste.
59, Sidi Ghanem, Marrakech
8 – MUSTAPHA BLAOUI
This is not a “modern” design store but it certainly deserves a mention. It is easy to miss the entrance to this shop but, once inside, you will be speechless. Here you can find all the objects and furniture of the Moroccan tradition that you might want for your house. Four floors where you can literally get lost, where rugs, fabrics, ceramics, baskets, lamps, tables, chairs and antiques fill up the space from floor to ceiling. I warn you: leaving the store empty-handed is impossible!
144 Arset Aouzal Rd, Marrakech
