The short version
Morocco is a Muslim country where alcohol is legal, regulated and sold to visitors without difficulty in the right places. It is simply less available and less visible than in Europe, and the places it is not available are not negotiable.
Where you can drink
- Licensed restaurants, mostly in Gueliz and the Hivernage
- Hotels, including their bars and terraces
- Bars and clubs outside the medina
- Private houses — a villa you have rented, and a riad if the owner is fine with it
Where you cannot
- In the street. Not a fine point, just don’t.
- Most of the medina. Assume dry unless told otherwise.
- Many riads. Some allow you to bring your own, some do not. It is their house — ask.
Buying it
Licensed shops, most often a separate section inside a large supermarket in the modern town. It has its own opening hours, shorter than the shop’s, and closes on Fridays in some places and on religious holidays everywhere.
If you are staying in a villa and want wine for the week, buy it on the first day. Discovering on a Friday evening that the section is shut is the classic error.
Ramadan
During the month, sales to Muslims stop and many shops suspend sales entirely. Licensed hotels usually continue to serve non-Muslim guests, but bars and clubs frequently close. Eating and drinking visibly in public during daylight is inconsiderate even if nobody says anything.
Tone
The line that matters is not legal, it is social. In a hotel bar, normal. On a terrace in a private riad, normal. Visibly drunk in the medina, or drinking from a bottle in the street, reads as disrespectful and is the one thing that reliably causes friction.
Common questions
Is alcohol legal in Marrakech?
Yes, for visitors, and it is sold in licensed restaurants, hotels, bars and dedicated shop sections. It is simply less available and less visible than in Europe.
Can I drink in the medina?
Rarely. Licences inside the walls are uncommon, so assume a medina restaurant or riad is dry unless it tells you otherwise.
Where do I buy alcohol?
A licensed section inside a large supermarket in the modern town. It keeps shorter hours than the shop and closes on some religious days, so buy in advance.
What changes during Ramadan?
Many shops suspend sales and most bars and clubs close. Licensed hotels generally continue serving non-Muslim guests, but the city's rhythm shifts entirely.
Planning a stay in Marrakech?
Tell us your dates and what matters to you, and we come back with what fits.