Marrakech Medina: Moroccan cooking class with local family

Summary

Cook traditional Moroccan dishes in Marrakech with locals

You’ll wander Marrakech’s old city markets for fresh ingredients, then cook side by side with a local family in their own kitchen. Learn real Moroccan recipes (and maybe a few words of Darija), taste flavors you won’t forget, and share stories over lunch — an experience that lingers long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

We were already deep in the Marrakech medina when our guide, Amina, handed me a bunch of mint so fresh it made my fingers smell for hours. The market was noisy — vendors calling out, kids darting between stalls, the air thick with cumin and something sweet I couldn’t place. I tried to ask for tomatoes in Darija (Amina grinned at my accent), and somehow we ended up with twice as many as we needed. That’s just how it goes here, I guess.

Back at her family’s home, the kitchen felt warm and busy — not fancy, but full of life. Amina’s mother showed us how to grind spices by hand (my arm got tired embarrassingly fast), and her aunt kept correcting my folding technique for the pastilla pastry. There was laughter every time I messed up — which was often — but nobody seemed to mind. The smells changed as we cooked: sharp onion at first, then cinnamon and saffron rising up from the tagine pot. It’s funny how you start to relax when you’re just chopping carrots next to someone who’s been doing this all her life.

Lunch was noisy too — everyone talking over each other, tearing bread with their hands, dipping into sauces that tasted both familiar and totally new. I still think about that first bite of lamb with prunes; sweet and savory at once, nothing like what I’d had before. Someone put on music from their phone and suddenly there was clapping and singing around the table. It didn’t feel like a “class” at all — more like being let in on a family secret.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Moroccan Cooking Experience

• Cook traditional Moroccan dishes with local family

Top questions

Is this Moroccan cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

Are infants or small children allowed on the tour?

Infants can sit on an adult’s lap or ride in a stroller during the experience.

Does the tour include shopping at a traditional market?

Yes, you’ll buy fresh ingredients from a traditional market in Marrakech’s old city before cooking.

Who teaches the Moroccan cooking class?

The class is taught by local women from a Marrakech family.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, there are public transportation options close to the meeting point.

What’s included

Your day includes gathering fresh ingredients from a traditional market in Marrakech’s old city, hands-on cooking instruction with local women in their home kitchen, and sharing a homemade lunch together before heading back out into the medina’s bustle.