Travel Guide - Co-Working Spaces & Cafes In Marrakech

A guide for digital nomads looking for an inspiring co-working space or cafe in Marrakech to get some work done.

Over the years I've worked my way around this city in search of strong wifi and good coffee. Sometimes with luck - other days with complete disaster.

So if you're in Marrakech and don't have time to waste finding a spot to pull in with your laptop or note book and get some work done, here's some of my favourites for you to try.

In this article:

• Getting a Moroccan SIM Card

• Cafes & Restaurants in the Medina

• Co-working spaces in the New City (Gueliz)

• Cafes & Restaurants in the New City (Gueliz)

Getting a Moroccan SIM Card

First things first - Arriving at the airport get your Moroccan SIM card at the INWI, Orange or Moroc Telecom stand at the arrivals hall. A 10 or 20GB card costs 10 or 20 euros and you're set for at least the next few weeks to be able to tether your laptop to your phone when you need to.

Top ups are available online or at stands around the city. So if your work needs are just a few emails here and there then this is probably all you'll need for your visit.

Cafes in the Medina

The medina restaurants and cafes are getting reallllly busy these days with tourists and visitors, so taking up a table with a laptop for a few hours may not be the best option for you or the cafe owner.

If you need to get some serious work done I recommend heading out to the co-working spaces in the new city Gueliz (see next section)

But if all you need is an hour or two outside of peak lunch and dinner times then there's some great cafes that offer a lovely rooftop or aesthetic courtyard setting for an inspiring spot to get your some work done or get your thoughts out into your journal.

(While Wifi is available in a lot of cafes now - I would always recommend to BYO wifi on your SIM card just incase the coverage is patchy, and make sure your laptop is charged as you may not find a power point..)

Mandala Society - Three level cafe with healthy breakfasts and drinks menu and lovely rooftop. You're bound to find a quiet corner to set up for an hour or 2.

Soul Food - Enter through the artful concept store below and up the back stairs to the sunny terraced rooftop. It has comfy loungers and cafe tables in the shade to pull into for a while with some lunch.

Cafe Atay - This has been a favourite little spot of mine over the years. It has three levels with some comfy seating and aesthetic rooftop view. I've watched the skyline change with the new buildings being built in the neighbourhood around it but it's still got one of the best rooftop views in Marrakech.

Ayaso Bio Cafe - I used to work from this cafe a lot when it was located in the new city, but it's now re-located into a beautiful new spot in the middle of the Spice Square. 3 levels of comfy seating and an amazing rooftop view over the square with a healthy organic lunch.

Co-working spaces in the New City, Gueliz

L'Blassa - This is where you go if you need to get some serious work done. A modern co-working space and art gallery in the centre of the new city Gueliz. Rent a desk by the hour or with a day pass and you're set with fast wifi, private phone call booths, printing and great coffee.

There's often events for the local community of entrepreneurs and freelancers to meet each other, and the staff here are so delightful they'll make you feel right at home.

Kartel Kollective - Art space, coffee shop and gathering spot for the city's creatives. The local art on the walls is all for sale and there's often pop up exhibitions and events.

Small cafe tables set up with some of the better coffee in Marrakech. It gets busier in the afternoons with people gathering for an end of day coffee and a chat with friends, so mornings are best if you'd like a quiet spot with a lovely terrace and art filled ambiance.

Gueliz Cafes & Restaurants:

Not co-working spaces - just nice spots to pull in for an hour or so with a notebook or laptop with a beer, glass of wine and some food.

As with all my recommendations I don't suggest setting up with a laptop within lunch or dinner service times. But mornings and afternoons before the dinner crowd are often quiet and relaxed.

Cafe Les Negociants - This landmark cafe is a step into the old Marrakech with it's buttoned up waiters, art deco interior and grand terrace on the corner of a busy intersection. You may be inclined to just sit and watch the passing traffic like everyone else rather than getting your work done. Mornings before lunch crowd are the best times here with your morning espresso.

Le Kilim - Great lunch and dinner menu and comfortable tables and chairs in a lovely textured kilim filled interior. The high bar stools around the perimeter are great for sitting for an hour or so. Serves beer and wine.

Blue Ribbon Bakery - A newly opened shady courtyard garden out the back of an historic building with healthy breakfasts and lunches made with organic ingredients from their farm, great coffee and some comfortable tables and chairs to set up on for a while.

Patanque Social Club - A new addition to Gueliz that's opened this Winter. Boujee outdoor courtyard setting and gorgeous interior with an open fire in Winter. It's a bit too busy on weekends for a laptop, but mid week it's perfect for sitting in the sun or under the shade of the trees in the breezy courtyard with a beer and some lunch.

Zedd Cafe - A beautiful modern designed restaurant cafe near the main train station with a large breezy tiled terrace and a minimal (and air conditioned) interior.

Bloom House Yoga & Wellness Centre - This beautiful tranquil garden setting is perfect if you like to start your day with a yoga class, then stay on for healthy breakfast bowl and oat milk latte.

Long Stay Options for Digital Nomads Your Riad or Hotel

With prices of air bnb apartments skyrocketing in Marrakech these last few years - If you're planning on staying a while consider asking one of the city's 100s of riads if they offer long stay options for you to bunker in for a week or two or even a month.

So many of them have incredible rooftops and courtyard gardens and are such a beautiful escape from the crazy of the medina outside. I built the early versions of the Nouvelle Nomad website on riad rooftops which has such nice memories attached to it.

Check with your riad before booking about their wifi speeds. Wifi in the medina can be patchy and slow but it's getting much better depending on if they have cable or not.

Have I missed your favourite co-working space or cafe in Marrakech? Let me know in the comments :)