The Brooklyn
of Marrakech is
Gueliz.

See the 24 venues →Where to stay
The case for Gueliz

Gueliz is the ville nouvelle that actually has a soul. Wide French colonial boulevards lined with sidewalk cafes, gallery clusters on Rue de Yougoslavie, and specialty coffee that rivals Melbourne. The medina gets the postcards, but Gueliz is where Marrakchis actually hang out on a Tuesday night. Nobody's trying to sell you a lantern here.

Rue de la Yougoslavie and its passageways pack at least 8 contemporary art galleries into a single walkable stretch, making it one of the densest gallery clusters in North Africa.
Close contenders

Other cool neighborhoods in Marrakech.

Sidi Ghanem

Sidi Ghanem is an industrial zone turned creative district on the city's outskirts. Design studios, concept stores, and warehouses with surprisingly good lunch spots. You'll need a taxi.

Mouassine

Mouassine is the medina quarter that got the boutique riad treatment. Narrow alleys open into restored courtyards with plunge pools. Beautiful, but you're never far from a tour group.

Mellah

Mellah is the old Jewish quarter south of the main souks. Spice market stalls, the Lazama Synagogue, and a rawness the restored courtyard hotels haven't reached yet.

Three sides of the neighborhood

Where to go in Gueliz.

01
Stay

Gueliz hotels feel different from the medina riads - less theatrical, more functional.
02
Eat & Drink

Al Fassia on Boulevard Mohamed Zerktouni has an all-female kitchen turning out the city's most authoritative tagines - the Friday seven-vegetable couscous draws a devoted weekly crowd.
03
Do & Shop

Jardin Majorelle is worth the early morning queue - go at 8:30am when it opens and you'll have the electric-blue villa mostly to yourself.
All 24 spots mapped out

Gueliz, corner to corner.

Open in Maps →
Our 24 top picks

The Gueliz guide.

Practical info

Good to know.

The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.

CurrencyMAD
LanguageArabic
Cost level $$Moderate
Best monthsMarch to May and October to November
Local time UTC+1
Plug type EU plug · 230V/50Hz
Emergency19 police, 15 ambulance, 177 gendarmerie
Local tip
The gallery strip on Rue de Yougoslavie does Thursday evening openings with free wine. Walk the whole block in an hour.
Africa · Morocco

If you like Marrakech, try one of these.

Tbilisi
The Brooklyn of
Tbilisi
Vera
Georgia · Europe
Lisbon
The Brooklyn of
Lisbon
Anjos
Portugal · Europe
Oaxaca
The Brooklyn of
Oaxaca
Barrio de Jalatlaco
Mexico · Latin America
Osaka
The Brooklyn of
Osaka
Nakazakicho
Japan · Asia
Head to head

How does Marrakech stack up?

All comparisons →

Cairo vs Marrakech

Middle East · Africa

Cape Town vs Marrakech

Africa

Lagos vs Marrakech

Africa

Lisbon vs Marrakech

Europe · Africa
Common questions

Things to know about Gueliz.

What is the Brooklyn of Marrakech?
The Brooklyn of Marrakech is Gueliz. Gueliz is the ville nouvelle that actually has a soul. Rue de la Yougoslavie and its passageways pack at least 8 contemporary art galleries into a single walkable stretch, making it one of the densest gallery clusters in North Africa.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Marrakech?
Gueliz is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Marrakech. Gueliz is the ville nouvelle that actually has a soul. Wide French colonial boulevards lined with sidewalk cafes, gallery clusters on Rue de Yougoslavie, and specialty coffee that rivals Melbourne. The medina gets the postcards, but Gueliz is where Marrakchis actually hang out on a Tuesday night. Nobody's trying to sell you a lantern here.
What is the hippest neighborhood in Marrakech?
Gueliz is the hippest neighborhood in Marrakech. Gueliz earns its reputation through gallery clusters on Rue de Yougoslavie, sidewalk cafes under colonial-era boulevards, and the fact that locals actually show up on Tuesdays.
What is the trendiest neighborhood in Marrakech?
Gueliz is Marrakech's trendiest neighborhood right now. The specialty coffee scene rivals Melbourne, design studios keep multiplying, and nobody here is going to corner you about a lantern.
Where do creatives live in Marrakech?
Gueliz, the ville nouvelle west of the medina. Marrakech's creatives gather where galleries cluster along Rue de la Yougoslavie and its passageways - at least eight contemporary art spaces showing emerging Moroccan work in one walkable stretch. Designers and gallerists work here, beyond the lantern-selling medina.
What is the most bohemian neighborhood in Marrakech?
Gueliz is the most bohemian corner of Marrakech. Wide French colonial boulevards, sidewalk cafes, and specialty coffee set the texture. This is where Marrakchis actually hang out on a Tuesday night. Laid-back, multicultural, walkable. Nobody's trying to sell you anything. The medina gets the postcards; Gueliz has the soul.
Where should I stay in Gueliz, Marrakech?
The best boutique hotels in Gueliz include 2Ciels Luxury Boutique Hôtel & Spa, BAB HOTEL, and MORO Marrakech , Hôtel Particulier. All-suite, all-moody.
Is Gueliz in Marrakech safe at night?
Gueliz is a lived-in creative neighborhood, not a tourist compound. Bars and restaurants here stay busy late, which keeps streets active. Use normal city awareness.
Is Marrakech expensive?
Marrakech rates $$ on a global travel scale. Affordable, with good value for food and drink.
When is the best time to visit Marrakech?
Target March to May or October to November, when days run 22-28°C and evenings cool off nicely. June through August routinely tops 40°C, so walks happen at dawn or after dark, like the locals do. December and January are pleasant by day but cold at night, near freezing - bring layers, especially if you're heading into the desert.

Last updated

The dispatch

Want more cities like Marrakech?

New cities and updated guides. Nothing else.