Imperial Cities, Middle Atlas & the East - Morocco - page 662

9 Central Market A1

10 Le Pub B2

11 Marhaba Restaurant C2

12 Palais de Poulet A2

13 Promenade Palace B1

14 Restaurant Gambrinus A1

15 Restaurant Pizza Roma B2

Drinking & Nightlife

16 Café Opera B1

17 Café Tulipe C1

Tours
Compared to Fez and Marrakesh, Meknès medina is fairly easy to navigate. If you are
short of time, or if you wish to gain some local insight, book an official guide through the
tourist office for Dh250 for half a day. Calèche rides of this imperial city with a guide are
easy to pick up around the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail - expect to pay around Dh150
for a couple of hours.

Festivals & Events
One of the largest moussems in Morocco takes place on the eve of Moulid (in January or
December during the life of this edition of the topic) at the Mausoleum of Sidi ben Aïssa,
outside the medina walls. Members of the Hamadcha Sufi brotherhood are renowned for
trances that make them impervious to pain, but public displays of glass-eating, snake bites
and ritual body piercing are no longer allowed (though you'll see pictures about town).
It's a busy and popular festival with fantasias (musket-firing cavalry charges), fairs and
the usual singing and dancing.