Jad Mahal

Jad Mahal is part of a new breed of entertainment restaurants that has sprung up in the last couple of years, following a trend begun by the successful Le Comptoir. The emphasis here is on style and atmosphere as opposed to culinary excellence, but that's not to say the food is at all poor.

The brainchild of three French fashion designers, this restaurant-cum-bar-cum-club has become the venue of choice for society Marrakchi and wealthier visitors to town. The Arabian/Indian décor, languid seating and exclusive atmosphere is home to some fine Franco-Moroccan cooking. The menu is prepared monthly by Xavier Mathieu, a Michelin-starred chef and would-be Gary Rhodes who visits from France to discuss the menu with executive chef Vincent Faucher.

As the evening wears on, the wine flows, the music is pumped up, and then to tumultuous applause some of the finest (and most beautiful) belly-dancers in Marrakech arrive to liven up proceedings. Go on the right weekend you and may even catch a rare thing indeed in Marrakech - a live band.

Listing by courtesy of:
HG2
25.6.10