Marrakech · Beyond the medina
After two or three days of medina, ramparts and souks, Marrakech also has a much more contemporary side. In Guéliz, the new town built under the French protectorate, and in Sidi Ghanem, a district of workshops and concept stores further north, a different Marrakech is hiding — air-conditioned malls, artisans of taste, and a whole different kind of outing in the palm grove bordering the city. Here are three addresses for a change of pace.
Xtrem360, simulators and an esports arena in Guéliz
Xtrem360 is a pioneer of virtual gaming in Morocco, with venues in Marrakech and Rabat. The Marrakech location sits inside the Carré Eden shopping mall, in Guéliz, right next to the food court — a perfect retreat during the hottest hours of the day. On offer: thrill-ride racing simulators with force-feedback seats and immersive screens, PlayStation 5 consoles, multiplayer VR games and an esports arena with big screens. The place is designed for all ages from 4 up, whether you're out with family, friends or colleagues. Carré Eden mall generally opens around 10am and closes between 10pm and 11pm depending on the day; pricing is session-based, on-site.
Thrill-ride racing simulator at Xtrem360
Oriental Legend, gelato that reinvents Moroccan flavours
Founded in 2012 by Morgan Lechâtellier, an artisan ice-cream maker trained under an Italian master, Oriental Legend — branded "Glacestronomie" — reinvents Moroccan flavours as 100% natural ice creams with no artificial flavours or colouring: Berber couscous with a caramelised onion tfaya coulis, corne de gazelle, amlou, argan-oil chebakia, dried fig, Taliouine saffron, orange blossom, honey-cinnamon... Everything is handmade at the 650m² workshop in Sidi Ghanem, the design-studio and concept-store district north of Guéliz, which is worth the detour in its own right. The brand has several other outlets around town, notably near Jemaa el-Fna and at Menara Mall, handier if you're already sightseeing. Expect to pay around 20 to 35 MAD depending on size — single or double cone, 250ml tub.
The Oriental Legend sign, an artisan gelato maker in Marrakech
A quad bike ride through the Palmeraie
Head to the Marrakech Palmeraie, a palm grove of over 100,000 trees dating back to the Almoravid era that stretches out to the city's northeast, for a quad bike outing run by Menara Quad Marrakech. Routes wind between sandy tracks and small Berber villages, usually with a mint tea stop along the way. It's an activity to book ahead, most often with hotel pick-up included in the package; duration varies by option, from one hour to a full day. It's a good way to break away from the medina's pace and see the palm grove differently than from a car — solo, as a couple, or in a group.