The evening step by step

Before you arrive

The restaurant sits inside the medina, where lanes are narrow and cars cannot reach the door. Decide in advance how you will get there and back (see the getting there guide), and leave yourself a margin so that you are not rushing the last stretch on foot.

Tell the restaurant about dietary needs when you book. We cannot say how flexible the kitchen is for a set menu, so ask rather than assume.

Prices, inclusions and the 3- or 4-course choice are covered in the menu and prices guide. For the overall picture, start from our Dar Essalam dinner show guide.

Timeline of the evening

Times come from the booking listing and can shift with the season, the group and the night.

Where you sit matters

Dar Essalam is made of several salons. The restaurant names K’Dim, Bahja, Royal, Marjane and Jawhara, and describes the Royal salon as the largest, with an Arabo-Andalusian look, a dome and a fountain. It also mentions a third-floor terrace with a view of the Koutoubia minaret.

Travellers often advise asking for the main dining room, where the music and dancers are. Tables are assigned by the restaurant and a specific room cannot be guaranteed through a booking platform, so it is worth arriving on time and asking politely.

Pace and service

Several public reviews describe friendly staff but slower service when the room is full. If you have somewhere to be after dinner, say so early. Otherwise treat the evening as the main event and let the courses come.

On my visit the evening lasted almost 2 hours 45 minutes, in line with the roughly three hours on the booking listing. The music was rather loud: expect a show, not background music.

Practical tips

• Dress smart-casual and wear shoes that cope with uneven medina paving.
• Bring a little cash for tips and for a taxi back, in case card payment is not available.
• Drinks are not included in the option we reviewed, so check the drinks menu and prices on the night.
• Ask before filming performers at close range.

Frequently asked questions