Chez Hicham

Chez Hicham is a hotel restaurant with a terrace attached to Riad Hicham on Place Outa el Hammam, the main square of the medina in Chefchaouen, in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region of northern Morocco. The square is the social heart of the old town, bordered by the red-ochre kasbah and the Grand Mosque, so a terrace here places diners within sight of the town's best-known landmarks. The cuisine is Moroccan, and signature dishes listed for the venue include tagine and creme brulee. The tagine follows northern Moroccan tradition, slow-cooked in a clay pot with spices, olives and preserved lemon and served with bread, while the creme brulee reflects the French influence that persists in Moroccan hotel and riad kitchens and offers a lighter, sweet finish after a heavy main. As a riad restaurant, the setting is more intimate and calmer than a street cafe, with a terrace that suits long, unhurried meals and a mood that is relaxed rather than boisterous. There is no dress code beyond modest clothing customary in Moroccan towns. Because Chefchaouen is largely alcohol-free, the beverage side centres on mint tea, coffee, juices and soft drinks. Prices are mid-range for the town, roughly 80-150 MAD (about $9-$16) per person, though the venue does not publish a full menu. Reservations are generally not essential, and walk-in seating is usually possible, but the venue can be reached by phone on +212 5 39 88 21 25 to reserve a terrace table, which is advisable for sunset in the high season of spring and summer or on Moroccan holidays. As the restaurant is attached to a guesthouse, hotel guests may be given priority, so non-guests should call ahead for busy evenings. The address, Riad Hicham, Place Outa Hammam, is in the pedestrian heart of the medina and is reached on foot, usually from a short walk along stepped, cobbled lanes.