La Lampe Magique

La Lampe Magique is a traditional Moroccan restaurant on Rue Targui in the medina of Chefchaouen, in the lanes just above the kasbah in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco. It specialises in three-course set meals, with typical spending of about 100-180 MAD (roughly $11-19) per person, which suits visitors wanting a full traditional meal without a long menu. The cooking is home-style Moroccan. Aubergine with garlic is a popular starter, chicken tagine with prunes and almonds is the sweet-savoury main most often recommended, and pastilla and couscous round out the choices. The tagines arrive in the traditional conical clay pots and are usually accompanied by bread, salad and mint tea. The dining room reflects the town's character, with painted walls, lanterns and cushioned seating, and the mood is quiet and cosy, particularly in the evening when the lanes outside empty out. Dress is casual, noise is low and service is relaxed. As in most medina restaurants of this type, the beverage list centres on mint tea, juices and soft drinks rather than wine. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner. It operates on a walk-in basis, but in high season visitors can reserve earlier in the day for a dinner table, which avoids a wait when tour groups arrive. Its location above the kasbah places it near the main square, Plaza Uta el-Hammam, and the viewpoints used for photographs of the blue lanes. Vegetarian and meat-free tagines can generally be arranged by asking at the time of ordering. The set-meal format makes it easy to compare costs with nearby restaurants, and the combination of a central location, modest prices and traditional dishes makes it a dependable stop for a first meal in Chefchaouen.