Riad El Reducto

Riad El Reducto is a riad restaurant in an alley off Avenue Mohamed V near Place Hassan II, at the entrance to the Tetouan medina in northern Morocco. Tetouan's medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its Andalusian-influenced architecture, and the restaurant occupies a decorated riad that reflects this heritage. It serves Moroccan dishes at typical prices of about 110-140 MAD (roughly $12-15) per person. The menu includes lamb tagine with prunes, a sweet-savoury dish that is a classic of Moroccan home cooking, chicken pastilla, the flaky pastry pie dusted with cinnamon and sugar, and a selection of Moroccan salads served as starters. Tetouan's cuisine carries Andalusian influences, so dishes are often lightly spiced and combine fruit with meat. The dining area is arranged around the riad's traditional features, with tilework, carved plaster and lanterns, and the mood is atmospheric, calm and slightly formal compared with a street-side cafe. Dress is casual to smart-casual, noise is low, and the setting suits a leisurely lunch or dinner. Beer and wine are served, which is unusual in the medina and a point in the restaurant's favour for visitors wanting a drink with their meal. The restaurant is open daily, roughly noon to midnight, which makes it one of the more flexible options for late dinners in Tetouan. Reservations are not needed, and the restaurant's website, elreducto.com, provides additional information. The location at the medina entrance is convenient for arrivals by taxi and for a meal before or after exploring the souks, the Royal Palace square and the medina's craft quarters. Because it is at the edge of the old town, it is easier to find than restaurants deep within the lanes.