Morocco’s red city Marrakech ranked ninth on Travel Awaits’ ranking of the world’s best food cities.
The travel outlet praised the city for its foodie culture, including the use of spices which also adorn the red city’s markets.
“A veritable spice rack in itself, ras el hanout is a rich, colorful aromatic that seasons savory Moroccan dishes such as meats, veggies, couscous, pasta, rice, and stews called tagines,” travel author Laura Ray wrote for Travel Awaits.
The outlet also showered praise on the city’s street food and other tourist sites, stating that Jemaa El-Fna is “a great place to sample Moroccan street food.”
“Hundreds of stalls offer delicious grilled meats, kebabs, potato cakes, and freshly fried fish in between snake charmers and henna tattoo artists,” they added.
They equally lauded the pastilla, urging readers to try the North African pie dish usually filled with meat or seafood if they visit the country.
Italy’s capital Rome made the top of the list, with the city’s bars and cafes complimenting a rich Italian food history including iconic dishes like pasta and pizza.
France’s capital Paris, Spain’s Barcelona, Austrian city Vienna, and Italy’s verona made up the rest of the top five.
Kyoto in Japan, Oaxaca in Mexico, Bangkok in Thailand, and France’s Marseille also ranked in the top ten alongside Marrakech.
The list also included Athens and Amsterdam.
Morocco’s cuisine merges various influences due to the country’s rich history, with Amazigh, Arab, European, and sub-Saharan flavors all coming together to form one of the world’s richest cuisines.
Dishes like Couscous and Tagine have become globally recognized dishes, signifying the country’s international reputation as a food destination.