By Moroccan standards, Marrakech has something of a reputation for it’s nightlife, which covers modern discos and clubs to traditional belly-dancing. The medina itself provides evening entertainment in the form of cafés, food stalls and street entertainment, mainly centred around the Jemaa-el-Fna square, and several hotels have rooftop cafés overlooking the square where you can enjoy a drink whilst looking down on the amazing street scenes below.

A number of riads (historic merchants’ houses) have been converted into restaurants offering a full Moroccan evening experience, including lavish dinners, music and dancing.

For modern evening entertainment, head over to Guéliz, the French-built 'new town' (which dates back to the early 20th-century), where clustered along Avenue Mohammed V, especially around Place Abdel Moumen ben Ali, are most of the city’s bars, and a wide variety of restaurants, bistros and pavement cafés. It is in this part of the city that the nightclubs and discos are located. Many of the hotels also have bars and discos. Clubs and bars are stay open until late and are busiest at the weekends. Entrance fees for nightclubs are from Dh100 (£6) upwards.

Here are a few suggestions:

Many of the hotels have bars, and the most glamorous in the city, with its sumptuous Moorish décor, is undoubtedly Le Churchill, the bar at the Hôtel La Mamounia, Avenue Bab Jedid.

Dar Cherifa – an attractive ‘literary café’ and gallery housed in a 17th century riad in the Mouassine district. Occasional cultural events are held in the courtyard.
Derb Cherifa Lakhbir, Mouassine (00 212 44 426 463).

Café de France - on the Jemaa el Fna. A popular spot to sip mint tea on the top-floor terrace while you watch the theatrics in the square below.

Le Comptoir - both cocktail bar and gourmet restaurant, one of the hippest places in town.
Avenue Echouada, Hivernage (00 212 4443 7702).

Le Mirador - the rooftop café-bar above La Renaissance, Place Abdel Moumen ben Ali, and Le Petit Poucet, Avenue Mohammed V, are both relaxed and fairly classy places. The Palais des Congrès, Avenue de France, is a large ritzy complex that boasts four café-bars.

The newest and most glamorous discos in town are the lively Cotton Club, Hôtel Tropicana, Lotissement Semlalia, the Paradise, Hôtel Mansour Eddahbi, Avenue de France, and the hugely popular New Feeling, Palmeraie Golf Palace, Circuit de Palmeraie, although this one requires a petit taxi to get there and it is the most expensive of the three.

Jad Mahal - is a bar, restaurant and dance area complex. It’s a new and hip addition to the Marrakech nightlife scene. Fontaine de la Mamounia (00 212 44 436984).

The Mamounia Casino in the Hôtel La Mamounia, Avenue Bab Jedid (00 212 44 388 600), has a Grand Casino, with roulette, craps and blackjack. A less grand alternative is the casino at the Es Saadi Hôtel, which also has the trendy Le Teatro disco, situated on Avenue Kadissa, Hivernage (00 212 44 448 811). Entrance for both is free but a jacket and tie are required. Both casinos require fairly high minimum stakes to play, which may not appeal to the novice gambler.