El Fenn Hotel, Restaurant & Rooftop Bar

While in Morocco, we’ve got many events & activities planned & most had the same thing in common… the pickup each morning by the companies was at the El Fenn. We decided we should know where this is prior to going so went searching… we didn’t have far to go as it’s right around the corner from our own Riad.

We’ve learned to not assume anything from the front of a building here in Marrakech – some entrances are a huge wooden door in the middle of a stone wall, others are glass, but once you go inside, it’s usually quite something else. El Fenn was the most surprising yet.

The colours & art were bright & beautiful with an African feel. There was beautiful clothing, footwear, there was decor & jewelry, furniture & even a cool brass moped with a cowhide seat! Giant vases in a cerulean blue, lanterns upon lanterns lit up every corner, and brightly coloured bunting hung throughout the lobby. There was an amazing display of colourfully painted full-size branches in vases.

Then there was the stairway up to the rooftop… a shiny, red corkscrew of a staircase that lead up to a beautiful patio with stunning views of Marrakech & two of its spectacular mosques.

The lanterns swing in the breeze, there’s lots of plants & trees, comfortable seating, even futons. The tiles that Morocco is famous for did not disappoint here, herringbone green on the floors paired with the brick walls & mirrored bar made for such a lovely spot.

I had a refreshing Red City Rosé Cooler – Rosé wine, fresh strawberry, Triple Sec & sparkling wine – delicious. We were served spiced olives & salted peanuts as a snack.

Dinner was from the bar menu – a Spiced Lamb Burger with Feta & minted raita sauce & also a Red Bean & Mushroom Burger with Cheddar Cheese, both with tasty homemade, fresh cut fries.

We’ve learned that staff are not in a particular hurry in dining establishments, unlike on the streets where it’s rush, rush, rush. We work fast-paced demanding jobs at home so are learning to slow down here & take it easier, to relax & enjoy the moment. We were lucky to have gotten a spot on the patio it seems, as reservations are required for dinner service & we can see why.

We were able to capture tons of photos from inside while we waited, but also of the patio & its brilliant sunset, with the fading light overtop of the exquisitely lit mosques, where you can hear the Call to Prayer echoing.

We’d like to make a reservation for dinner at some point during our stay & see what the dinner menu & seating elsewhere upstairs will bring.

The Zeitoun Cafe

The perfect corner spot to sit, people watch & talk about our tour of the Saadian Tombs.

The Zeitoun Cafe has a street level seating area but also a rooftop one. There is so much hustle & bustle around the neighbourhood where you’ll find the Saadian Tombs, located on the south side of the Kasbah Mosque, inside the royal kasbah (citadel) district of the city.

There are petit taxis or horse drawn carriages everywhere but we chose to walk so we could see the local businesses & people living their daily lives. Dodging mopeds becomes second nature as you go along the cobblestone sidewalks.

We enjoyed a refreshing cold drink called a Tutti Fruiti which meant it was full of all the local juiced fruits. We had the freshest of fruits & yogourt + some almond briwates. The finale was, of course, Morrocan Mint Tea with the perfect foamy pour.

The service was quick & friendly, the food was good & priced fairly. One of the hosts was a young man, full of life, who agreed to get some great video for us of a local barber shop across from where we sat, who were having a fabulous time singing & dancing!

A fabulous rooftop meal above the city of Marrakech.

There’s the tucked away stunning Riad Elisa & Spa complete with Hammam… more on that later… but above that is an amazing little gem of a restaurant called Max.

A crisp, golden glass of white wine with the most perfect breeze to cool off a very hot day…

The hauntingly beautiful sound of the call to prayer…

The first taste of the famous spices this country is known for in the flaky, crumbliness of Moroccan Briwates… vegetable, meat & cheese little packets in filo-type pastry. Absolutely delicious!

The first of many Tajine – this one a savoury chicken & lemon – moist, rich & satisfying.

The evening sun sets with a delightful creamy, cool crème brûlée & fresh fruit.

Our server was friendly, efficient & professional with good advice about the other local eateries.

This was absolutely a 4 out of 5 ticket experience. What a perfect way to start our Moroccan adventure!

The Best Western Plus Langley Inn

The Best Western can be found on Glover Road in Langley, not far from many restaurants, tons of shopping & lots of activities.

The Cascades Casino is just down the road, as is Willowbrook Mall. There are a few theatres & the very popular Fort Langley is about 10 minutes away.

You’re only about 40 minutes from Vancouver International Airport from here & about the same to get to BC Ferries.

There’s a Ricky’s Restaurant attached to this Inn, which is good because there’s no room service.

There’s a gym & an indoor pool, parking & in some rooms even allow pets. There are kitchenettes available.

The rooms are very clean & well appointed, with a desk area & flat screen TV. The service is friendly. We’ll give this Inn 4 tickets out of 5.

An impromptu dinner with the sunset over the ocean

The Boathouse Restaurant in White Rock has been specializing in fresh seafood & breathtaking waterfront views in White Rock since 1981. Featuring sustainable seafood that is locally sourced & from around the world.

This ocean view & a surprise

Their exceptional chef-driven dining experience with the highest quality steaks & an extensive wine list, that has the best & largest selection of BC VQA wines.

Crisp linens & sparkling glassware

A true west coast dining experience, gazing out from the beautifully decorated dining room, or from the rooftop patio, across the street to the glistening ocean.

The service was fantastic, there were servers in training shadowing their well-trained co-workers, and the food was cooked to perfection. The fish & chips were, of course, as fresh as can be, tasty, crispy, with just the right amount of batter.

Crispy, lightly battered fish

The Truffle Butter Roasted Chicken, with goat cheese mash & truffled Brussels sprouts was moist, juicy & so flavourful.


Truffle Butter Roasted Chicken, with goat cheese mash & truffled Brussels sprouts

We enjoyed a glass of cool, crisp, sparkling Henkell Trocken Prosecco & a refreshing Peller Family Chardonnay.

A little sparkling Prosecco to start

They also serve fresh oysters, steak, even brunch, there’s a kids’ menu & while we were there, they had quite a few large groups celebrating that they easily accommodated.

As the sun set, the sky was unbelievable shades of blues, pinks, purples & the fairy lights slowly came on in the trees along the waterfront. We were surprised when a train came along the tracks between the ocean & the street as we hadn’t realized they were there.

Magical view

Their other locations, with apparently just as exciting views, are in Kitsilano, New Westminster & Port Moody. We’ll give them a solid, full four star rating.