Brunch at Dar Ilham

Occasion: Post-wedding brunch at Dar Ilham
Location: Dar Ilham, on Route de Fès in the Palmeraie area (riaddarilham.com)
Edibles: tabbouleh; mini burger patties / flattened meatballs; fresh bread

Musings: A simple meal, but delicious. Dar Ilham knows how to feed a guest. The tabbouleh was flecked with tomato, cucumber, onion and fresh parsley. The bread was chewy and substantial. And the mini burgers provided just enough protein to satisfy my meat-tooth.

In terms of lodging, Dar Ilham definitely has pros and cons. The pros are the great common areas (the lounge, the pool), the quiet, and the incredibly helpful staff. The biggest con is its location - Dar Ilham is in an area that's still largely undeveloped, which is why its address is simply "Kilometer 13" on Route de Fès. It's about half an hour away from the medina, and a cab ride will run you about 250-300 dirham (~$40) - and that's assuming your cabbie can even find the place. Dar Ilham will send a van to pick you up for about half that but you need to give them 30 min notice, which does impede the flexibility of your plans.

I don't know that I'd recommend Dar Ilham for first-time visitors to Marrakech, but it's a nice option if you're looking for a quieter visit with lots of lolling-around time by the pool. For sure, you'll eat well.