More Than a Cooking Class: the Marrakchi Art of Living, Unveiled at La Sultana

A morning that begins at the Médina market

I'll admit it: I've done a lot of visits to the Médina of Marrakech. But this one, I experienced differently. The Cooking Class at La Sultana Marrakech begins with a stroll through a picturesque Médina market — and trust me, when you know you're going to cook what you choose, you look at the stalls in a whole new way. The colours of the vegetables, the aromas, the gestures of the vendors: everything suddenly makes sense.

The meeting point is La Sultana Marrakech, 403 Rue de la Kasbah, every morning at 10am. I'd recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early — it's a moment to breathe, to soak up the atmosphere, before the culinary adventure truly begins.

The souk as you've never seen it before

This market walk is so much more than a warm-up. It's a lesson in local life. You learn to recognise good ingredients, to understand why Moroccan cuisine is what it is. The guide who accompanies the group knows exactly where to go, and shares anecdotes that no cookbook will ever give you.

The group is intentionally small — 2 to 8 people maximum — which creates a warm, almost intimate atmosphere. You ask questions, you touch, you smell, you exchange. That's exactly what I love about this kind of experience.

Two hours of open-air cooking on the terraces

It's on the terraces of La Sultana that the magic truly happens. In the open air, with a view that invites contemplation, you plunge into the ancestral gestures of Moroccan gastronomy. Two hours of classes shaped by the discovery of spices and traditional utensils — all guided by professionals who share their expertise with generosity.

You learn to measure cumin, ras el-hanout, cinnamon. You come to understand why the slow cooking of a tagine is as much a philosophy as a technique. And gradually, under hands that start out a little clumsy, a dish takes shape.

The tagine we made… at the table

The moment I always wait for with a touch of impatience: tasting what we've cooked. Here, it happens at La Table du Souk — La Sultana's restaurant — where the tagine prepared during the morning is served for lunch. There's something deeply satisfying about this virtuous circle: choose, prepare, taste.

Worth noting: drinks are not included in the experience, and it is not possible to bring your own drinks or outside food. Everything is designed to keep the experience cohesive, from the first moment in the kitchen to the very last bite.

The mint tea ritual to close the morning

Before leaving the terraces, one final moment is a must: the mint tea ritual. This is no small detail — in Morocco, tea is an expression of hospitality, sharing, and chosen slowness. It's the perfect instant to exhale, to chat with the group, and to let the morning settle gently.

This cooking class is open from age 12, and from age 14 if the child is accompanied by a participating adult. For unaccompanied adults, the minimum age is 18. It's a wonderful experience to share as a family, with friends, or even as a duo — one of those I recommend without hesitation to anyone who wants to bring back from Marrakech something far richer than a souvenir bought in a souk.

If you'd like to round out your stay with more Médina discoveries, take a look at the Visite Interactive de la Médina de Marrakech or the Visite Privée des Souks de Marrakech — two experiences that pair perfectly with this morning in the kitchen.

Practical info before you book

• Location: La Sultana Marrakech, 403 Rue de la Kasbah, Médina
• Time: Every morning at 10am (arrive 15 min early)
• Group size: 2 to 8 people
• Included: Market visit · 2h of terrace cooking class · Discovery of spices and utensils · Mint tea ritual · Lunch at La Table du Souk
• Not included: Transport (available as an option on request) · Drinks
• Minimum age: 12 years (14 years accompanied by a participating adult, 18 years otherwise)
• Payment: Directly with La Sultana Marrakech (electronic invoice sent). No deposit requested by Just Marrakech.
• Cancellation: Flexible policy from D-16 to D-2 (50% to 90% of the amount). Cancellation the day before or no-show: 100%. New Year period (24 Dec – 3 Jan): 100% non-refundable.