Restaurant Ziryab - Rabat — Restaurant in Hassan حسان

April 11, 2012 Dining at Restaurant Ziryab in Rabat was an unforgettable journey into the heart of Moroccan elegance and hospitality. The restaurant, housed in a building that feels more like a grand Moroccan home than a commercial space, envelops you with its warmth the moment you step in. Towering arches, intricately carved columns, and soft golden lighting create an atmosphere of timeless beauty. From the upper balconies to the finely detailed chandeliers and antique teapots on display, every corner reflects meticulous craftsmanship.

Live traditional music filled the air during our visit—three musicians dressed in classic Moroccan attire played the oud, violin, and darbuka drum, adding a soulful rhythm to the evening. Their melodies made the meal feel like part of a cultural performance, not just dinner.

The food was equally spectacular. We began with hot, fragrant mint tea served in ornate glasses—a Moroccan welcome like no other. The mains included a selection of tagines: tender lamb tagine, chicken with preserved lemons and olives, and a perfectly spiced vegetable couscous. We also enjoyed a generous mixed grill platter with juicy kebabs and smoky, charred flavors. Every dish was bursting with authenticity, clearly prepared with care and tradition.

Service was warm and gracious, making us feel less like customers and more like honored guests. Between the exquisite décor, the gentle notes of live music, and the flavors that spoke of centuries of culinary heritage, Restaurant Ziryab offered an experience I would recommend to anyone...

Very special restaurant with great aesthetics, fantastic view from the roof terrace, and a lively atmosphere.

Unfortunately during our visit, the service quality was problematic. I am willing to believe it was a one off / bad luck, in part due to Ramadan. We asked to be seated on the roof terrace when we made our reservation, and they did send us up there, but they were not actually serving food on the terrace. Worse, they left us outside until we finally came to remind them. By then the restaurant had already filled up. The hostess was apologetic, and showed us to a server on the upstairs level, down one floor from the terrace.

We were shown to a table which wasn't properly cleaned, seated less than a meter from a dirty bird cage with live birds in it. The side table the birds were sitting on had a pile of dirty dishes that were never cleared even hours later as we finished the meal. There weren't that many tables on the floor we sat on, but the staff seemed overwhelmed. We weren't offered water or even given a drink menu. The bread seemed to be possibly discarded from another table. It all felt like we were an afterthought despite having shown up quite in advance of our reservation time.

The food was tasty, and I believe other patrons, especially those seated on the ground floor probably had a different experience. I would still recommend this restaurant, and would tentatively go again because it's a nice place. That said, for the prices they charge they should not allow this kind of hasty and absent minded...

Disclaimer: this rating is mainly for the food. I won’t talk about the price which seems to be what most of the 1 star reviews are based on. Just be aware that it’s a set menu and there’s a minimum cost of 650MAD per person. If that price is an issue, I recommend going elsewhere.

But onto the food. We had the chicken tagine and couscous with chicken and vegetables and it was almost certainly the worst dishes we had in our 10 days in Morocco. The chicken was so dry and I literally could not eat it without taking mg a sip of water every bite. There is also so much food I don’t know how they expect an average person to eat a set menu of that size. Feels wasteful and we felt terrible leaving so much food on the table.

The only redeeming quality for the restaurant was the staff and the atmosphere. It had a good vibe with what seemed to be very traditional Moroccan decor and even birds that you could hear. The staff were friendly...