By Alaric 
On my recent trip to Morocco, I waited over two hours for Bacha Coffee Marrakech but was it worth it?
This famous café is set in a 19th-century palace and is seen as one of the most beautiful coffee houses in the world.
Here, you can try 100% Arabica coffees from across the globe and indulge in the finest sweet and savoury dishes.
It’s a luxurious experience that will make you feel like royalty…but only if you’re willing to wait for it!
Here is a complete guide to Bacha Coffee Marrakech including how it works, prices, tips to save time and if it’s really worth your time.
The History of Bacha Coffee Marrakech
Bacha Coffee was founded in 1910 in the Dar el Bacha Palace which translates to “House of the Pasha”.
The coffee house specialises in 100% Arabica coffee and allows guests to travel the world through their cups.
The palace has hosted many famous guests including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Franklin Roosevelt.
After WWII, the palace closed for over 60 years until it was finally reopened to the public in 2019.
Today, Bacha Coffee is a global brand with locations in Paris, Singapore, Taipei, Dubai etc.
It’s an incredible story that all started in Marrakech. So, you must visit their famous flagship café in Morocco.
Dar El Bacha Museum
Bacha Coffee is located inside the stunning Dar El Bacha Museum or Museum of Confluence.
It’s a 19th-century palace with the finest examples of riad architecture in Morocco.
At the time of writing, you can’t make a reservation to visit the coffee house in advance.
So, when you arrive, you’ll be joining a queue with lots of others at the museum entrance.
It’s good to know that you have to pay for a ticket to enter the museum to dine at Bacha Coffee which costs 10 MAD (£0.79).
The normal ticket price for a museum visit is 60 MAD (£4.85). It’s free for Moroccan citizens and expats on Fridays.
Whether you want to wait for coffee or not, everyone waits in the same queue to go inside.
How long is the wait for Bacha Coffee?
Bacha Coffee Marrakech is open from 10 am to 4 pm except Monday when it’s closed.
The average wait time for the café is 1-2.5 hours, but it can be as long as 3 hours.
Nearly every blog and social media post advised me to get to Bacha Coffee 30 minutes before opening time at 9.30 am to be seated straight away.
To my surprise, the queue was already 40 people long at 9.30 am. This was on a weekday in February, Morocco’s shoulder season.
I didn’t enter the museum until 10.30 am and wasn’t seated in the café until noon. I left at 1.30 pm so my visit took 4 hours in total. It was a journey.
My advice would be to wait outside the Dar El Bacha Museum at 9 am sharp.
That way, you only wait for one hour and get seated straight away at 10 am rather than wait for two hours or more!
Important: Don’t visit Bacha Coffee too late in the day as all the reservations are often sold out by noon.
Getting your buzzer
As soon as you reach the ticket office, tell them you want to visit for coffee and pay for your ticket to the Dar El Bacha Museum (10 MAD).
Then, head straight for the largest inner courtyard to find the café reception.
Don’t get distracted on the way as there will be plenty of time to appreciate the gorgeous rooms later. Trust me.
At the café reception, the lovely staff will add you to a waiting list and tell you the current wait time.
When I arrived at 10.30 am, my wait time was already 1 hour and 45 minutes.
You’ll then be given a buzzer which will alert you when your table is ready. So, you don’t have to stand in a queue the whole time.
I thought this was a great system as it meant that you got to visit the museum and take photos while you waited!
Exploring the museum
The Museum of Confluence has some gorgeous architecture with charming stucco and tile work.
The courtyard was dreamy with orange trees, carved pillars, ceramic floors and several rooms to explore.
The exhibitions were modern with videos and translated information boards.
It was delightful but ultimately a small space and didn’t take long to complete.
Once you’ve finished with the museum, it’s back to the waiting game. So, I would bring a book or some distractions, haha.
Most people in the museum will be sitting around just waiting for their buzzer to go off!
Thankfully, there are clean bathrooms if you need them and benches dotted around if you wish to sit.
This is another reason why I love this system as it accommodates accessibility.
Entering the breathtaking Bacha Coffee
When my buzzer (finally) went off 90 minutes later, I felt like Charlie when he got his golden ticket to the chocolate factory. Huzza!
I skipped over to the café reception and I was brimming with anticipation. You can’t even peek inside until you’re called.
My lovely host showed me to my table and as I entered the courtyard I gasped at the enchanting interiors.
I knew then that I had made the right choice and that the wait was worth it.
All of the tables and rooms at Bacha Coffee are stunning. But, I was so happy that my table was located in the inner courtyard.
The glorious room has an Art Deco style with intricate stucco work and a monochrome tiled floor.
It’s also a solar beautifully lit by natural daylight from the glass ceiling.
Velvet wicker chairs are tucked under gold-rimmed tables and surrounded by emerald foliage, Bacha coffee jars and priceless vases.
In the pretty alcoves, you’ll find glittering chandeliers, luxurious wallpaper and oil paintings.
Classical music floated through the air and it was all so divine. I honestly felt like a princess in this royal setting!
What is on the Bacha Coffee menu?
The obvious thing that Bacha Coffee is famous for is its extensive menu of 100% Arabica coffees from all over the world.
However, they also have herbal infusions, iced milk, fresh fruit juice, homemade lemonades, hot chocolates and cocktails.
They serve up an extensive range of pastries, cakes, ice creams, churros, cookies and tarts.
If you want something more substantial, there is a delectable savoury menu filled with fish, poultry, meat and vegetarian dishes.
Whatever you order, you can be assured it’s made with the finest quality ingredients and the service will be fantastic.
The best coffee in the world
Bacha Coffee has over two hundred 100% Arabica coffees sourced from all over the globe. So, it can be overwhelming to choose.
As it was my first visit, I ordered their most popular coffee from Yemen, which has a hazelnut taste. I was not disappointed as it was scrumptious.
All of their coffees are served in a pretty gooseneck coffee pot and prepared according to an alchemist’s measure.
Each generous pot provides 1-3 cups and they recommend having your first cup on its own to appreciate the flavour.
Afterwards, you can add cracked vanilla beans, their famous rock sugar, steamed milk and Chantilly whipped cream!
I am not a coffee snob by any means, but it was easily one of the best coffees I’ve ever tasted.
It altered my brain chemistry as to what coffee should be like, and I fear I can never look back.
Marrakech breakfast
As I was seated just before noon and hadn’t eaten much, I ordered one of their brunch set menus.
It was excellent value for money as you got one of their world-famous coffees and a choice of freshly squeezed fruit juice.
While I waited for the main event to arrive, I was given some warm bread with butter and homemade jam.
Then, I ate a beef bacon omelette served with a small salad which was really tasty.
After, I was served some freshly sliced seasonal fruit with two gourmet pastries. These were a flaky croissant and pain au chocolate.
The pastries were delicious and had a chocolate and pistachio filling! I was stuffed by the end.
Everything was served in luxurious Bacha Coffee crockery which you can buy in their gift shop.
The service was also excellent the entire time. The staff are all adorned in full livery and cannot do enough for you.
Despite there being a long queue for the café outside, at no point did I feel rushed or urged to leave.
It was a sumptuous experience through and through, as it should be. The wait was long enough!
Is Bacha Coffee expensive?
Compared to regular cafés in Morocco, Bacha Coffee can seem expensive.
But, if you compare it to the famous Marrakech rooftop bars or cafés in London and Europe, it’s not that pricey.
Bacha Coffee is regarded as the best coffee maker in the world and this café in Marrakech is seen as one of the prettiest on Earth.
So, you’re paying for the luxurious experience as a whole. I thought it was a bargain and worth every penny!
The coffee prices start at 44 MAD (£3.50) depending on the type and you can add a la carte pastries/cakes with prices starting at 35 MAD (£2.80).
But, I recommend ordering one of their set menus for better value.
I had the Petit Déjeuner ‘Marrakech’ set menu for 190 MAD (£15.10), excluding a tip.
It was a banquet fit for a queen and came with coffee, eggs, two pastries, juice, preserves and fruit.
They also have afternoon tea options that range from 160 MAD (£12.75) to 250 MAD (£20).
You can pay with a card for your coffee/food, but tips have to be paid in cash.
Cash is king in Morocco, so it’s always a good idea to have notes with you.
Is Bacha Coffee Marrakech worth waiting for?
Most definitely. Despite the long wait to sit down, Bacha Coffee was easily a highlight of my trip to Marrakech!
The entire experience inside the café was fabulous from the glamorous interiors, the delicious coffee, delectable food and expert service.
Bacha Coffee is famous the world over but its story started here in the souks of Marrakech.
They’ve been enchanting visitors for years so don’t miss out on this marvellous experience in Morocco!
Bacha Coffee shop
While waiting for your table or after you leave the café, I recommend visiting the Bacha Coffee shop.
Inside they have (almost) all of their Arabica coffee beans for sale that you can buy to take home.
The price is determined by weight, they then prepare and seal the beans for you in protected bags for travel.
They also had gorgeous scented candles and all of the crockery they use in the café for sale.
So, I left with one of their heritage coffee mugs that came with a coaster and some of their 1910 heritage coffee.
It’s not the cheapest boutique by any means but everything is packaged beautifully in their deluxe gift bags tied with a bow.
How to find Bacha Coffee in Marrakech
Bacha Coffee is located inside the Museum of Confluence in Marrakech Medina, next to the entrance of the Royal Palace.
It’s easiest to approach on foot and can be found around a 10-minute walk from the main square of Jemaa el-Fnaa through the soukh.
Local taxis are an option in Marrakech but always ask for the metre to be switched on or negotiate a price before you get in.
A taxi can drop you off at a junction on Avenue el Glaoui right by the entrance where there is a bus stop.
Local buses are safe to use in Marrakech and journeys are super cheap. but, they are not ideal for tourists as it is difficult to communicate your journey.
Looking for more things to do in Marrakech?
After you leave Dar El Bacha Museum there are plenty of delightful attractions in the historic Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of my favourite places is Jardin Secret, a 19th-century palace complex which is also an oasis from the busy streets outside.
You also can’t leave without exploring Madrasa Ben Youssef. This ornate school is filled with gorgeous stucco work and tiles!
Bahia Palace is another highlight with many ornate riads, courtyards and rooms to explore and was built in the 19th century.
El Badi Palace is an atmospheric 400-year-old ruin from the Saadian dynasty and you can visit the Saadian Tombs nearby.
Getting lost in the Medina is an attraction in itself and you can visit Soukh Semarine and the Spice Market to buy lots of souvenirs.
Jemaa el-Fnaa is the vibrant big square and you can watch the sunset over the Koutoubia Mosque from one of the many rooftop cafés.
Or, why not head out to Jardin Majorelle and the YSL Museum? Make sure to book your tickets well in advance of your trip as they often sell out!
Read more of my Morocco guides
The ultimate 2 weeks in Morocco itinerary
The most Instagrammable places in Fes
How to visit the Chouara Tannery in Fes
Things to know before travelling to Morocco
What to wear in Morocco as a woman
Solo female travel tips for Morocco
Top things to do in Essaouira
Taking a Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
Top places to visit in Chefchaouen
Save Bacha Coffee Marrakech for later!
