Marrakesh has a number of palatial restaurants where you can dine in sumptuous, usually period, surroundings in lovely old mansions.

These palace restaurants are really strictly for tourists. Most have floorshows with classical Arabic musicians (genuinely traditional) and belly dancers (a Middle Eastern entertainment that isn't traditional in Morocco at all).

Many palace restaurants are hidden away in the Medina, and may be difficult to find, especially at night, but they will often send someone to meet you nearby on request.

So far as food is concerned, the Red House is about the best of these palace restaurants, with Dar Yacout and Le Tobsil not far behind.

For palatal surroundings, Dar Yacout is hard to beat, but it's modern. If you're after something more authentic, The Palais Gharnata and Dar Essalam are original, both dating from the seventeenth century.

For those on a budget, it's still possible to eat at a palace restaurant, at El Bahia, which also has the advantage of being easy to find.