The bar/restaurant is also sustainable and eco-responsible.
Tip! Sit by the bar and watch as the bartender concocts Moroccan spices with creativity. We highly recommend “Crystal Meth” and “Jimi Hendrix.”
You may unknowingly walk past Baromètre two or three times before you discover that there are no windows showing tables filled with diners, no large sign with the restaurant’s name; not even a door handle to pull. All that can be seen from the outside is a large metal ‘B’ and a tough-looking doorman in a sleek black suit. The doorman tells you to follow him and you hesitantly walk down a flight of unassuming stairs. You hear the sound of a slow bass echoing from inside and the door slides open to unveil people of all ages and cultural backgrounds drinking, talking, laughing. You have just entered the underground scene of Marrakech.
More similar to bars in cities like Barcelona and New York, Barometre is the first speakeasy in all of Morocco. Located in the unpretentious Gueliz district, the Hadni brothers have created an incredibly intimate and welcoming restaurant and bar that pushes the boundaries on food, drink, and even culture. With cocktails with names like “Crystal Meth” and “Jimi Hendrix” and a restaurant that focuses on molecular gastronomy, a night at Barometre will be one for the books.
Having a cocktail in Baromètre feels exciting and forbidden. Although Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, Morocco is not a dry country. That being said, it is highly illegal to drink in the streets and Moroccan law states that there must be at least 300 meters of distance between a mosque and an alcohol vender. This law is so strictly enforced that the Four Seasons Hotel in Casablanca was denied a liquor license due to its proximity to a mosque. As alcohol may be seen as taboo by some Moroccans, the inventiveness and artistry of the Hadni brothers becomes that much more profound. Within this traditional culture, it takes quite a bit of courage do start something as inventive as Baromètre.
Not only does Barometre offer delicious and unique cocktails, but the bar is also sustainable and eco-responsible. Bartenders are careful to reuse and repurpose products in order to create little waste. Even more, the bar uses 90% local products to avoid harming the environment through food transport. And with a limited amount of alcohol options in Morocco, the expert bartenders at Barometre are forced to get creative. Their inventiveness is showcased throughout the menu, from utilizing smoked date seeds instead of coffee beans to making their own vodka rose out of flowers from M’gouna.
And the creativity does not stop at the bar. The chefs at Baromètre restaurant utilize molecular gastronomy to craft a perfectly balanced seasonal menu. The restaurant serves interesting, high quality food without trying to be Moroccan. Rather, the menu is more Mediterranean inspired with hints of Marrakech thrown in. Their mouthwatering lamb with ratatouille is a great example of this concept– a fabulous European dish with notes of saffron and North African spices, which perfectly integrates East and West. Other must-try dishes at Barometre include the risotto with a clam emulsion, juicy prawns with avocado, and the heavenly chocolate ganache to finish your meal.
Through Baromètre, the Hadni brothers have crafted something truly remarkable. From food that is at the level of renowned restaurants in Europe and fantastic music, to hand-crafted and sustainable drinks and impeccable service, this literal hidden gem is unparalleled in both its quality and unorthodoxy. Ultimately, the Hadni brothers serve as a symbol of the entrepreneur spirit in Marrakech; young Moroccans who have taken what they have seen from travels and exchanges around the world and have created a powerful and unique experience for locals and tourists alike.
