Marrakesh Cafe
Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: (919) 341-1167
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Horne Street
- Hours:
- Mon-Wed 5pm-12am, Thu-Sat 5pm-1am, Sun 5pm-12am
Editorial Review for Marrakesh Cafe – by Neha Shah
In Short
Settle on a burgundy cushion and take a puff of gourmet tobacco. Indulge in a "social smoke" flavored to your taste--apple, banana, melon, mint or berry--and imagine you've escaped the Triangle on a veritable Casablancan adventure. Marrakesh pancake with a Panasher (fruit smoothie) mix deliciously or try Middle Eastern favorites, hummus and tabouli. If the hookah isn't your cup of tea, try other Morrocan treats: Marrakesh Verveine Tea (with lemon and honey to taste) or baklava.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Know Before You GoCredit cards are accepted, but make sure your purchase is over $5.
When to GoBreakfast here is very reasonably-priced and they do offer non-Moroccan items such as bagels, croissants, chicken salad, wraps and sandwiches.
User Reviews for Marrakesh Cafe
09/19/2008 Posted by raleighgirl87
I've been to a few hookah bars in my time, mostly in big cities, but this one is just... not what I was expecting. If you want hookah cause you've never tried it, go for it. The hookah itself is okay, and it's a very college-american scene. You won't feel uncomfortable and students/townies frequent the place on their way up hillsborough street for something different. But don't expect the atmosphere and culture that makes hookah so great. Also, I accidentally left my camera there, and they were almost impossible to get up with. When I did finally get up with them, they told me to be there at a certain time when they opened to get it back. I waited for 2 HOURS before someone finally showed up and let me in.
06/16/2008 Posted by Anonymous4002
The place has changed a lot since most of these favorable reviews were written, and I've seen it change. Now it's very different. In terms of quality of the hookah, it is OK. However, a hookah can last way longer than what they allow for it to last because they very grudgingly add new coals or remove them as they often put too many so that it burns really quickly. On one occasion I asked the short guy that works there who is always sitting down smoking with his laptop to add a coal. I must first add that I've always been really polite and friendly (even made friends) with the employees there. He rudely replied "ok" and never did anything, he just sat back down immediately after I asked. I asked him later again, and then he changed the coals. On another occasion my friend moved the coals a bit on the top of the hookah and this same guy snapped at him in the way that you would expect a principal to yell at a very, very bad student. That same night he closed the shop thirty minutes early. Rather annoyed that I had paid good money for my hookah and had my pleasant evening cut short and interrupted with rudeness (he rolled his eyes and gave big sighs when my friends were gathering cash to pay), I went back in while one of my friends was still paying and (still politely, even though he doesn't deserve it) and asked what time they closed (it was by then 11:30 and the sign outside said 12 am - he...again really bitingly...replied that "I already closed". I simply said OK and left. I was later told that he started muttering about smartass and blah blah blah. Immediately after he followed me down the street as we were all walking away, complaining about how awful the night had been, and he yelled at me saying don't come back ifyou dont like our service blah blah. I laughed a lot and really enjoyed this last bit. We've always been polite and he's always been plain mean. This was the best part of the evening. Spend your money elsewhere.
Pros: Ambience is ok
Cons: extremely and consistently rude, hostile service. bad quality of hookah. music is too loud for conversation
