2-day itinerary

2-Day Meknes Food Itinerary — Olives, Imperial Gates and Wine Country

Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, is famous for its olives and sits at the centre of Morocco's main wine region. Two days lets you eat from the food stalls of Place el-Hedim to the vineyards and the Roman ruins of nearby Volubilis.

City: Meknes
Length: 2 days
Style: Day-by-day eating plan

The plan, day by day

Follow it in order, morning to night — each day builds on the last.

Day 1 — Place el-Hedim and Bab Mansour

1

Morning

Breakfast on msemen, harcha and mint tea at a café facing Place el-Hedim, the grand square beside the medina.
2

Late morning

Explore the covered market off Place el-Hedim, famous for Meknes olives, preserved lemons and dried fruit.
3

Lunch

Sit down to a kefta tagine with eggs or a chicken-and-olive tagine at a family restaurant near the market.
4

Afternoon

Admire the great Bab Mansour gate and the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, then a mint tea in the shade.
5

Evening

Dinner of a slow lamb tagine with prunes and a bowl of harira at a traditional medina restaurant.

Day 2 — Volubilis, Vineyards and Moulay Idriss

1

Morning

Drive out to the Roman ruins of Volubilis, whose ancient olive presses show how old the region's olive trade is.
2

Late morning

Visit a Meknes-area winery in Morocco's main wine country for a tour of the vineyards.
3

Lunch

Enjoy a long lunch of grilled meats, salads and local olives at a vineyard or country restaurant.
4

Afternoon

Stop in the holy hill town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun to taste its bakeries and nougat stalls.
5

Evening

Return to Meknes for a farewell dinner of couscous and olives, the city's signature ingredient.

Practical tips

Meknes is Morocco's olive capital — the market off Place el-Hedim is the place to taste and buy every colour and cure.
The Meknes region is the heart of Moroccan wine country, so a vineyard visit is a genuinely local experience here.
Place el-Hedim has a smaller, calmer version of Marrakech's evening food-stall scene — good for relaxed street eats.
Combine food with history: Volubilis and Moulay Idriss are short drives out and rich in olive and bakery traditions.
To arrange a guided food walk with a local host, message WhatsApp wa.me/212701664704, call +212 701 664 704, or email info@serenitymoroccotours.com.

Frequently asked questions

What is Meknes known for food-wise?

Olives above all — Meknes is Morocco's olive capital, with a market full of cured varieties — plus its position at the centre of the country's main wine region. Hearty tagines and couscous round it out.

Can you visit wineries near Meknes?

Yes — the Meknes region is Morocco's principal wine-growing area, and several estates around the city offer vineyard visits. It's one of the few places in Morocco where wine tourism is well established.

Is Meknes worth visiting for food alongside Fes?

Yes — it's an easy trip from Fes and offers a different angle: olives, wine country and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, all with fewer crowds than its bigger neighbour.

Make it happen

Turn the plan into a trip — find where to eat, book a hands-on experience, or join a guided food walk.

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