United Kingdom

London

Moroccan 

For anyone tapped into London's electronic scene, no doubt you'll be familiar with the name Sicaria.

Sicaria initially began as Sicaria Sound, a London-based duo made up of Lou Nour and Sancha Ndeko. Together, they made waves across the global underground community by flying the flag for dubstep. Their incendiary, bass-driven sets saw them merge the genre with various sounds such as grime and dancehall. At the end of 2021, the duo disbanded amicably, with Nour continuing the project as a solo artist under the moniker Sicaria and Ndeko producing music under the alias Mia Koden.

Born and raised in London, Nour is of Moroccan descent and draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of SWANA culture. Her solo sound is a mix of cultures, combining classical Arabic music with Egyptian shaabi, Algerian Raï and Moroccan Gnawa. Her first job was in radio production, and she's since held down shows across BBC Radio 1, 1xtra, NTS and Rinse.

In November 2023, the artist released her debut solo EP entitled 

a four-tracker inspired by Cindy Sherman. Following the EP, she took us on a tour around London, highlighting her top five Morrocan restaurants. Below, she shares her wealth of knowledge on the topic.

A chilled lunch spot that won't break the bank! It's a cute little cafe with a casual hint of colourful tapestry and great Moroccan food that stays true to the culture. It's hard to pick a favourite but I'd definitely try a tagine, of course.

Open everyday apart from Sunday, this market is an extension of the busy Portobello Road Market. It has different traders on different days, but on most days you can find it full of stalls selling tagines, spices and Moroccan decor. If you ran out of luggage space during your trip to the country, you can easily find the same fare in this market.

A high-end experience if you're willing to part with some £££. It's got a smart casual dress code and offers up an environment for people to enjoy a truly authentic Middle Eastern dining and drinking experience. Although it's predominantly Lebanese cuisine, they offer up a growing menu of Moroccan dishes alongside some weekend entertainment, along the lines of belly dancers and DJs playing music from the MENA region.

Sorry men, but this one's for the ladies only. It's a highly rated spa that offers a lot of treatments you'd find in real Moroccan hammams. Think Rhassoul clay scrub and exfoliation with kessa gloves, including a relaxation area served up with Moroccan mint tea, naturally.

Authentic Moroccan takeaway based in Bethnal Green and serving the majority of the central and east London areas. Fun fact: I actually met the owner in the back of an Uber and he was telling me how there were virtually no Moroccan cuisine options on our favourite delivery apps. Small menu and insanely good prices. I'd recommend the zaalouk and Moroccan wings in particular.

Casa Spa

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