Leave it to Anna: Shopping in Marrakech

A complete guide to authentic local wares that we found in Morocco.

Shopping while on vacation just hits different. While I can fill up my Amazon cart like a pro, nothing compares to finding a unique treasure that you bring home from a far away land. That said, shopping can also be a treacherous sport, especially if enterprising locals try to take advantage of an unsuspecting tourist. Here is where this shopping guide comes in. I did a lot of research prior to the trip and had some ideas about what I wanted to get, but getting our local guide’s recommendations was worthwhile as well.

First up, let’s talk about leather slippers (or babouches). Ever since we stayed in my French friend’s very chic Parisian apartment that had these slippers in the guest bedroom, I’ve wanted to find some of my own. Our guide took us to a leather shop deep inside the maze of the old medina of Marrakech - I don’t think I could find it again if I tried. That said, the shopkeeper was very nice and helped us pick out the perfect slippers handmade from very soft Moroccan leather. They run a whole spectrum of prices and quality at various shops around town, but these were a decent price (about $35 per pair) and basically molded to my feet as soon as I put them on in the hotel. Fun fact: both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had a pair of red Moroccan slippers they wore around Mount Vernon and Monticello respectively, so there is even some American lore that makes them even more special. These slippers (or gloves for your feet as my husband called them) should definitely be on your shopping list for Morocco.

Next I’d like to discuss cosmetics. Morocco is known for its indigenous production of Argan oil - the Moroccan desert is the only place in the world where argan trees thrive and grow. Historically, local Berber women harvested their nuts to make oil as an ointment to prevent dry skin due to the hot desert climate. Nowadays you can find argan oil anywhere (you’ve heard of Moroccan Oil hair products), but the most pure and authentic form of this oil is still locally made here by women. Since I didn’t want to fall victim to low quality and/or overpriced products that are peddled everywhere here, I asked our guide to take us to a trustworthy place, which was Marrakech Herboristerie. We ended up getting some argan oil for body and hair with infusions of gardenia, white jasmine and lemongrass. This oil is used for body, face, and hair usually after a shower - and it’s not greasy or oily-feeling if that makes sense.

We also got some other cosmetic goodies to try at home at the same herboristerie - all made with the same argan oil. I picked out the orange blossom essential oil roll-on stick that’s supposed to help with sleep (put on your temples before bed). My daughter got the saffron and rose lip balm (really nice) and a hair mask. I also picked up a few bars of soap for gifts - we only brought carry-on suitcases, so had to be careful with the liquids to bring back.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil is the “natural Botox” of Northern Africa (according to our guide). It is extracted from the seeds of the Moroccan prickly pear cactus and apparently contains many nutrients and antioxidants that can have rejuvenating effect on your skin. It’s especially geared towards aging skin - apply before bed every other day for best results.

Here are some other treasures we found (clockwise from top left): leather notebooks embossed with gold initials right at the shop; Berber lipstick - looks like a dreidel but it’s actually a lip stain in a clay pot made out with poppy petals and pomegranate peel; small straw purse; and orange beaded necklace. I found all of these wares at the Ensemble Artisanal, a government sponsored complex of artisan workshops established to teach their trade to apprentices. I found this local “mall” to be a lot more pleasant for leisurely shopping without feeling overwhelmed by overzealous shopkeepers in the bazaar in the old town. The prices are generally fixed by the government, so there is no haggling, which I appreciated.

My husband’s favorite souvenirs that we found were the leather water bottle holsters at the Dar Zemora hotel. You can see the red one in the photo below, but they had them in a few colors. These would be perfect for a guest room or to keep on your desk for a classy water drinking experience. You can buy the glass bottles to go inside them on Amazon.

Hope that you enjoyed this post and I will see you here on the Stack again next Sunday! Until then, you can follow Leave it to Anna on Instagram or Facebook. If you think your friends will like the recommendations that I sent your way, please share my newsletter. Leave it to Anna is also on Threads, so thread along here.