The Verdict
Dinarjat opened in 1990, set inside a residence built in 1908 deep in the Rabat medina at 6 rue Belgnaoui, and is the work of founder Rachid El Guennouni. A lantern-bearer meets guests at the edge of the old town and walks them through the lanes to the door, which is part of the point: this is dinner as an evening out, not just a meal.
The cooking is traditional Moroccan done at a high standard. The lamb tagine with almonds and prunes is the dish to order, the chicken tagine with preserved lemon and olives is the other staple, and the pastilla and vegetable couscous round out a menu that runs to about MAD 100 to 150 per person. Live Andalusian music plays across the tiled courtyard most nights.
What you are paying for is the setting and the ritual as much as the food: zellige tilework, a courtyard open to the sky, and a kitchen that has been turning out the Moroccan classics for more than thirty years. It is a set-piece dinner for a first night in Rabat or a table you want guests to remember.
What to Order
The signature is the lamb tagine with almonds and prunes, slow-cooked and sweet-savoury, and the chicken tagine with preserved lemon and green olives is the other plate ordered by name. Start with a spread of Moroccan salads and the chicken-and-almond pastilla dusted with cinnamon and sugar, finish with mint tea poured from height, and expect a per-person spend of roughly MAD 100 to 150 before wine.
The Room
Dinarjat occupies a 1908 house at 6 rue Belgnaoui, reached on foot through the medina lanes — a lantern-bearer escorts guests from the edge of the old town. Inside is a classic riad: a central courtyard open to the sky, carved-plaster and zellige-tiled walls, low banquettes and lanterns, with live Andalusian music most evenings. It seats a crowd but keeps the hush of a private house.
Why It Works for a First Night in Rabat
For a first dinner in Rabat, Dinarjat delivers the whole Moroccan set piece in one go: the walk through the medina, the courtyard riad, the tagines and pastilla, and the live music. It is built for visitors who want the city's traditional table without guesswork, and it works equally for a celebratory dinner or for hosting guests you want to impress on their first night.
Not For
Dinarjat is not the place for a quick, light or contemporary meal. The format is a long, multi-course traditional dinner with music and ceremony, and diners after modern Moroccan, a fast bite or a quiet corner will find it too theatrical. The medina-lane approach is atmospheric but means an escorted walk rather than a taxi to the door. For market-driven seafood, Marea or Al Marsa on the Bou Regreg are the better call.
Reservations
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially in high season and for larger tables, and can be made through the restaurant directly. Ask about the lantern-bearer pickup point when you book, since the door is hard to find on your own in the medina, and request a courtyard table rather than an upstairs room if you want the music and the open sky.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Dinarjat in Rabat?
Dinarjat was founded in 1990 by Rachid El Guennouni and is housed in a former private residence built in 1908 in the Rabat medina at 6 rue Belgnaoui. It has remained one of the capital's best-known traditional Moroccan restaurants for more than three decades, serving tagines, couscous and pastilla in a tiled riad courtyard with live Andalusian music.
What is Dinarjat known for?
Dinarjat is known for traditional Moroccan cuisine served in a 1908 medina riad. Signature dishes include the lamb tagine with almonds and prunes, the chicken tagine with preserved lemon and olives, the chicken-and-almond pastilla and vegetable couscous, all eaten in a courtyard open to the sky with nightly Andalusian music and a lantern-lit walk in through the old town.
How much does dinner at Dinarjat cost?
Dinner at Dinarjat runs roughly MAD 100 to 150 per person for the food, with tagines, couscous and pastilla making up the core of the menu, before wine and extras. It prices as a special-occasion medina restaurant rather than an everyday spot, and the spend reflects the riad setting, the table service and the live music as much as the cooking itself.
Where is Dinarjat and how do I find it?
Dinarjat is at 6 rue Belgnaoui inside the Rabat medina, near the Kasbah of the Udayas. Because the door is tucked into the medina lanes and hard to locate, the restaurant sends a lantern-bearer to meet guests at the edge of the old town and walk them in. Booking ahead is recommended, and you should confirm the pickup point when you reserve.
Also in Rabat
For more of Rabat's dining, Villa Mandarine sets the garden-dining standard in Souissi, Dar Zitoun is another traditional Moroccan table, and Al Warda is a reliable medina-edge Moroccan room. Each is linked below.