Sesamo

The Verdict

Sesamo earns its place at the leading of the Marrakesh dining hierarchy. Backed by three major awards in consecutive years (La Liste 2026, Les Grandes Tables du Monde 2025, and World's 50 Best Restaurants MENA 2024 at #32), this Italian restaurant inside Royal Mansour is the kind of table you plan a trip around, not an afterthought booking. If you are visiting Marrakesh and Italian fine dining in a palace setting is your format, book this first. Expect extreme difficulty securing a reservation and plan at least four to six weeks ahead.

Portrait

Sesamo sits inside Royal Mansour Marrakesh, one of the city's most architecturally considered properties, which means the visual experience begins before you reach the table. The dining room and the patio both deliver the setting you would expect from a palace hotel of this tier, but the patio is the more compelling choice for anyone arriving in the early evening: the light shifts dramatically at sunset, and the open-air setting offers a contrast to the usual interior fine-dining format you will find elsewhere in Marrakesh. For food-focused travelers who want to understand a city through its tables, that duality (Italian precision, Moroccan setting, the sensory collision of the two) is exactly what makes Sesamo worth seeking out.

The kitchen operates under chef Riccardo Barni, working within the framework established by Massimiliano Alajmo, whose name carries weight in the European fine-dining circuit (the Alajmo family's Le Calandre in Padua has held three Michelin stars for over two decades). The concept draws on both local Moroccan ingredients and imported Italian products, which positions Sesamo differently from every other high-end table in Marrakesh. You are not getting a riad interpretation of Moroccan cuisine here. You are getting a rigorous Italian kitchen operating inside one of North Africa's most significant hotel properties. That is a specific thing, and it is not for everyone, but for the traveler who wants depth and context rather than a direct local experience, Sesamo answers the brief.

The MENA ranking at #32 on World's 50 Best in 2024 is the clearest external benchmark available. It places Sesamo among the most decorated restaurants across the Middle East and North Africa, ahead of most Marrakesh competition by a significant margin. The Les Grandes Tables du Monde recognition in 2025 adds a second data point from a credentialed international body. A Google rating of 4.5 across 122 reviews suggests the guest experience consistently meets expectations at this level. At this award tier, the restaurant does not need to oversell itself.

For travelers building a Marrakesh itinerary around food, Sesamo makes sense as an anchor booking. Pair it with Dar Moha for Moroccan fine dining in a riad setting, La Grande Brasserie by Helene Darroze for French-influenced cooking, or +61 for a more contemporary format. See our full Marrakesh restaurants guide for the complete picture, and check our Marrakesh hotels guide if you are considering staying at Royal Mansour itself. Pearl also covers Marrakesh bars, experiences, and wineries if you are planning a longer stay.

Elsewhere in Morocco, the country's dining scene has expanded considerably. Gayza in Fès and Heure Bleue Palais in Essaouira are worth flagging for travelers moving beyond Marrakesh. For context on how Sesamo compares to Italian-influenced fine dining at the global level, Le Bernardin in New York City and Atomix in New York City operate in the same award tier internationally.

Booking & Practical Details

Sesamo is a near-impossible booking. Royal Mansour's restaurant tables are in high demand year-round, and Sesamo's award profile has made it one of the most sought-after reservations in the city. Book directly through Royal Mansour Marrakesh's reservations system as far in advance as possible. Non-hotel guests can book, but hotel guests are typically given priority. If you are visiting during peak season (October through April, when Marrakesh draws the most international visitors), four to six weeks minimum lead time is a practical baseline. Off-peak summer bookings may be somewhat more accessible, but do not assume walk-in availability at any point.

Practical Comparison