Recently in Marrakech I was speaking to an individual from London and we were discussing an upcoming game he wanted to watch (he was an Arsenal fan). I mentioned that the El Phoenicio cigar bar was comfortable and had several large screen televisions which I am sure would be available to view the game. He had this look on his face and he asked, “what is a cigar bar”. I explained the concept to him and he was very interested although he did not enjoy the pleasures of a good cigar. I provided the address and his problem of where in the city to watch the game was settled.
Actually, El Phoenicio is in the new section of Marrakech at 6 Rue Hafid Ibrahim. It is a comfortable establishment with a good selection of cigars at reasonable prices. The Davidoff Escurio Gran Toro was about $30 while the Camacho Ecuador checked in at $15. Unfortunately, there were no Cuban cigars as there seems to be a bit of a shortage in Morocco, Portugal and Spain. But, the staff was helpful and courteous and we were welcomed to enjoy our pick in one of the seating areas in the well lit central area. There was a good selection of liquors and a food list that was reasonable. Unlike in the Medina (the old city) there was no attempt to hustle for more drinks or food so I was able to enjoy an excellent cigar in a zone of quiet which is rare in Marrakech. It fortified me enough for me to walk the mile and a half back to the beautiful Riad Noir d’Ivoire my wife and I were staying. Two comfortable and oases of calm in a whirlwind city.
