Kabana, Marrakech’s new tropical, skylit restaurant, and tapas bar is the brainchild of Sahrai entrepreneur Kudous Fahkredine. Open for sunset cocktails, this trendy address sings Copacabana meets Brooklyn. Since a soft launch in mid-October 2019, visitors have been raving about Ibiza Chef Luisma’s, Mediterranean inspired fusion cuisine, the sushi bar, and spectacular terrace views. Luisma serves up creative tapas and Latin flavors, Chef Youssef’s sushi will impress globe-trotters. Exotic cocktails, a wine list and draft beers on tap are available.
After a day of sightseeing in Marrakech’s medina, Kabana is the perfect spot for a signature cocktail surrounded by the breathtaking views of the Atlas Mountains and Koutoubia Mosque. “The idea was to come to the rooftop and feel like you are on your holiday. I wanted to make a happy place,” says John Quinn, Scottish designer of Kabana.
Hailing from Glasgow, Quinn moved to Morocco twenty years ago. Apart from his successful career as an interior designer, he is an in-demand hairstylist and the former owner of Essaouria’s One Up restaurant and lounge bar. Since closing One Up, Quinn has redirected his focus exclusively, to pursue his passion, interior design.
When solicited by the owner of Kabana, Kudous Fahkredine, the Marrakech restaurant project had a natural appeal. Kudous, a young, fashionable magnate who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, has become a leader in Morocco’s thriving nightlife scene.
Originally from the South of Morocco, Kudous came to Marrakech at age 13. A decade later, he has a host of successful ventures attached to his name. Among them is the Villa Verde Hotel and the trendy African-Senegalese, BlackChich Cafe. He is also currently working on opening Kabana’s sister property in Essaouira.
Kabana is a special project for Kudous. The combination of having to cultivate patience and anticipating technical issues, then seeing his vision come to fruition after three years was rewarding. The restaurant shows the evolution of Kudo’s career and is the most sophisticated of his ventures.
Kabana’s designs were left completely to the hands of John Quinn. From a stairwell wrap around entrance featuring black and white photographs of Hollywood stars to a palm-lined terrace fit with luxurious garden furniture, his vision for Kabana has come to life. It feels like “holiday on the outside…. and captures a clean sophisticated look on the inside.”
Quinn used a keen mix of jungle style, wax prints, rattan, and raffia fabric to create texture in Kabana. A contemporary raffia lighting centerpiece is inspired by a 1950s chandelier found in Essaouira. Oversized African mask wall fixtures and luxurious seating, modeled from a showroom in Paris, are just a few pieces that lend their mark to this cosmopolitan and chic diners paradise. “The furniture is a mix of eclectic pieces found on shopping excursions between Marrakech and Essaouira along with a unique collection of antiques sourced from local Moroccan markets,” notes Quinn.
Signature pieces include an iconic moped, found on Kudo’s other properties, and an antique wood table from the 1970s nestled in the Kabana powder room. “Bathrooms can be boring”, says Quinn. “The idea was to do something fanciful and inspired. During the construction period, we had a lot of birds nesting here, so we decided to give them some greenery. We also felt an oversized seating area was important so we made a comfortable space for people to relax and read a magazine.” The gold-accented washbasins were transformed from Berber couscous bowls. Kudous is from the South so we wanted to incorporate his heritage into the project.”
Kabana plans to entertain. Diego, the general manager and founder of Rak Electronik, will organize weekly music events that include evening Jazz, soul, and disco. Thursday nights will be devoted to salsa. Once a month, a DJ from Morocco’s electronic music scene will be featured.