Al Aïn review: our verdict
A magical show performed right near the tables, with a lute and derbouka in the background: Al Aïn puts just as much emphasis on the evening as on the cuisine. The latter remains faithful to Moroccan traditions, with a few Lebanese accents, and opens with a long series of appetizers before moving on to hearty, highly aromatic dishes. Zellige tiles, arabesques, and lanterns set the scene, and from the terrace, the view stretches over the golf course up to the mountains.
This is the Moroccan restaurant at the Fairmont Royal Palm, and the service features its faithful, attentive, and smiling faces from one visit to the next; some guests return several times during their stay. Families are warmly welcomed: free meals for children under 5, a children's menu, or half price for those aged 6–12. For a musical evening away from the bustle of the medina, whether for two or a group, the formula holds up. For an improvised dinner in town, much less so: expect to factor in the drive from Amizmiz.
The dish to order: the round of appetizers, before the slow-cooked dishes. The trap: leaving without a reservation, or in the height of summer without calling, as the house sometimes closes certain evenings during the hot season. The right slot: dinner on the terrace, the only service of the day, from 6 pm to 11 pm.
