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Marrakech – On Saturday night, Park Hyatt Marrakech became the epicenter of African gastronomy as it hosted the prestigious La Liste Africa 2025 Ceremony, honoring chefs, restaurants, and culinary talents shaping the food landscape worldwide.
During this special evening, La Liste emphasized its ambition to make the Moroccan gathering the first step toward a broader continental celebration.
The spotlight was firmly on Moroccan cuisine, described as a “living heritage that fascinates and seduces well beyond the Kingdom’s borders.”
“Today, as you can see, Moroccans have distinguished themselves,” Kamal Rahal, CEO of Rahal Group told MWN Lifestyle, adding, “The goal is to evolve and revolutionize gastronomy in Africa.”
Morocco in the global top 1000
This year, several Moroccan restaurants were honored in La Liste’s Top 1000, recognized for their excellence and contribution to haute gastronomy:
La Grande Table Marocaine (Royal Mansour, Casablanca & Marrakech) – Led by chef Karim Ben Baba, this exceptional table reinvents Moroccan classics with elegance and finesse, ranking among the world’s Top 100.
Sesamo (Royal Mansour Marrakech) – A refined journey through Italian cuisine in a majestic setting.
Le Marocain (La Mamounia) – Under chef Rachid Agouray, this iconic table delivers a sensory experience straight out of One Thousand and One Nights.
L’Italien par Jean-Georges (La Mamounia) – Generous and sophisticated Italian cuisine, faithful to La Mamounia’s grandeur.
Iloli (Casablanca) – A destination for the precision and purity of Japanese gastronomy.
Le Jasmine (Le Doge) – An elegant immersion in an Art Deco spirit.
La Cour des Lions (Es Saadi) – A restaurant that celebrates tradition in a sumptuous setting.
Dar Moha (Chef Moha Fedal) – A pioneering chef who reimagines Moroccan gastronomy with boldness.
Le Restaurant (La Maison Arabe) – An enduring address embodying the essence of authentic Moroccan cuisine.
Read Also: Morocco Showcases Hospitality Vision at CREMAI
Africa’s culinary stars
The ceremony also spotlighted outstanding restaurants across the African continent, reaffirming Africa’s diversity and dynamism in the global dining scene:
Khufu’s (Egypt) – Chef Mostafa Seif reinterprets ancestral Egyptian flavors in an elegant setting.
Midunu (Accra, Ghana) – More than a restaurant, Midunu celebrates African traditions with creativity.
Nok by Alara (Lagos, Nigeria) – A modern, cosmopolitan take on Nigerian flavors.
Meza Malonga (Kigali, Rwanda) – Founded by visionary chef Dieuveil Malonga, also the founder of Chefs in Africa.
La Colombe (Cape Town, South Africa) – Under chef James Gaag, South Africa’s gastronomic vitality shines, with 15 restaurants ranked in the Top 1000, making it the continent’s champion.
Special awards
Beyond the rankings, La Liste awarded special prizes to personalities and projects redefining the future of gastronomy:
“Builder” Award – Kamal Rahal, recognized for his role in giving Moroccan cuisine the global visibility it deserves.
“Opening of the Year” – Fayçal Bettioui (Table III, Casablanca) for his elegant, internationally-inspired debut, and Karim Ben Baba (Royal Mansour Casablanca), repeatedly crowned “Best Chef of Morocco,” for his embodiment of Moroccan excellence.
“Game Changer” – Robuchon Rabat, led by investor Ely Michel Ruimy, and Meryem Cherkaoui, who fuses French technique with Moroccan heritage in refined creations.
“Community Spirit” – Amal Association (Marrakech), a non-profit restaurant-school empowering women in precarious situations.
“Fun to Table” – Huqqa Garden Marrakech, blending chef Hassan Agouzoul’s refined cuisine with a festive ambiance, and Nobu, the global icon of Nikkei gastronomy.
“Discovery Gems” – A series of rising culinary stars across Morocco and Africa, including Prisca Gilbert (Akissi, Abidjan), Hervé Paulus (L’O à la Bouche, Morocco), Issam Rhachi (Tfaya, Park Hyatt Marrakech), Wafik Belaïd (The Residence, Tunis), Yacine Khalal (Kasbah Tamadot), Ramzi Bouab (L’Avenue, Morocco), Bader Chguifi (Le Mimouna, Dar Rhizlane), and many more, each honored for their creativity and authenticity.
La Liste expands to hotels
In a major announcement, La Liste also unveiled its Best Hotels ranking, built with the same rigorous algorithm used for restaurants.
“Opening of the Year: Park Hyatt Marrakech” – This new jewel combines Hyatt’s contemporary luxury with the timeless charm of Moroccan architecture.
A new chapter for African gastronomy? Big time!
From Morocco’s legendary tables to emerging African gems, La Liste Africa 2025 marked a turning point for the continent’s culinary scene.
With Marrakech as its launchpad, the event signaled a new era where Moroccan gastronomy stands not only as a national treasure but also as a continental leader.
