Travelling Studies

Do you want to go on a trip to Denmark? If so, you have to look for a nice flight. You’ll need to pack a suitcase or two, as well. It’s a good idea to learn about the Danish culture, too, particularly some of the popular Denmark local customs.

One of the Denmark local customs you’re bound to notice first is how the Danes greet each other. Danes introduce themselves by their first name so make sure you refer to them in the same way. It is also more acceptable to shake hands than to give each other a peck on the cheek, which may be viewed as something too intimate.

You should also keep in mind that Danes regard loud and passionate behavior in public as a form of disrespect, and will scold you when needed. Therefore, do your best to talk in moderate tones and to express intimate gestures only in private places or bars.

It is also important to avoid sitting beside a stranger in a public transport as much as possible. In the Denmark local customs, this can be a sign of disrespect. In the same way, do not start a conversation with a stranger. If a Dane does talk to you, stick to safe subjects and refrain from revealing too much about yourself. Keep in mind that bragging is also frowned upon.

Punctuality is another important part of Denmark local customs. Indeed, there are few things Danes hate more than someone who is not on time so avoid being late when you are meeting someone, whether it’s for business or social reasons. You will also notice that establishments close on the dot, so it’s best to be aware of store and restaurant hours.

Danes frown upon queue jumpers, as well, so go to the end of the queue and stick to your place or grab a queue number card when entering a store or office. If you really are in a hurry, ask politely to be let ahead.

Finally, when dining in a restaurant, observe good table manners such as keeping your wrists at the edge of the table and placing your utensils across your plate when you are done eating. Make sure you finish everything on your plate as well, which is considered another of the Denmark local customs since Danes do not like wasting food.

These are just some of the Denmark local customs. While you are not required to follow them, it is always good to be respectful, especially if you are in a foreign country like Denmark. This way, you will be respected in return, and you will also have an easier time blending into Danish society so you can have a more memorable and meaningful experience.

Marrakech nightlife is vibrant and varied and offers countless opportunities to enjoy all kinds of live music in different settings and decors. One of the musical elements that contribute to the city’s cultural wealth and to its elegant and fashionable atmosphere is its live music in restaurants and piano bars. There are various venues that showcase jazz, rhythm n’ blues and other beats, where you can enjoy the music together with a meal and a drink. Here is a list of some of those sonic havens:

Le Lawrence Bar

Le Lawrence Bar is set on the terrace of the high-class Hotel Sofitel in Hivernage. Elegant, convivial, animated, original and thematic, this bar invites you to discover a variety of upscale alcoholic drinks and cocktails with a most pleasant musical background of international standards. On a weekly basis, the duo Pile ou Face will delight you with their nostalgic rendition of jazz and pop classics, on guitar and piano, in a cordial and exclusive atmosphere.

Lotus Club

Located at the heart of the Hivernage neighbourhood, the Lotus Club is a chic and cosy restaurant rooted in the 1930s Villa Eva. You will be warmly welcomed in its refined and comfortable decor and its elegant lounge atmosphere. The choice of inventive and colourful cocktails is very wide, and its cuisine is innovative and playful. Let yourself be charmed by the finger-food and sushi’s menu while listening to the jazzy and soul rhythms of the resident singer and his band, dancers and DJs.

Kosybar

This charming riad, located at the very heart of the medina, right next to the Badi Palace, is a bar and restaurant open day and night and offering, living up to its name, the cosiest of atmospheres. On the ground floor, you will be greeted around a piano and a wine cellar offering the best vintage local wines. The light Japanese-inspired menu, the elegant and intimate ambiance and the amazing views from the terrace will be animated with the classic melodies sung by lovely and amiable singers.

Le Montecristo

Le Montecristo’s motto is « one place, four ambiances ». Located in the Gueliz neighbourhood, this place is at the same time a restaurant, a bar and a nightclub where you can drink, eat and dance at your ease. The ground floor’s African bar is calm and relaxed, and it features a live pub, where two different bands with different vibrations play every night. Too bad the atmosphere is not always too elegant at Le Montecristo, where guests can be loud and impolite.

L’Epicurien

L’Epicurien is actually the Es Sâadi Gardens & Resort Casino’s restaurant. It is a place where you will find yourself immersed in the nostalgia of a 1950s Marrakech, thanks to its distinguished Italian art-nouveau decoration. Although it is quite close to the Casino’s main hall, the restaurants’ atmosphere is relaxing and intimate and quite inviting to relish in the chef’s delicate and tasteful creations. A singer and a pianist will discretely animate your dinner with North and South American rhythms.

Churchill’s Piano Bar

This is probably the most glamorous of all piano bars in Marrakech. It is the bar of the Hotel La Mamounia, currently still under renovation and a veritable institution in the city. It has a sumptuous, epic Moorish art deco interior, and requires an exclusive and strict dress code in order to maintain the elegant and fashionable atmosphere. The soft leather armchairs merge graciously with the grand piano, which brings out the jazziest and most stylish of sounds.

Le Blokk

This restaurant, located in the Palmeraie, offers an international cuisine animated with the fantastic voices of several male and female singers intoning jazz, blues, country and pop music. Too bad they sing over a karaoke instead of live music. The decoration is elegant and comfortable, but the ambiance often turns to vulgar and loud, the sound is rather awful and the singing cadence is that of an assembly line rather than a classy restaurant. Excellent singers, good potential, badly managed.