Dai

Dai occupies a compact, carefully designed space on Rue Moulay Ali in Gueliz, where subdued lighting, warm textures, and an unhurried soundtrack set a tone that feels closer to a neighbourhood trattoria in southern Italy than a restaurant in the Red City. The room is intimate, the tables well spaced, and the service attentive without being stiff. The menu reads as straightforward Italian, but the execution lifts it. Pastas form the real backbone of the kitchen, and the rest of the card moves through starters, crisp pizzas, risotto, grilled cuts, and desserts that close things well. A sommelier is on hand to guide through the wine list, and the cocktail selection holds its own alongside the food. Dai is not trying to compete with the palatial Italian kitchens of the city's grand hotels. It succeeds instead by doing something quieter: a small, well-run room where the cooking is precise, the ingredients are seasonal, and the atmosphere makes you want to linger. For Italian food in Gueliz that feels personal rather than performative, it has quickly become one of the more reliable addresses on this side of town.