Morocco travel | Where to eat in Essaouira ?

Renowned for its traditional Moroccan cuisine and its many fish and seafood dishes, Essaouira is brimming with gourmet addresses to help you make the most of your stay in this charming coastal town. We’d like to share a few tips and favorite addresses with you…

Fish and seafood near the port

Essaouira is famous for its pretty blue boats and the seafood they bring to the quayside. For lovers of fresh fish and seafood, eating at one of the stalls near the port or fish market is a must!

Fresh off the boat, local fishermen auction off the day’s catch: sardines, sea bream, sea bass, squid, prawns, crabs and more are displayed on colorful stalls. Visitors can choose their piece and ask the vendors to prepare it for them to eat on the spot, in a guinguette near the port or near the fish market. Grilled, fried or baked, fish and seafood can be enjoyed while watching the fishermen in action, in a friendly, authentic atmosphere.

➜ Eating near the harbor or fish market is usually cheaper than in restaurants. However, it’s important to negotiate the price of fish and cooking before ordering, as prices can vary according to the type and size of fish chosen.

Couscous and street food in the medina

In the medina, riads and restaurants offer a number of Moroccan specialties, including couscous and tajines, a traditional Moroccan dish cooked in earthenware dishes, which can be served with chicken, lamb, vegetables, prunes or dried fruit. Depending on whether you choose a restaurant or a street food stand, the price of these dishes can vary from Dhs 30 to Dhs 150.

➜ In Moroccan tradition, couscous is usually served on Friday, the day of prayer, as the main lunch dish. In the evening, on the other hand, Moroccans eat lighter meals, such as salads, kebabs, fish dishes or tagines. While it’s possible to find restaurants offering couscous for dinner, it’s important to remember that they do so only to satisfy tourists who want to eat couscous at any time of day.

In the souks, street food stalls offer meat kebabs, fritters, Moroccan pancakes and fried fish sandwiches for a ridiculously low price. Delicious Moroccan pastries such as gazelle horns, chebakias, briouats and beghrirs are also sold in numerous bakeries and pastry shops throughout the medina.

Favorite addresses

L’Océan Vagabond

Well-known in Essaouira and much appreciated by tourists and surf enthusiasts alike, l’Océan Vagabond is both a café-restaurant and a beach club located on the Corniche. The atmosphere is cool and relaxed, just like the surf shop’s customers who book kitesurfing and windsurfing lessons and equipment rentals.

The menu features a variety of international cuisine, as well as Moroccan specialties. Everything is cooked with fresh produce and copiously served. Salads, sandwiches, pasta, burgers, grilled meats, we don’t know what to choose 😋

Good to Know

• L’Océan Vagabond is located on Boulevard Mohamed V in Essaouira.
• L’Océan Vagabond is open all year round, 7 days a week. Breakfast is served from 9:30am to 12pm, lunch from 12pm to 5pm. Closes at 6pm (7pm in summer) Sunday to Thursday evenings. The restaurant is open every Friday and Saturday evening as a tapas bar.
• Breakfasts from Dhs100 (€9), à la carte dishes from Dhs60 (€5.5).

Le Caravane Café

This former riad blends art gallery, tea room and restaurant in a succession of small, colorful private rooms spread over two floors. Each lounge is decorated differently, but all open onto the central patio, where live concerts and traditional shows take place.

Just as colorful, the menu travels between traditional dishes and world cuisine.

Good to Know

• Caravane Café is located at 2 Rue Qadi Ayad, in Essaouira’s medina.
• Dishes from 140 Dhs

The Seagull and the Dromedaries

Just a few minutes from the small village of Sidi Kaouki, La Mouette et les Dromadaires is a confidential address that invites you to unwind, gazing out over the ocean…

The restaurant is open to the public for brunch (10am to 12pm), lunch (12pm to 5pm) andaperitifs (5pm to 8pm).

A la carte for lunch: fresh starters(tartars, salads, Dakhla oysters and garden sea urchins ), fish à la plancha, entrecôte steak and homemade sweets. Everything is fresh, delicately prepared according to market inspiration. A real treat 😋

For theaperitif, we’re in tapas mode, combining them in 6s or 12s as we like. While waiting to be served, we take advantage of the pétanque court and admire the sunset on the deserted beach. Magic 🤩

Good to Know

• La Mouette et les Dromadaires is located on Sidi Kaouki beach, Forêt Dunes Sud – Douar Tighanimine. Just before reaching the village of Sidi Kaouki, follow the sign to the right for the restaurant. Given the condition of the track, it’s best not to be in a hurry 😂
• Reservations recommended for lunch by calling +212678449212.
  Lobster and crayfish available on reservation 24 hours in advance.
• Fish from 130 Dhs, starters from 40 Dhs, home-made sweets from 40 Dhs

Other addresses to remember…

• La Coupole Essaouira, serving Mediterranean cuisine combining French and Moroccan gastronomy, with a beautiful terrace overlooking the Essaouira beach.
• Les Terrasses by Taros, a unique concept combining café, restaurant and bar on the famous Place Moulay Hassan, with a terrace offering a superb view of Essaouira’s beach and fishing port. At sunset, the peaceful café transforms into a lounge bar with a varied musical program (live bands, gnaoua groups and djs).
  On Saturday evenings, it’s best to get there early to get a good seat!