Travel Guide for Essaouira in Morocco: Cafes, Restaurants & Discoveries

Moroccan cuisine is diverse, a little exotic, but always exceptionally fresh and delicious. Here are our top tips for culinary explorations throughout the city, from cafés to restaurants and street food. Please try and remember!

Cafes

Café Chez Brixi

One of our favorite places to people-watch and observe the hustle and bustle is the Marche aux Grains. This old grain and slave market is located off the main road from Bab Doukkala toward the center and is about a 10-minute walk from Rue Chbanat. The square is home to several cafés serving delicious breakfasts and lunches. We feel most at home at Café Brixi with a delicious café terré (Moroccan latte) or an avocado milkshake in hand.

Le Taros

The rooftop bar, located directly above the main square at the harbor, is an Essaouira institution. The stunning views and comfortable seating are perfect for enjoying the sunset with a cocktail in hand.

Le Taros
Place Moulay Hassan, Essaouira // Entrance via Rue de la Skala
letaros-essaouira.com

Megaloft

The Megaloft is a café, bar, restaurant, and store all in one, and a great place to gather inspiration. There's plenty to discover on several floors: large illuminated signs meet homemade stages, retro chairs meet Moroccan handicrafts, and bright colors meet cacti of all sizes.

Megaloft
49, Rue Yemen, Essaouira

The Atelier

The interior of L'Atelier is designed in a contemporary industrial look. The large space offers space for a concept store with beautiful home accessories, textiles, and regional products. The café, located under a glass roof, offers delicious coffee and homemade sweets. For those who want to experience even more, Moroccan cooking classes are offered in the in-house kitchen. Shopping in the souks in search of regional ingredients is part of the experience!

The Atelier
Rue Mohamed Ben Masoud, Essaouira

Restaurants

Caravane Café

The original riad in the heart of the medina has been transformed into a restaurant where colors, materials, and antiques create a very special atmosphere. Curiosities meet large plants, gourmet dishes meet international cuisine. Perfect for an exciting evening in the city.

Caravane Café
2 to rue Cadi Ayad, Essaouira

Dar Caravane

The owner of the Caravane Café also owns Dar Caravane just outside the city. A garden oasis with a pool, sunbeds, and light cuisine invites you to linger. We've definitely planned a visit for our next trip.

Les Mimosas Route d'Agadir, Essaouira

The Dauphin Chez Zac

This small restaurant in an unassuming side street was a wonderful discovery. The friendly owner, Zac, warmly welcomes his guests to his restaurant with a small number of seats. The menu features a select selection of incredibly delicious Moroccan dishes. An insider tip!

The Dauphin
6, Rue Abdesmih, Essaouira

Culinary discoveries

Fresh fish

Every morning, Essaouira's harbor is bustling with activity as fishermen return from the sea with their fresh catch. At small stalls, you can select your fish, buy it, and take it to one of the food stalls at the harbor entrance to have it grilled. It doesn't get any fresher than that.

Another alternative is found in the small side streets surrounding the Marché aux Grains. This area is particularly known for the many sardine cafés that have settled there.

Street food

If you walk through the street with your eyes open, there's something to discover around every corner, no matter how inconspicuous. On Rue Chbanat, an elderly lady sells delicious vegetable pastillas from a window. The freshly prepared, fried pastries sell out quickly – you'll have to be quick or come back often.

On the main street, at the corner before the right turn to the fish market, Mohamed stands behind his sandwich stand. He fills flatbreads with either minced meat or chicken, tops them with a spicy sauce, and you have a delicious snack.

A good alternative to a traditional restaurant visit is to buy ingredients like fish or meat from one of the stalls and have them grilled on the side street. You'll usually get some salad, bread, or fries with it, and you'll be right in the middle of the locals' everyday life. The local way of life!