The best restaurants Mediterranean Coast & Rif

Built by Walter Harris, the famous Times editorial writer, Villa Joséphine was the last summer residence of the Glaoui, pasha of Marrakech. The French chef who presides over the stoves at this elegant address offers gourmet French cuisine of the highest quality. His menu also includes Moroccan favourites, also prepared with great finesse. The enchanting setting of the opulent colonial-style villa does nothing to spoil the pleasure of this romantic-gastronomic escapade. Attentive, courteous service.

If you pass by Chaouen, we recommend you to test this small restaurant a little away from the tourist agitation. In addition to presenting an excellent quality-price ratio, we eat very well. The dishes are copious. On the menu, tajines and couscous of course, but also many other local specialities. Installed in a small typical house, the place has only a few tables. In summer, a terrace occupies the courtyard and adds a few places. It is sheltered from the sun's rays by a pergola. Lovely welcome.

This riad, located in the heart of the medina, offers delicious complete meals. You will find mainly Moroccan and Spanish specialities such as couscous or shrimps with pili-pili. Also a wide range of fish and shellfish. We especially appreciate the restaurant in the evening, for its subdued atmosphere and its majestic decorations. You can also just drink an aperitif, one of the few tables in the medina that serves alcohol, while enjoying a breathtaking view of the city. A warm welcome. An address that we highly recommend!

Restaurant of fresh fish frequented by the locals. Excellent value for money.

On the square you will also find Puerto Marina Fish, a similar and equally interesting address.

The fairly simple menu of the cinémathèque bar changes regularly: sandwiches, soups, chocolate cake. On the terrace, you will enjoy a view of the hustle and bustle of the Grand Socco and inside the Branchés Branchés. Free Wi-Fi access.

This address which does not pay mine, just at the entrance of the medina on the small square, is one of the best tables of Chefchaouen! The prices are very low and the tajines are delicious! This small shop offers you absolutely tasty typical Moroccan dishes: the tajine with sardines, which we recommend, the chicken beldi and home-made fries or the hearty couscous. We want to eat there every day! Moreover, the reception of the manager is very nice and warm. In this price range, this local canteen is perfect.

You'll have to stray 1 km from the center to reach the California district and this elegant villa transformed into a restaurant. Villa Ô Saveur is considered one of Tangier's finest restaurants. The restaurant opens onto a beautiful, elegant and sober dining room, but it's above all the verdant garden that is so pleasant for lunch or dinner. The cuisine draws on a French gastronomic repertoire with Mediterranean accents: Provençal-style prawns and squid, turbot with beurre blanc, confit lamb mice. Gourmet coffee.

This is the restaurant of the hotel Casa Hassan, a very recommendable address. The cuisine is up to the standard of the hotel with, in particular, succulent brochettes as well as tajines, couscous and fish... The establishment is large, on two floors, in the entrance, the patio is a cozy space, cushions and Berber carpets are combined with lime, so that the customer feels at home. The dining room is equipped with a beautiful fireplace, very appreciable during the winter evenings. Perfect for dinners for two in a cozy atmosphere.

The restaurant l'Océan warmly welcomes you in an idyllic and peaceful setting, facing the sea. In the shade of the umbrellas, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can enjoy oysters from Dakhla, grilled lobster, tagliatelle with lobster or a nice piece of beef. For dessert, let yourself be tempted by the delicious lemon pie. Nice selection of wines. The Mediterranean and gourmet menu makes you want to come back to the Ocean. On the slate, the daily suggestions are also very tempting. This address is well known in Tangier.

Hidden behind the Kasbah, overlooking the Outa al Hamam square, this restaurant offers one of the most beautiful views of Chefchaouen. Spacious, it has a large indoor room for the cold winter days. But it is its terraces, the large and the small, that we prefer. Open on the blue city, they are sheltered under canisses. A traditional cuisine is imposed in the plate, with the inescapable duo couscous and tagine. The small appetites will be delighted with skewers, served with a plate of French fries.

Casa de España is a unique address. This associative restaurant is also a tapas bar but not only: Jose, the manager, commits himself daily to open this space composed of several rooms to locals and visitors. On the program: workshops, exhibitions, concerts and debates around the Arab-Hispanic culture among others... The restaurant offers excellent tapas to accompany a beer or a glass of wine (note that few places in Tetouan serve alcohol apart from some bars).

This restaurant opened in 2023 in part of the ramparts of the wall that has protected the Kasbah since the ^15th century. Here, past and present intermingle in the architecture of the place as well as on the plates. In the kitchen, chef Pablo Castillo brilliantly twists Mediterranean, Moroccan and Asian flavors. Comfortably seated in one of the dining rooms, let yourself be tempted by the classic menu, sushi or tapas. The three rooftop terraces offer spectacular views of the city. In summer, a DJ is on hand to liven up the evenings.

Just above, but slightly off the road between M'diq and Tétouan, this restaurant offers the catch of the day. Choose your meal from the sea bream, sole and whiting displayed in a refrigerated display case. The more economical option is to choose the fried shrimp, squid, fish and rice platter. The à la carte menu includes red mullet and monkfish, with a variety of salads and desserts to round things off. A small terrace lets you enjoy your meal outdoors. In summer, the wait can be long, as this is a very busy address.

Miramar has all the hallmarks of a beach-view restaurant... only better. Housed in the hotel of the same name, the dining room overlooks the Tangier marina. The dishes are simple but well executed. Fresh and varied salads with shrimps, tomatoes, hearts of palm and avocado. The sole meunière with vegetables is a particular success. The team is young, smiling and the service is efficient, giving the place a friendly atmosphere. Prices are relatively reasonable.

In a completely convivial area, wide choice of fish and meat, harira, etc.

Modern and creative cuisine.

As its name suggests, this restaurant has been delighting iodine lovers for many years. La Vitamine de la Mer occupies an old house, with a traditional style. Here you will enjoy fresh fish and seafood nicely prepared by a chef who knows his repertoire inside out. Clams, shrimp mayonnaise and fried food are among the great classics of the house. If the first floor is a bit cramped and dark with its brown roughcast, the terrace sheltered under a canisse is very pleasant.

A breath of casual chic is what this address, opened in 2022, brings to the table. It was initiated by Lamiae, a jewelry designer, and her husband Seif, a photographer. In a bright and contemporary space, they offer a healthy Mediterranean-inspired cuisine appreciated by a modern clientele. Thai beef salad, squash risotto or Ottolenghi-inspired cauliflower are served at all hours. With a designer store and regular workshops upstairs, jazz and cool music, "Alma" is unique. Delivery and take-out.

This closed address is expected to reopen in the near future: Confirm the possibility of being served by telephone. You can order dishes such as Yassa chicken or other African specialties to eat on site, close to the Tangiers Med harbour, in a world of savane or emporter colours.

Here is an excellent address to eat Lebanese with an impeccable quality-price ratio. In this small restaurant, everything is well cooked from the starter to the dessert. Excellent and fresh tabbouleh. The hummus is perfectly mastered as well as the cooking of falafels and kebabs, not dry and tasty, accompanied by a labneh with zaatar. Chawarmas well seasoned, declined in complete plate or in sandwich according to the hunger. The knafeh is a marvel of delicacy and not very sweet like the mhalabia: light and so perfumed. Very friendly staff.

On the seafront, Côté Sud is an excellent address for eating fish and seafood. Facing the waves, on the beautiful terrace sheltered from the wind, there is an absolute quietude here reinforced by the refined decoration. Treat yourself to Dakhla oysters or a creamy burrata served on a tomato carpaccio with a pistachio pesto and a little balsamic cream. The paella and the grilled fish are delicious. For dessert, the destructured yuzu lemon pie is famous. Nice selection of wines and good welcome.

It's not easy to get to casa Sloukia, but tranquility comes at a price. First follow the Cap Spartel road before turning right at the "Sloukia" sign, then take the gravel road either with a good vehicle or in "hiking" mode. On arrival, the 360° view over the Strait is extraordinary. Enjoy traditional dishes such as this delicious farmhouse chicken tagine. This is more of a table d'hôte than a restaurant. Remember to reserve the day before by telephone and place your order. Perfect welcome. Very reasonable prices.

The Market of Flavors is the restaurant of the Sofitel Tamuda Bay. It presents itself as a chic bistro and revisits with oriental influences and a lot of creativity classics of international cuisine. The dishes are beautifully prepared. The room is the image of the hotel: contemporary and elegant. Panoramic view thanks to a beautiful and high bay window. The floor-to-ceiling white is awakened by colorful cushions. Nice selection of wines. Impeccable service.

A little way from the medina, this is a restaurant worth discovering. This excellent restaurant offers fish and seafood at reasonable prices. The produce is fresh, straight from the market. We love the dishes presented steaming in thick clay plates and wooden cutlery. They are accompanied by dried fruit, olives and harissa. The specialty is barley soup with seafood. On the à la carte menu, you'll find the catch of the day, st. pierre, sole, pageot and sea bream. The attentive service adds to the pleasure.

This small restaurant located between the medina and the port is well known. It has its regular customers who come with their families. Seafood products are highlighted, with fried squid, swordfish and tuna being the specialties. Many dishes are designed to be shared with others, such as fried sea food (squid, shrimp, fish) and paella. For those who prefer meat, try the delicious lamb tagine with prunes. From the terrace or the room sheltered behind large windows, direct view on the port.

Now linked to Tangier by bus line number 5, the town of Médiouna is spread out on a hill overlooking the Atlantic coast. It is attracting more and more people who want a quiet life just 20 minutes from the city center. The view stretches for miles to Asilah in the south and to the Cap Spartel lighthouse in the north. Established here about ten years ago and run by Spaniards, this address offers a predominantly Mediterranean cuisine with, of course, paella as the main dish. The setting is rural and the tranquility guaranteed.

A good address in Melilla la Vieille. The charm of dinner in the ramparts is worth a few euros more!

Fish restaurant that is mainly a bar office. We take a dish for 4 people.

In a quiet place, away from the hustle and bustle of the medina, it is with pleasure that we find this good little restaurant open since 1974 offering a variety of Moroccan and international dishes. A local family clientele mingles in the courtyard terrace. One comes to taste tapas, brochettes, grilled fish and fried shellfish and the inevitable couscous. The restaurant is also popular with tourists, and you can also enjoy a glass of wine. The friendly welcome and the good atmosphere make it an ideal canteen.

This is a small, quiet restaurant: inside is clean, with red furniture and armchairs. The staff just talks about what French is needed. The six skewers are at 25 DH, just like the chicken stew, and the couscous will cost you 40 DH.

Part bar, part restaurant, Chico's may seem old-fashioned at first glance, but it turns out to be an authentic place to have a good time. You can hear songs by Julio Iglesias or the Rolling Stones, while gazing at a faded photo of former King Hassan II. The counter is the perfect place to strike up a conversation with the regulars. From the kitchen come tapas and fried fish. You can also go to the nearby market to buy clams. They'll be served to you just like at home, with a glass of wine or a beer - a rarity in the region.

Famous for its maxi buffets on the superb roof top, Dar Nour has opened a restaurant on the first floor that offers delicious à la carte cuisine. In the intimate dining room, with its walls adorned with posters of films shot in Tangier and its beautiful Murano glass lighting fixtures, the fifteen guests enjoy salmon with 1000-hole pancakes, skate puff pastry, an effective tagine and a delicious hibiscus ice cream. At the helm is Abdellah, a young chef who twists Moroccan cuisine with great subtlety. Adorable service.

Located on the heights of Cabo Negro, La Perla offers sweeping views of the bay extending to Martil and the Azla Mountains. The room is elegant with its large windows, tables covered with white tablecloths and paintings on the walls. It is also possible to enjoy the small semi-covered terrace where a few tables are set up, very popular in summer. The menu is 100% organic, with products from the sea, prepared in the Spanish style and seasoned with a few mild spices. We will enjoy fantastic paellas and grilled fish.

When you combine two mythical places, it is bound to be a hit. The famous Mercat of Casablanca transfers its paellas and tapas to the Chiringuito of Kabila. The Chiringuito is THE place for Marina Smir, which has been providing entertainment for the days and evenings of the beach for 40 years! Although the Mercat has not changed the decor, it is blowing a wind of novelty with white evenings in the Tropezian style or wild DJ sets like in Ibiza. A menu of original cocktails spices up the meals.

Omar took the name of a famous bar in Tenerife, popular with the golden youth, to baptize his beach bar, but here, no cocktails or theme nights. The place is rather for a family clientele who comes to eat a little something with their feet in the sand. The tables are installed on a terrace facing the sea, sheltered under big red umbrellas sponsored by a soda brand. Excellent tajines and good koftas in sauce but also an international cuisine rather well done: hamburger, Caesar salad, squid fritters.

This café is nestled in a small cove at the foot of a recently developed promenade south of Cape Spartel, just before reaching Achakar beach. Here you can sit down after a swim in the choppy Atlantic waters that stretch as far as the eye can see. You will find an assortment of salads and grilled sardines, tajines of freshly caught fish. In the shade of the umbrella, you can watch the waves crashing on the rocks. A glass of mint tea accompanies this moment suspended in time.

Installed behind the fishing port of Tangier, a dozen gargotes offer more or less the same menu. You'll have to remain phlegmatic, the touts can be insistent! The Remontada located at the bottom left opposite the artisanal fishing market is frequented by a popular clientele and some tourists. For a handful of dirhams, you can eat a plate of shrimps, a fresh fried fish, a tagine or a salad under the eye of a seagull perched on a lamp post ready to fly to Spain.

For a decade, chef Hugo Ruiz caused a sensation with his Bugao, which quickly became the best table in Ceuta. In place of his former restaurant, since July 2022, Chef Ruiz has embarked on a new challenge by opening Goichu: a Basque-Japanese cuisine full of creativity that sublimates the fish of the coasts and the fabulous meats of northern Spain awaits you. The plate is the same as the setting, elegant and refined. You can also enjoy the high-flying tapas that are different from the classics. Good selection of wines.

This restaurant, located in a tiny vaulted room on the riverbank, offers delicious recipes straight from Galicia. The specialty is "polpo à la gallega", the Galician octopus. This is boiled octopus served on potato slices, sprinkled with salt and paprika and generously drizzled with olive oil. You can choose to sit on the beautiful terrace set against the royal walls. In winter, a curtain shelters you from the wind and wool blankets are available to keep you warm.

Mediterranean cuisine is on the menu at this restaurant, one of the three opened within the Fairmont Tazi palace perched in the heart of the Old Mountain district. It gives pride of place to local products and in particular to shellfish and fish caught in the strait located a few blocks away. Even the most modest ones like mackerel are offered in a creative and gourmet adaptation. A chic but relaxed setting. On weekends, the atmosphere can be turned up a notch thanks to the musicians and singers who perform live on a rock tempo.

If you like the Voile Rouge in Saint-Tropez then you will love the Baba Beach at Marina Smir. This ephemeral straw hut is located on the private beach of the Marina Smir hotel. In a few summers the place has become the trendy spot par excellence, the one for parties and big bills with your feet in the sand. The terrace is decorated every year in a comfortable bohemian-chic atmosphere with big cushions and sofas. You can eat summer "world food", between tapas and insalata caprese, with loud music and a cocktail in hand. Reservations required.

Take a seat on one of the beautiful terraces of the Donabo garden restaurant overlooking the turbulent waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and enjoy the spectacular view. All the dishes here are cooked with organic and local products. Let yourself be tempted by the platter of Moroccan salads served with homemade bread, by the assortment of finely prepared briouates or by the wonderful tagine with seasonal vegetables. On Fridays, the organic couscous t'faya with the 7 vegetables of the chef is a real delight and justifies a visit by itself.

Jenin is a pastry shop, a tea room, a pizzeria and a creperie. This downtown address, in the heart of the El Ensanche district, offers a wide choice of delicacies to nibble on the go. A rather young and trendy clientele rushes there from morning to evening alongside Western tourists. The resolutely modern setting spreads an almost futuristic atmosphere. Starry sky, moucharabieh, imposing chandelier and tapered armchairs sign the decor. The place is a must if you have a sweet or savory craving. Excellent value for money.

A nice and popular address that we recommend especially for those who want to change a little couscous, tagines and other specialties of the Maghreb. Mister Noodles, the Tangier branch of a brand that is well established in the south of Spain, is a noodle bar with Thai, Malaysian, Japanese and Chinese influences. For dessert, the chocolate fondue will delight the greediest. It's a good plan if you are staying in the area or after a sunbathing session on the nearby beach. Take-out and delivery available.

Perhaps the best table in M'diq for those who love iodized flavors. In this popular canteen appreciated by locals and tourists, one comes to taste tapas of high flight but also fish and shellfish, sole, filet of St. Pierre, lobster, scampi, mussels... The menu is impressive, the dishes are cooked in the Spanish way. A real delight! Fresh products and attentive service. You can sit on the terrace or in the room located on the floor. A nice list of alcoholic beverages including Spanish and Moroccan wines.

It has been years that the "Pesca del Dia" treats the people of Tangier with its fresh fish. So much so that in view of its success, a second address has opened on Oujda Avenue. But you are here in the original restaurant, which is always full thanks to its proven recipes. All kinds of cooking are proposed, plancha, coal, oven. The products are very fresh and the prices are always reasonable. The paella has made the reputation of the establishment and continues to seduce the regulars. But the fried food is just as honest.

Located in the Tanger Boulevard complex, just before the main post office, this small, simple and pleasant restaurant is open for breakfast. Of course, the menu is not out of the ordinary, but the food is good and the dishes are served generously. You can choose among Moroccan classics, sweet or salty pancakes or some Western specialities (breaded escalope, French fries, cordon bleu, pasta, pizza...). Smiling, fast and efficient service. The terrace offers a view on a part of the bay of Tangier.

This Mediterranean-inspired restaurant has been around for a long time. The somewhat faded, but adorably old-fashioned setting is proof of this. The thick white tablecloths, the upholstered walls and the swaddled chairs give the room an elegant and somewhat bourgeois feel. Toni pays homage to his native land with a fine menu of fresh homemade pasta. All the Tangier influences are on the menu: fresh marinated anchovies or Spanish-style elvers, Portuguese-style grilled sardines, Moroccan couscous, Nicoise salad...