The best restaurants Essaouira

This address is one of the big favourites in Essaouira! The atmosphere is warm and intimate (the climate in the city can withstand a good blaze even in summer). The concept is tasty: a good dish, a good film and a very soft price. Simple but original, despite the stiff competition from the ex-Mogador. Ideal for those who always fall asleep at the movies or eat too much at restaurants. At the House of Cinema, the balance is found. The programming offers a wide choice of films, classic or recent and heterogeneous. Quiet now, it's about to start...

Situated on a small square on the edge of the Mellah, this tiny establishment really deserves encouragement. The dishes on offer are delicious, the welcome superb and the value for money excellent. Depending on your tastes, you can have lunch in a pretty little room or on the sunny micro-terrace. Every day, the menu features a vegetarian platter, grilled meats with fresh salads, 2 daily specials and an array of desserts. Whatever your choice, the dish will be well presented, hearty and always subtly spiced.

Located on the second floor of the riad of the same name, the restaurant offers a lovely view of the sea. Its strong point? Without question, the fresh, well-executed seafood. Here, the open-plan kitchen lets you choose your fish, which will then be braised to bring out all its flavors. You can then set your sights on the finest catches of the day, and enjoy a feast once served at table. There are also a number of specialties that are hard to find in Essaouira and for which the restaurant is renowned.

As you wander through the narrow streets, you often come across charming little restaurants. This one is one of the lucky winners. The handcrafted decoration, the light-coloured walls dotted with moments captured by an inspired photographer and the glow of candles give the place a warm soul. The oud player, much appreciated by the clientele, does not disturb the conversations in any way. The menu is original and finely executed, as evidenced by the mocha crème brûlée. But if you hesitate, you can go for the menu of the day, simple and efficient.

Gagas of the picodon, lovers of dung, transis of the pelardon, madmen of the tomme or the pyramid ashy ... This address is for you. At the Cheese Dairy, you will taste the authentic Souiri goat's cheese... and refined too! The cheese maker, Abderazzak, is just as colourful as his product. If the places and flavours inspire you, you can stay for lunch or dinner for a farm meal the way we like it. The dining room under the veranda is very beautiful.

It is in their small restaurant of 25 seats, located in the heart of the medina, that the team of Khadija and Marc welcomes you warmly. The new owners, who arrived at the beginning of 2018, have kept the recipe of this restaurant with a good-natured atmosphere. Tagliatelle, bread, yoghurt: everything is fresh and homemade. Couscous with camel meat every Monday, chicken pastilla crispy as you like, stuffed squid or sheep mrouzia at Eid: the food is delicious and booking is recommended. Good value for money.

In 1893, the shoreline had only beach cabins and then a shack became a café. Taken over by the Ben Ghadda family in 1965, the Chalet ou chez Jeannot is an institution that has great assets: a magnificent setting with a view of the islands, the sea breeze, feet in the water and a decor amassed over time. The menu gives pride of place to seafood, spiders and lobsters, without forgetting its famous oyster tagine, appreciated by the King himself.

Make way for traditional and modern Moroccan cuisine, from pastilla to couscous to fish tagine. Add to that some meats prepared according to international tastes. The service is attentive, the prices are affordable and you can have lunch in a particularly pleasant setting in a beautiful rustic room with stone walls or in a charming Moroccan lounge. Don't miss the homemade desserts (fresh fruit salad with mint, apple and honey pastilla). Reservations are recommended, especially in high season.

At Les Planches, you'll find yourself almost with your feet in the water, as the restaurant has literally taken its place on the beach. You can come here at any time of day to enjoy a cool drink, sunbathe on the deckchairs and, of course, have lunch in a predominantly woodland setting. Prices are very reasonable (not least because they don't serve alcohol yet), and the food is simple but carefully prepared. On the menu: large salads, burgers or grilled meats of the day, tajines, pizzas or fish of the day.

The Madada Mogador restaurant welcomes its guests in a subdued and elegant, yet relaxed atmosphere. The menu expresses a great wealth of flavours. Moroccan classics, ocean products or more exotic recipes: Chef Souad has several strings to her bow. Spider crab au gratin, linguine with lobster or clams, and lamb mouse with saffron sauce are all on the menu, which is gourmet and without fuss, even if the presentation is neat. Some evenings, you will dine to live music.

A few minutes from Essaouira, the Arganeraie estate offers a splendid and relaxing setting. It covers more than 3 hectares and is home to hundred-year-old argan trees, bougainvillea and laurel trees, among other species. A country getaway that is not to be refused, for a lunch, a snack or a dinner by the heated swimming pool. The cuisine with Moroccan and French influences consists of fresh products from the market, for tasty dishes. The welcome is also warm and professional. What more could you ask for?

At the bend of an alley in the old kasbah, we discover this restaurant with a unique atmosphere. The walls are steeped in history as the building dates back to 1783 and was used as a fishermen's workshop to become an Anglican mission. The surprising decoration and the warm setting make you want to sit down and enjoy an organic and inventive market cuisine made from fish or vegetables. The menu changes according to the fishing of the day or the vegetables of the season and the bread with fennel and flax seeds, carrots and raisins comes out of the ovens every morning.

If you're in the mood for Italian food, you've come to the right place! Located just outside the medina and a stone's throw from the beach, this restaurant with its hushed ambience has made a name for itself. Authentic cuisine is served, with most products imported from Italy. Gorgonzola, bottarga, porcini mushrooms, rice, cheeses and charcuterie are just some of the mouth-watering offerings. There are some forty succulent pizzas to choose from, and the results are never disappointing. Not to mention homemade pasta, ravioli, gnocchi and tutti quanti...

Very beautiful property at the entrance of Essaouira enjoying a beautiful garden and a beautiful swimming pool. The interior has nothing to be ashamed of: the precious furniture and colourful paintings dress this house perfectly. The property is divided into three parts. Each villa has its own little corner in the garden or on the terrace. As for the table d'hôte, it features an inventive cuisine, based on market products, which will undoubtedly make your taste buds wriggle. An idyllic setting that exhales the scent of the holidays.

If the reputation of this guest ksar is well established, it is largely due to the charms hidden behind the lush vegetation, the Moroccan architecture and the refined decoration. Nestled between the pools and ponds, amidst hundreds of plant species, stands the shaded terrace of the Table des Douars. Here or in one of the two indoor restaurants, you will find a wide range of culinary flavors. The ceviches of the day, beef fillets in a herb crust and chicken tagines with preserved lemon are fabulous.

Lounge lounge specialising in fresh fish cooked in the heart of Essaouira's Medina. An authentic and refined map. Moroccan and French wines are offered.

This restaurant has a particularity: you have lunch with your feet in the water on the beach. The tree-covered terrace is sheltered from the wind, which is very pleasant. On the menu, summer cuisine, various salads and sandwiches of all kinds, croque-monsieur, burgers, wood-fired pizzas, daily specials and the bistro's slate. On Friday and Saturday evening, you can also choose the fish plancha of the day, as well as tapas. Nice selection of wines.

Taros is the Berber name for this wind from the north, and it is also the name of this café-restaurant, which is very well known in town. The terrace, its main asset, offers a sumptuous view of Moulay Hassan Square and the activities of the port. Ideal for a break and a refreshment. The establishment has three atmospheres: a gastronomic one, a cozy restaurant and a tapas and oyster bar. The Taros is very popular on weekends and during the Gnaoua festival; it also hosts exhibitions and regularly schedules live music events.

This walk offers real pancakes and Breton cakes prepared by Morgana. Specialty: black wheat cake. The only walk in Essaouira. A good address.

What probably contributed to the undeniable success of Sirocco is certainly the colorful personality of Annie, the happy owner of the place, who has the gift of putting you at ease right away. The restaurant serves excellent Moroccan cuisine with a French touch, at very reasonable prices, in a friendly atmosphere. Moreover, artists come regularly to animate the room on the weekend. An address recommended for families or groups of friends wishing to spend an evening in all relaxation.