Eating & Drinking in Essaouira

Eating In the Riad

If you fly into Marrakech there is a hypermarket called Marjane just outside the city en route to Essaouira.  Taxi drivers are happy to stop there while you stock up on food and wine, and if you’re driving yourself you will see it on the right hand side about 15 minutes from the airport by an Afriquia petrol station.
Get up earlish and go to the four (bakers) – head round the corner from the Italian Ice-cream shop on Place Moulay Hassan through the smaller square with cafes and you should be able to follow your nose up a little alleyway to buy hot pain au chocolat, croissants, mille-feuille etc. It is fine to eat these at other cafes.
There are lots of food markets and fish markets just off the Rue de Iqbal and towards Bab Doukkala which are particularly busy and interesting at dusk.

Restaurants and Cafes in Essaouira

Essaouira has a wealth of delicious eateries to discover.  Below are just a few suggestions.

Get delicious Italian ice cream and extremely naughty hot-chocolate from Gelateria Dolce Freddo, the café on the corner of Place Moulay Hassan.

Choose a stall at the fish grilles, at the bottom of the main square; find one that you like the look of (don’t be bullied keep walking until you find one you like) select your raw fish/seafood which they will weigh then ask the price then HAGGLE – you should pay about a fiver each for a hearty plateful which includes bread, salad and soft drinks.

Le Joli Coin, just off the main square is good for cheap eats, try the delicious chicken shwarma, paninia and pizzas.

Sample food from one of the many traditional Moroccan restaurants:  (These are very reasonably priced but don’t serve alcohol)

La Petite Perle serves excellent tagines, Harira soups etc just around the corner from the Riad, go back towards the clock tower and veer left across the little square and it’s on your right is great.

A bit smarter; Moroccan and utterly charming – consider supper at Villa Maroc.  Book in the morning when you have had a look at the menu pinned up outside (licensed).

Elizir on Rue D’Agadir (look up on your right for white banner with Arabic writing on to indicate where it is) – Abdellatif the manager is an acclaimed collector of funky retro items as well as contemporary paintings which decorate the interior serving great Moroccan/Mediterranean cuisine (licensed).

Chez Sam & Le Coquillage in the port are good for fish and seafood.

After Five is near the house down a wide alley, Rue Youseef el Fassi, on right towards Bab Sbah and a delicious French escape from tagine.  Quite pricey (licensed)

Fresh Italian pasta on roof terrace or inside at Silvestros; you can watch Silvestro and his delightful team creating above steaming vats. En route to the Scala.  70, rue Laâlouj. (licensed – lovely Rose!)

Sirocco is worth a visit for a well matched French-Moroccan menu, friendly welcome and a wine-list. Found on the same road as the bakery, through an alley at the corner of the cafe square; Rue Ibn Roch

Taros – rooftop bar with great views serving food on the terrace and downstairs. Excellent for lunch – head for the ice cream shop in the main square and look up! (licensed)

Kilometre 8 is a lovely restaurant 8 km away from the town on the main road from Essaouira.  A local cab will take you there/pick you up. (licensed)