Practical information checked on 29 October 2026. Opening hours, addresses, offers and prices of restaurants and experiences change: check them before you go or book.
In Essaouira, the food follows the ocean. The fishing port, at the foot of the ramparts, sets the pace of the day: at lunchtime you choose your fish there before having it grilled on the spot. In the medina, tajines, pastries and mint tea complete the meal, and the argan region adds its produce to the table. This guide does not list every Moroccan dish again: it helps you discover and eat in Essaouira, meaning what to taste, where to look, how to approach the port grills and how to enjoy a guided culinary experience.
For a broader overview of the dishes, see our article The 30 must-try Moroccan dishes and our guide to Moroccan gastronomy.
What to eat in Essaouira: a selection for a first taste
Here are the most useful dishes to try on a first visit, with when they are usually eaten.
| Dish | What is it? | When to eat it |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled fish | Sardines, catch of the day and seafood grilled in front of you | Lunch, at the port |
| Fish tajine | Fish slow-cooked with tomatoes, peppers and chermoula | Lunch or dinner |
| Tajine | Dish slow-cooked in an earthenware pot, meat or vegetables | Lunch or dinner |
| Couscous | Semolina topped with vegetables and meat, traditionally served on Fridays | Lunch |
| Harira | Tomato, lentil and chickpea soup | Starter or snack |
| Amlou | Paste of toasted almonds, argan oil and honey | Breakfast, with bread |
| Moroccan pastries | Gazelle horns, ghriba, almond pastries | Break, tea |
| Mint tea | The sign of hospitality | Any time |
Argan oil. Essaouira is surrounded by argan forests: culinary argan oil is tasted drizzled on bread or in amlou. To discover the region, see our guide to beaches, surfing, the argan forest and excursions.
Where to eat in Essaouira
Rather than a list of restaurants, here is where to look depending on what you want.
The port and its grills
At the fishing port, below the port Sqala, small stands grill the fish and seafood you choose from the stall. The set-up is simple: shared tables, a grill, salad, bread and harissa. It is the most typical experience in town, especially at midday, once the boats are back.
The medina
In the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the main streets and squares are home to Moroccan restaurants, cafés and fish stands. Many houses have a rooftop terrace with views of the ramparts and the ocean. Some riads serve dinner by reservation: ask the day before.
The seafront
Along the beach and Avenue Mohammed V, cafés and restaurants face the ocean: handy for lunch after the beach or a tea at sunset.
Markets and food products
In the medina, stalls of spices, olives, dates, almonds and argan products help you understand the local cuisine. At the port, watching the boats come in and the fish being sold is part of the experience.
The port grills: how it works
- Choose from the stall what you want to eat, then ask for it to be grilled.
- Agree the price before cooking: it often depends on weight and species, and cooking, bread and salad may be extra.
- Check freshness: bright eyes, firm flesh, a smell of the sea.
- Choose busy stands, where the fish turns over quickly.
- Drink bottled water if you have any doubt about the water.
Where to eat in Essaouira, by what you want
This table is a guide by need, not a ranking.
| What you want | Area or type of experience |
|---|---|
| Grilled fish | Port stands |
| Traditional cuisine | Medina restaurants, dinner in a riad |
| A meal with a view | Rooftop terraces, seafront |
| Pastries and tea | Medina cafés and pastry shops |
| Argan products | Shops and cooperatives, in the medina and the region |
| Understanding the cuisine | Cooking class |
A food experience with MoroccoMuseum
Would you rather cook than simply eat in a restaurant? Here is what MoroccoMuseum offers in Essaouira, based on our partner's listing. Check the programme, duration, inclusions, price, cancellation terms and availability.
- L'Atelier, Moroccan cooking class. A half-day workshop in the medina; the listing mentions a lunch with a starter and a main course.
With children
Moroccan meals are shared: dishes for the table suit a group well. For children, choose grilled fish, brochettes, pancakes or pastries. At the port the tables are simple and lively: bring wet wipes.
Vegetarians and special diets
Moroccan cuisine offers good meat-free options: vegetable tajine, vegetable couscous, Moroccan salads (zaalouk, taktouka) and harira depending on the recipe. Note that a "vegetable" dish may be made with meat stock or animal fat. Tell the restaurant about your restrictions, ideally in simple words or with an allergy card.
Moroccan breakfast
A good start for a first morning: msemen, baghrir, fresh bread, olive or argan oil, amlou, honey, olives, mint tea and coffee. Most riads serve it on their terrace: check what is included when you book. See our guide on where to stay in Essaouira and our selection of places to stay in Essaouira.
Where to have mint tea?
On the squares and terraces of the medina, in riads and in seafront cafés, with almond pastries. The wind often blows in the afternoon: a sheltered terrace is more pleasant.
What budget for eating in Essaouira?
Prices vary by place, produce and area: we do not publish rates. Think in three levels:
- Small budget: street food, snacks, pastries.
- Mid-range budget: port grills, traditional restaurant.
- Higher budget: dinner in a riad, seafood, cooking class.
At the port as in restaurants, check prices before ordering.
A food day in Essaouira
An example, to adapt to your tastes and timing:
- Breakfast on your riad's terrace: msemen, amlou, mint tea.
- A walk through the medina: spices, olives, argan products.
- Lunch: grilled fish at the port.
- A walk along the city Skala, then tea and pastries.
- Cooking class or time on the beach.
- Dinner: a fish tajine in the medina.
To plan your stay, see our complete guide to Essaouira.
FAQ — Food in Essaouira
What to eat in Essaouira?
Grilled fish and seafood, fish tajines, amlou and argan products, pastries and mint tea.
How do the port grills work?
You choose the fish from the stall, it is grilled on the spot and served with salad and bread. Agree the price before cooking.
Where to eat in Essaouira?
At the port for fish, in the medina for traditional cuisine, on the seafront for the view.
Can you take a cooking class in Essaouira?
Yes: MoroccoMuseum lists a half-day workshop in the medina. Check the content and conditions of the listing.
Are there vegetarian options?
Yes, many Moroccan dishes can be made without meat. Tell the restaurant about your restrictions.
How much does a meal cost in Essaouira?
It depends on the place, the produce and, for fish, the weight. Check prices before ordering.
Discovering Essaouira through its food
Eating in Essaouira is a way to understand the town: the port, the ocean, the argan tree and tea shared on a terrace. All our ideas for visits are gathered on the Essaouira page.
Opening hours, addresses, offers and prices may change. During Ramadan, restaurant hours and offerings change: check them before you go.
