A Guide to What to Eat in Essaouira

Essaouira, the enchanting port city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, is known for its fortified Medina, artistic soul, and windswept beaches, the city is also a paradise for food lovers. Essaouira’s cuisine blends Berber, Arabic, and French influences while drawing heavily on the bounty of the Atlantic Ocean. Here, fresh seafood is king, but you’ll also find the slow-cooked stews, fragrant spices, and sweet pastries that make Moroccan food famous worldwide. Deciding what to eat in Essaouira is just as important as planning the exploration of souks or admiring its ocean views. So, here are some of the dishes you should enjoy once you are in town.

Fresh Grilled Fish at the Port of Essaouira

One of the quintessential Essaouira experiences is dining on freshly caught fish at the port.
Fishermen bring in their daily catch—sardines, sole, sea bream, lobster, and even squid—which are then grilled on the spot at small stalls. The fish is simply seasoned with salt, lemon, and cumin, allowing the freshness to shine. This is more than a meal; it’s a lively local ritual where visitors and residents gather to enjoy the Atlantic’s best offerings.

Sardine Chermoula

Sardines are a staple of Essaouira’s diet, often prepared with chermoula, a traditional marinade of garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, parsley, and lemon. The sardines are either grilled or stuffed with herbs, then fried or baked. Packed with flavor and protein, sardine chermoula is affordable, delicious, and deeply connected to the city’s identity as a fishing hub.

Seafood Tagine

While tagines are found all across Morocco, Essaouira’s coastal location gives this dish a unique twist. In addition to chicken, lamb, or vegetable tagines, you’ll find seafood tagines brimming with shrimp, calamari, mussels, and white fish. It is cooked slowly with tomatoes, peppers, olives, preserved lemons, and a blend of spices.

Bissara

A humble yet nourishing dish, bissara is a soup or purée made from dried split fava beans, flavored with garlic, olive oil, and cumin. Often served with warm bread, it is a common breakfast or street food, especially on cooler days.

Couscous with Fish or Vegetables

Couscous is Morocco’s most famous dish, and in Essaouira you can taste it in unique variations.
While meat-based couscous is common inland, here it is often paired with fish or fresh vegetables. Traditionally served on Fridays, couscous is steamed to fluffy perfection and topped with a fragrant broth of seasonal produce, chickpeas, and spices. Sharing couscous with friends or family is one of the most authentic ways to connect with Moroccan hospitality.

Harira

During Ramadan, Essaouira comes alive with the aroma of harira, a traditional soup made with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and spices, sometimes enriched with lamb. It is usually served with dates and sweet pastries to break the fast. Even outside of Ramadan, many restaurants offer harira as a starter, giving visitors the chance to taste this comforting and symbolic dish.

Pastilla with Seafood

Pastilla, a flaky pie usually made with pigeon or chicken and almonds, takes on a distinctive Essaouira variation when prepared with seafood. Layers of pastry encase a filling of shrimp, calamari, and white fish, seasoned with herbs and spices, then dusted with a hint of cinnamon and powdered sugar. This combination of savory and sweet is uniquely Moroccan and a must-try for curious food travelers.

Street Food: Snail Soup and Harcha

For adventurous eaters, Essaouira’s street food scene offers flavors you won’t find in formal restaurants. Snail soup, infused with an aromatic broth of anise, mint, and spices, is believed to aid digestion and is enjoyed as a warming snack. Another popular street treat is harcha, a semolina flatbread with a slightly sweet, crumbly texture, often served with honey or cheese. These quick bites provide insight into everyday Moroccan eating habits.

Moroccan Pastries and Mint Tea

No trip to Essaouira is complete without sampling the city’s sweets, often enjoyed alongside a pot of fresh mint tea. Almonds are at the heart of Moroccan pastries, appearing in delights such as ghriba (chewy almond cookies) and briouats (crispy pastry triangles filled with almond paste and honey).

Argan Oil Specialties

Essaouira lies within the heartland of Morocco’s argan forests, making argan oil an essential part of its cuisine. Beyond its cosmetic uses, culinary argan oil is nutty, rich, and often drizzled over salads, couscous, or grilled vegetables. You’ll also find amlou, a spread made from almonds, honey, and argan oil, which is delicious on fresh bread. Tasting local argan products provides a direct link to the region’s Berber traditions.