Best Cafes in Essaouira
Ocean-view rooftops, bohemian art cafes, and sardines grilled on the port — where to drink, eat, and linger in Morocco's Windy City.
Essaouira Cafe Culture
Essaouira is Morocco's most bohemian town — a fortified Atlantic port that has attracted artists, musicians, and free spirits since the 1960s. Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens, and Bob Marley all passed through. That creative energy still defines the cafe scene: art on the walls, live Gnawa music on the rooftops, and a relaxed pace that feels nothing like Marrakech.
The constant Atlantic trade winds (the alizés) mean outdoor terraces can be breezy year-round — bring a jacket for rooftop cafes. The compensating gift is the light: Essaouira's golden-hour sunsets over the ocean are among the most beautiful in Morocco.
8–15 MAD
Mint tea / noss-noss
20–45 MAD
Specialty drinks
30–90 MAD
Cafe + food
Medina Cafes
Taros
Cafe-restaurant-bar with live music · Place Moulay Hassan, overlooking the port
Best for: Sunset, live music, ocean views, the Essaouira experience
Essaouira's most iconic venue. Three levels: ground-floor cafe, first-floor restaurant, rooftop terrace. The rooftop is the place — panoramic views over the port, the fishing boats, the Skala fortress, and the Atlantic. Live Gnawa and jazz music most evenings. At sunset, the terrace turns gold.
Must Order
- Sundowner cocktail on the rooftop (50 MAD)
- Fresh seafood platter (120 MAD)
- Mint tea with ocean view (20 MAD)
Insider Tip
Book the rooftop terrace for sunset — it fills up by 5 PM in summer. The ground-floor cafe is good for a quick coffee, but the magic is upstairs. Thursday and Saturday evenings usually have live Gnawa music.
Cafe Mogador
Traditional medina cafe · Place Moulay Hassan
Best for: People-watching, central location, local atmosphere, morning coffee
The social hub of Essaouira. Occupying a prime corner of Place Moulay Hassan, Cafe Mogador is where locals and visitors intersect. Plastic chairs on the square, Arabic coffee, and the constant parade of life. It's not fancy — it's essential. The people-watching from the terrace is the best in town.
Must Order
- Noss-noss (12 MAD)
- Fresh orange juice (10 MAD)
- Crêpe with honey (20 MAD)
Insider Tip
Order at the bar for local prices or sit on the terrace for the full experience. This is the place to start your morning — a noss-noss and orange juice while the square wakes up. Everyone passes through here eventually.
Cafe de la Sqala
Garden cafe in a historic fortress · Inside the North Bastion (Sqala), medina
Best for: Breakfast, garden atmosphere, historic setting, photography
Hidden inside the walls of the 18th-century North Bastion, Cafe de la Sqala is Essaouira's best-kept breakfast secret. A walled garden filled with bougainvillea, jasmine, and bird song — you'd never know the Atlantic was crashing against the other side of the wall. The Moroccan breakfast here is legendary.
Must Order
- Traditional Moroccan breakfast (60 MAD — msemen, amlou, mint tea, eggs, juice)
- Fresh orange juice (15 MAD)
- Pastilla (75 MAD)
Insider Tip
This is the breakfast destination. Come at 9 AM before the tour groups arrive. The Moroccan breakfast (msemen, amlou, boiled eggs, olives, mint tea, fresh juice) is among the best in Morocco. The garden setting is magical — don't skip this one.
Cafe des Arts
Art gallery cafe · Rue de la Skala, medina
Best for: Art lovers, quiet atmosphere, creative vibe
Part cafe, part gallery — the walls rotate exhibitions by local and visiting artists. The aesthetic is bohemian Essaouira at its best: whitewashed walls, blue accents, handmade furniture, and art everywhere. The courtyard catches afternoon sun and is sheltered from the wind. A quiet, creative corner.
Must Order
- Mint tea (15 MAD)
- Almond tart (25 MAD)
- Browse the rotating art exhibitions
Insider Tip
Essaouira has a strong art scene — Cafe des Arts is a good entry point. Ask about current exhibitions and the artists. Prices for art are reasonable compared to Marrakech galleries. The courtyard is the nicest spot.
Vague Bleue
Rooftop ocean-view cafe · Near Bab Sbaa, medina
Best for: Ocean views, budget option, sunset, grilled sardines
A simple rooftop cafe with an extraordinary view — the Atlantic stretching to the horizon, seagulls wheeling above the ramparts, and the sound of waves below. Vague Bleue (Blue Wave) is unpretentious: plastic furniture, a short menu, and the kind of view expensive restaurants charge a fortune for. The wind is part of the charm.
Must Order
- Avocado juice (25 MAD)
- Grilled sardines (40 MAD)
- Mint tea with ocean breeze (15 MAD)
Insider Tip
Best at sunset when the light paints the ocean gold. Bring a jacket — rooftop + Atlantic wind = cold, even in summer. The grilled sardines with bread and harissa are simple and perfect.
Mandala Society
Yoga-cafe-wellness space · Medina, near Bab Doukkala
Best for: Healthy food, wellness crowd, peaceful atmosphere
Part cafe, part yoga studio, part wellness space. Mandala Society captures Essaouira's new-age-meets-traditional vibe. Healthy menu — smoothie bowls, fresh juices, plant-based options. The courtyard is peaceful, the WiFi works, and the crowd is an international mix of yogis, surfers, and digital nomads.
Must Order
- Turmeric latte (30 MAD)
- Açaí bowl (50 MAD)
- Fresh ginger-lemon juice (25 MAD)
Insider Tip
Check the schedule for yoga classes (200–300 MAD drop-in). The cafe is open to non-yoga guests and is one of the best spots for a healthy lunch. The turmeric latte is genuinely good.
Cafe Cream
French-style patisserie cafe · Avenue de l'Istiqlal, near medina entrance
Best for: Pastries, French-style breakfast, reliable quality
The best pastries in Essaouira, served in a clean, bright French-style setting. Cafe Cream is where Essaouirans come for their morning viennoiserie and afternoon gateau. The croissants are buttery, the mille-feuille is layered properly, and the cafe crème is consistently good. No ocean views, just excellent baking.
Must Order
- Pain au chocolat (15 MAD)
- Cafe crème (20 MAD)
- Mille-feuille (25 MAD)
Insider Tip
Come before 10 AM when the pastries are freshest. The pain au chocolat and almond croissants sell out by noon. Good for a quick breakfast before exploring the medina.
Le Patio
Courtyard brunch cafe · Rue Moulay Rachid, central medina
Best for: Brunch, courtyard atmosphere, homemade cakes
A charming courtyard cafe tucked behind an unassuming medina door. The patio is shaded by a large tree, surrounded by whitewashed walls and blue accents — classic Essaouira. The brunch menu is excellent (eggs, avocado, pancakes, fresh juice) and the cakes are homemade. The kind of place you discover and return to every day.
Must Order
- Brunch plate (80 MAD)
- Fresh juice of the day (20 MAD)
- Carrot cake (30 MAD)
Insider Tip
One of the best brunch spots in Essaouira. The courtyard is sheltered from the wind, which is rare. Come between 10 AM and noon for brunch. The carrot cake is famous among regulars.
Beach & Port Cafes
Ocean Vagabond
Beachfront cafe-restaurant · Essaouira Beach, south of the medina
Best for: Remote work, surfer vibe, beachfront, all-day dining
A bohemian beachfront cafe with its feet in the sand. Ocean Vagabond is the hub for surfers, digital nomads, and travellers who've stayed in Essaouira longer than planned. Bean bags on the beach, surfboards on the walls, good WiFi, and an all-day menu. The vibe is California-meets-Morocco.
Must Order
- Smoothie bowl (45 MAD)
- Fresh fish of the day (90 MAD)
- Espresso (25 MAD)
Insider Tip
The best spot for remote work in Essaouira — fast WiFi, power outlets, and nobody rushes you. Come early for the calmest ocean views; afternoons get windy. The smoothie bowls and fresh fish are genuinely good, not just tourist-menu filler.
Port Fish Stall Cafe
Working port tea stall · Inside the fishing port, past the fish market
Best for: Authentic experience, freshest seafood, rock-bottom prices
Not a cafe in any conventional sense — a few plastic chairs, a gas burner, and the freshest fish in Morocco. Inside the working port, past the fish auction, a handful of stalls grill sardines caught that morning. You sit among fishermen, seagulls, and the smell of salt and smoke. No menu, no decor, no pretence — just the most authentic food experience in Essaouira.
Must Order
- Mint tea (5 MAD)
- Watch fishermen unload the catch
- Sardines grilled on the spot (15 MAD per plate)
Insider Tip
Go at 11 AM when the boats come in and the fish auction is running. Point at what you want from the fresh catch and it gets grilled on the spot. 15 MAD for a plate of sardines with bread — the best meal in town.
Quick Pick: Best Cafes by Purpose
| Looking For... | Go To |
|---|---|
| Best Ocean Views | Taros, Vague Bleue, Ocean Vagabond |
| WiFi & Remote Work | Ocean Vagabond, Mandala Society, Cafe Cream |
| Breakfast | Cafe de la Sqala, Cafe Cream, Le Patio |
| Sunset | Taros (rooftop), Vague Bleue |
| Art & Culture | Cafe des Arts, Taros (live music) |
| Budget | Port Fish Stall, Cafe Mogador, Vague Bleue |
| Healthy/Wellness | Mandala Society, Ocean Vagabond |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cafe in Essaouira?
Taros is the most famous — a three-level cafe-restaurant-bar overlooking the port and ocean, with live music and the best sunset view in town. For the best coffee, Cafe Mogador on Place Moulay Hassan is the social hub. For atmosphere, the art-gallery cafes in the medina (like Galerie Damgaard) blend coffee with culture.
Where can I work remotely in Essaouira?
Essaouira has a growing digital nomad scene. The best WiFi cafes are Ocean Vagabond (beachfront, great WiFi, all-day menu), Cafe Mogador (central, reliable), and some of the newer specialty coffee shops in the ville nouvelle. Many riads also have strong WiFi and quiet courtyards perfect for working.
How much does coffee cost in Essaouira?
Essaouira is cheaper than Marrakech. Noss-noss at a local cafe costs 8–12 MAD. Tourist-oriented cafes charge 20–40 MAD for drinks. Mint tea is 10–15 MAD everywhere. Ocean Vagabond and Taros are the priciest at 30–50 MAD for specialty drinks.
What makes Essaouira cafe culture unique?
Essaouira's cafe culture is more bohemian and relaxed than anywhere else in Morocco. The town has attracted artists, musicians, and hippies since the 1960s (Jimi Hendrix famously visited). Cafes here blend art, music, and ocean views. The pace is slow, the vibe is creative, and the Atlantic wind is ever-present.