Discovering...
Restaurant Guide
Best Restaurants in Ouarzazate 2026
Saffron tagines, kasbah-view rooftops, and film-set dining — 10 places to eat in Morocco's desert gateway.
Quick Picks
| Best For | Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Restaurant Douyria |
| Best Atmosphere | Chez Dimitri |
| Best Value | Habous Restaurant |
| Best View | Restaurant Kasbah |
| Best Special Occasion | La Kasbah des Sables |
| Best Quick Meal | Café-Restaurant 3 Thés |
The 10 Best Restaurants
1. Restaurant Douyria
80–120 MADTraditional Moroccan Centre 4.6 Wifi
Widely considered the best restaurant in Ouarzazate. Set in a restored riad, Douyria serves refined Moroccan cuisine with local touches — saffron from Taliouine, dates from the Draa Valley, and lamb from the surrounding hills.
Must order: Lamb tagine with prunes and almonds
Best overallMid-range
Tip: Book ahead for dinner — it fills up with tour groups. Lunch is calmer. The vegetable couscous is excellent for vegetarians.
2. Chez Dimitri
70–130 MADMoroccan-International Avenue Mohammed V 4.4 Wifi
A Ouarzazate institution since 1928, founded by a Greek immigrant. The walls are covered in film memorabilia — Ouarzazate is the "Hollywood of Morocco" and Dimitri has fed every crew from Lawrence of Arabia to Game of Thrones.
Must order: Pizza or brochettes — the two specialities
Film history & atmosphereMid-range
Tip: The film posters and autographed photos on the walls are genuine. Ask the waiter which movies were filmed nearby — they know them all. The pizza is surprisingly good.
3. Restaurant Kasbah
50–80 MADRooftop Traditional Near Taourirt Kasbah 4.3
Simple rooftop restaurant with views over the Taourirt Kasbah — the main historic building in Ouarzazate. No frills but honest food and dramatic scenery.
Must order: Tagine with a view of the kasbah
Kasbah viewsBudget
Tip: Best at sunset when the kasbah walls turn golden. The tagine takes 30 minutes to cook (they are made to order, not pre-made) so arrive with patience.
4. La Kasbah des Sables
120–200 MADHotel Restaurant Edge of town 4.5 Wifi
Elegant restaurant in a kasba-style hotel with gardens, a pool, and Atlas Mountain views. The setting is spectacular — dining under the stars with the desert on one side and mountains on the other.
Must order: Multi-course Berber feast (pre-order)
Special occasionSplurge
Tip: The multi-course Berber dinner (200 MAD, book by noon) is worth the splurge. It includes harira, pastilla, tagine, couscous, and dessert — a proper feast. Non-guests are welcome.
5. Café-Restaurant 3 Thés
40–70 MADCasual Café-Restaurant Centre 4.2 Wifi
Popular with both locals and travellers. Serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, tagines, and the Berber omelette that has become an Ouarzazate staple. Simple, efficient, and reliable.
Must order: Berber omelette with khobz
Quick & reliableBudget
Tip: The Berber omelette — eggs with tomato, peppers, onions, and spices cooked in a clay pot — is the perfect light meal after a long drive. Fast service compared to proper tagine restaurants.
6. Restaurant La Datte d'Or
60–100 MADTraditional Moroccan Centre 4.3
Clean, well-run restaurant popular with Moroccan families. The tagines are made with local saffron from nearby Taliouine — a noticeably richer, more aromatic flavour than tourist-restaurant tagines elsewhere.
Must order: Chicken tagine with saffron and olives
Saffron dishesMid-range
Tip: Ask for the saffron tagine specifically — the saffron here is among the world's best (Taliouine saffron is Morocco's most prized). The difference from regular tagines is dramatic.
7. Habous Restaurant
35–60 MADLocal Favourite Near bus station 4.1
No-frills local joint near the bus station where drivers, travellers, and workers eat between journeys. Plastic tables, fluorescent lights, and the best kefta (spiced meatball) tagine in town.
Must order: Kefta tagine with egg
Cheap & authenticBudget
Tip: If you are arriving from or leaving for the Sahara by bus, this is where to eat. Fast, cheap, and filling. The kefta tagine with a runny egg on top is the signature.
8. Riad Salam Restaurant
80–150 MADHotel Restaurant Avenue Mohammed V 4.4 Wifi
The restaurant at one of Ouarzazate's oldest hotels. Gardens, a pool terrace, and a dining room with traditional decor. The mechoui (whole roasted lamb) is the highlight — tender, falling apart, with cumin and salt.
Must order: Mechoui (slow-roasted lamb) — pre-order required
Mechoui lambMid-range
Tip: Mechoui must be ordered 24 hours ahead and needs a minimum group of 4. If travelling solo, ask at check-in if a group has already ordered — you may be able to join.
9. Patisserie Habous
20–40 MADPatisserie-Café Centre 4.3
Traditional Moroccan patisserie with glass cases of pastries. The specialty is date-filled pastries — fitting, since Ouarzazate is surrounded by date palms. A good breakfast or afternoon tea stop.
Must order: Date pastries and mint tea
Date pastries & snacksBudget
Tip: Buy a box of date pastries (30 MAD for a mixed selection) as provisions for the drive to the Sahara. They travel well and taste better than anything available at roadside stops.
10. Oscar Restaurant
70–120 MADTourist-Friendly Centre 4.2 Wifi
Named after the film awards (everything in Ouarzazate connects to cinema), this clean, modern restaurant serves reliable Moroccan and international dishes. Air-conditioned — a blessing in summer.
Must order: Mixed grill plate
AC & comfortMid-range
Tip: One of the few restaurants with proper air conditioning. In summer (40°C+), this alone makes it worth visiting. The mixed grill plate is generous and well-seasoned.
Eating in Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate is a transit city — most travellers stop for one night en route to or from the Sahara Desert. The food scene reflects this: reliable, no-surprise Moroccan cuisine designed for hungry travellers rather than food tourism. The best meals are often at riad/guesthouse dinners rather than standalone restaurants.
Taliouine Saffron
The town of Taliouine, 2 hours south, produces Morocco's finest saffron. Ouarzazate restaurants use it liberally — look for saffron tagines and saffron tea. Buying saffron here is much cheaper than in tourist cities.
Hollywood of Morocco
Atlas Studios and CLA Studios have hosted films from Gladiator to Game of Thrones. Several restaurants lean into this heritage with film memorabilia and "star" dishes.
Date Season
Ouarzazate is surrounded by date palm oases. Date harvest (October–November) means fresh dates everywhere — buy a box at the market for 20–30 MAD. Date pastries and date tagines appear on menus.
More Ouarzazate & Morocco Guides
Plan it with a local expert
Travel Morocco with Serenity Morocco Tours
Crafting extraordinary journeys through Morocco's timeless landscapes. 100% private journeys, handcrafted around you.
ONMT Licensed 100% Private Tours 100% private tours since 2018
from $2,011 5 days Marrakech → Erg Chebbi
Sahara Desert Luxury Expedition
from $2,054 7 days Marrakech · Fes · Meknes · Rabat
Essential Morocco: Imperial Cities Circuit
from $5,978 14 days Full-country circuit
Sahara to Sea: Morocco Complete
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ouarzazate a good food city?
Ouarzazate is not a food destination on the level of Marrakech or Fes, but it has solid options — especially for tagines, Berber cuisine, and rooftop dining with Atlas Mountain views. Most travellers pass through en route to the Sahara, so the restaurant scene caters to that transit crowd. The best food is often at riads and guesthouses rather than standalone restaurants.
How much does a meal cost in Ouarzazate?
Ouarzazate is affordable. A tagine at a local restaurant costs 40–60 MAD ($4–6). A full meal at a tourist-oriented restaurant runs 80–120 MAD ($8–12). Riad dinners (pre-ordered, multi-course) are 150–200 MAD ($15–20). Street food snacks are 10–20 MAD. It is cheaper than Marrakech but slightly more expensive than smaller towns.
What food is Ouarzazate known for?
Ouarzazate is in the Draa-Tafilalet region, known for: dates (from the surrounding oases), lamb tagine cooked Berber-style with dried fruits and almonds, mechoui (slow-roasted whole lamb), and tanjia (a slow-cooked meat pot). The region also produces excellent saffron from nearby Taliouine — look for saffron-infused dishes.