Off to the beach: 7 of the best addresses in Essaouira, Morocco
The Moroccan beach city has a beautiful and picturesque center where you can shop extensively (the souk is also much more 'for dummies' than the souk of Marrakech, which is often experienced as intense). The city is considerably smaller and as a result there are considerably fewer tourists, so the chance of negotiating well, scoring the nicest things and lugging a very heavy suitcase home is also considerably greater...
Ocean Vagabond is chillness itself. Right on the beach with sunbeds, beach chairs, tables, the works. Pick a spot and hang out all afternoon; book and a glass of wine within reach. Because yes, it is still loud and clear that alcohol is not a given in Morocco, but at Ocean Vagabond you will not notice that. And that gives the case another edge. The cuisine is Western, which we didn't necessarily want, but hey, the chicken skewer was delicious (cultural barbarians, yes, this turned out all right later). One tip: don't look to the left. There are some grown up boys sitting there on their motorcycles, looking really cool. Just look to the right, onto the beach: there are a bunch of cheerful camels parading. Moroccan enjoyment on the beach.
The Moulay Hassan Square is the central square of the city and it is not difficult to get there restaurant Taros to spot. The whitewashed building with Taros in blue cow letters absolutely invites you to make a stop. And while things are often disappointing once inside, that is not the case here. There are several terraces at the café, two of which offer beautiful views of the sea. Perfect sunset material. A drink or two, music in the background, put your legs up and relax for a while. That's exactly what Taros is good for. Please note: the food is not your thing! Don't worry, we have other places for that.
Farm to tables, but for real. At Azouka everything on your plate comes straight from the farm. Fresh from the press and ridiculously delicious – love through the stomach is an understatement here. Think of our own fermented drinks and vegetarian kefta with ginger BBQ glaze, dill yoghurt and leek. Everything is produced on a small scale, so: gone = gone (sorry, not sorry). More small-scale farmers and local entrepreneurs? That's what they stand for here - and we say a resounding yes to that!
Essaouira, Marrakech for dummies. We love that, but if you still want Marrakech (combining is the best!), then grab all our Marrakech tips! Barts Boekje x Marrakech
The Loft is a nice place to stop for lunch or a fresh mint tea. The style of The Loft is modern with a nod to the '70s with endless old televisions hanging on the wall as art. The kitchen is simple but tasty and around the corner is a fantastic shop with rugs where you certainly won't walk away without purchasing one.
Pay attention because you can easily walk past it: Triskala. An unremarkable place from the outside, but a great place inside with a hodgepodge of furniture. In the restaurant you can just sit at a table, but there are also cozy seats; We really liked the corner on a small landing. You just have to climb some crappy wooden stairs. Knee ear. On that landing you sink into the cushions and the waiters go to the most impossible lengths to get your food on the table. The kitchen is mainly vegetarian and there is a menu that changes regularly. Highly recommended for both lunch and dinner.
The best horse in the stable. And we really mean the very best horse in the stable. Because if you have one evening in Essaouira, and you are looking for one place you must visit, it is Adwak restaurant. We haven't had such a good meal in a long time. Adwak feels like you have ended up in a Moroccan living room. Small and cozy. There is only room for (did we count correctly?) 12 guests and there is always a line of hungry people at the door. And rightly so. The cuisine is Moroccan and there are plenty of tagines and couscous dishes on the menu. Tip: choose a tagine and couscous with the same main ingredient. We went for chicken. This way you can combine the two. Really. At. Tasty. A three-course meal will cost you about 10 euros, there is no wine so just buy a bottle of water from a good year, and you will have a great evening. Don't skip it!
Dar Beida is a modern Moroccan fairy tale in a 200 year old Jewish home. The whitewashed villa Dar Beida is in a prime location: close to the old medina of Essaouira and yet it is the perfect retreat for the entire holiday crew.
Original, creative and the coolest kid on the block. That is boutique holiday villa Dar Beida. English owner Emma had several vintage interior design shops in London before she changed course and, together with her husband Graham, transformed two riads in Essaouira – including Dar Beida – into a modern fairy tale entitled Castles of the Sand. Vintage treasures, Moroccan artwork and antlers hang on the bright white walls. There are funky sixties furniture and lamps everywhere. Everything has been personally put together by Emma and perfectly balanced thanks to her particularly well-developed sense of style. The four rooms of the Dar Beida guesthouse are picturesque in themselves and each has a phenomenal view of the city.
