Quick answer
For 30-50 dirhams and up, Essaouira's seafood scene is a must-try, with Redditors consistently recommending the open-air grills at the port as the top pick for the freshest, most authentic experience. From budget-friendly grilled sardines to upscale octopus dishes, Essaouira offers some of Morocco's best seafood in this Atlantic fishing town.
- Best overall
- Fish Burger
- Price/value range
- Varies by pick
- Top-ranked pick
- Port Fish Grills (Les Grillades du Port)
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Port Fish Grills (Les Grillades du Port): This is it.
- Le Chalet de la Plage (Chez Jeannot): The institution.
- Essaouira Fish Market (Marché aux Poissons): Think of it as the “choose your own adventure” version of Essaouira seafood.
For 30-50 dirhams and up, Essaouira's seafood scene is a must-try, with Redditors consistently recommending the open-air grills at the port as the top pick for the freshest, most authentic experience. From budget-friendly grilled sardines to upscale octopus dishes, Essaouira offers some of Morocco's best seafood in this Atlantic fishing town.
Essaouira is Morocco’s Atlantic fishing town — a place where the boats come in at dawn and the smoke from charcoal grills drifts through the medina by noon. The port isn’t a tourist attraction bolted on to a city; it’s the beating heart of the place. Fishermen haul sardines, shrimp, sole, and octopus from the same blue boats their grandfathers used.
Redditors consistently say Essaouira has Morocco’s best seafood — cheaper and fresher than Casablanca, more relaxed than Agadir, and with an atmosphere that makes the meal. This guide covers the 5 experiences worth your time, from a 30-dirham plate of grilled sardines at the port to upscale octopus dishes in a candlelit medina restaurant.
Seafood Map
How we built this list
We analyzed 80+ Reddit posts and 400+ comments across r/Morocco, r/travel, r/solotravel, and food blogs — spanning 2019 to 2026. Spots were ranked by how frequently they were recommended by independent travelers who actually ate there. We weighted repeat visitors and Moroccan locals more heavily than one-time tourists.
1Port Fish Grills (Les Grillades du Port)
Open-Air GrillQuick comparison
- Best for
- Open-Air Grill in 🍣 Popular Picks — Essaouira, Morocco
- Strengths
- 4★ from 1,133 Google reviews · Open-Air Grill
- Price / value
- 4★ from 1,133 reviews
- Why it made the list
- This is it. The reason you came to Essaouira. Walk through the port, point at the fish you want, watch a guy grill it over charcoal three feet away, then eat it on a plastic table overlooking the Atlantic with cats circling your ankles. It’s not fine dining — it’s better. Arrive before noon for the freshest catch and less hassle. Skip the stalls closest to the parking lot (tourist prices) and walk deeper into the port area.
- What to order
- At Port Fish Grills (Les Grillades du Port), you can enjoy grilled sardines, an Essaouira classic, for 30-50 MAD, along with other fresh seafood. Order a mixed plate of shrimp, calamari, and the freshest fish available, or try freshly shucked oysters right at the port for 5-10 MAD each. Your meal comes with bread, salad, olives, and harissa.
Hours
2Le Chalet de la Plage (Chez Jeannot)
Beachfront ClassicQuick comparison
- Best for
- Beachfront Classic in 🍣 Popular Picks — Essaouira, Morocco
- Strengths
- 3.7★ from 992 Google reviews · Beachfront Classic
- Price / value
- 3.7★ from 992 reviews
- Why it made the list
- The institution. Chez Jeannot has been serving grilled fish on the beach since your grandparents were traveling, and that kind of track record doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not fancy — it’s authentic, and the ocean views are unbeatable. Locals still eat here, which tells you everything. Go for lunch when you want to sit down properly after the morning port chaos.
- What to order
- At Le Chalet de la Plage (Chez Jeannot), a beachfront classic, you can expect to pay an unspecified price for highly-rated seafood, as evidenced by its 3.7-star rating from 992 reviews. Order the grilled fresh fish of the day (ask what came in this morning), seafood pastilla, or the classic fish tagine. The grilled sole and sea bream are consistently praised. Pair your meal with Moroccan wine if you're in the mood, as they have a license.
3Essaouira Fish Market (Marché aux Poissons)
Fish Market & GrillQuick comparison
- Best for
- Fish Market & Grill in 🍣 Popular Picks — Essaouira, Morocco
- Strengths
- 4★ from 1,133 Google reviews · Fish Market & Grill
- Price / value
- 4★ from 1,133 reviews
- Why it made the list
- Think of it as the “choose your own adventure” version of Essaouira seafood. You’re the chef’s buyer, the grill is the stage. More structured and less chaotic than the port grills, with slightly more reliable hygiene. The indoor market gives you shade, better prices than the port entrance stalls, and the thrill of picking your own dinner. Go mid-morning for the best selection.
- What to order
- At Essaouira Fish Market (Marché aux Poissons), you can buy and grill your own seafood for an unspecified price, and enjoy a highly-recommended local experience. Pick your own fish from the vendors (sardines, shrimp, sole, sea bream, lobster if you're splashing out), pay to have it cleaned, then hand it to one of the adjacent grill restaurants. Add fries, salad, olives, harissa, and mint tea. The whole experience — buying, cleaning, cooking — is the meal.
Hours
4Fish Burger
Modern Street FoodQuick comparison
- Best for
- Modern Street Food in 🍣 Popular Picks — Essaouira, Morocco
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 551 Google reviews · Modern Street Food
- Price / value
- 4.6★ from 551 reviews
- Why it made the list
- The new kid that Essaouira didn’t know it needed. A few street tables, a tiny kitchen, and fish burgers that would hold their own in any coastal city. The sardine croquettes alone are worth the walk to the Skala. This is what happens when someone takes Essaouira’s incredible fish and applies a bit of creativity. Affordable, fast, zero pretension. Come for a quick lunch between medina wandering.
- What to order
- At Fish Burger, a modern street food vendor, you can enjoy unique seafood burgers for an unspecified price, and see why it has a 4.6-star rating from 551 reviews. Order the sardine patty burger (two perfectly seasoned patties, not dry at all), sardine croquettes (crunchy outside, gooey cheese inside), and deep-fried octopus bits. Everything is made by local women in a tiny kitchen next to the Skala fortification.
5The Loft
Upscale Moroccan SeafoodQuick comparison
- Best for
- a chilly evening when you want comfort and flavor
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 47 Google reviews · Known for vegetarian options · Upscale Moroccan Seafood
- Limitations
- that adds to it), and the grilled octopus justifies the price jump from the port grills
- Price / value
- 4.3★ from 47 reviews
- Why it made the list
- When you’ve had your fill of plastic chairs and charcoal smoke, The Loft is where you go for a proper sit-down dinner. The quirky retro interior is cozy (a bit dark, but that adds to it), and the grilled octopus justifies the price jump from the port grills. No alcohol license, so come for the food, not the wine. Best for a chilly evening when you want comfort and flavor.
- What to order
- At The Loft, an upscale Moroccan seafood restaurant, you can expect to pay an unspecified price for elevated seafood dishes, and see why it has a 4.3-star rating from 47 reviews. Order the grilled octopus (the dish everyone raves about), crab salad with avocado mousse, and the prawn and calamari pasta. The seafood here gets a Moroccan-meets-Mediterranean treatment that elevates the local catch without overcomplicating it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best seafood to eat in Essaouira?
Essaouira is famous for fresh sardines, shrimp, oysters, octopus, and a wide variety of Atlantic fish like sole, sea bream, and monkfish. Sardines grilled over charcoal are the most iconic Essaouira dish — cheap, fresh, and available everywhere near the port. Freshly shucked oysters at the port cost less than a euro each and are a must-try.
Is it safe to eat seafood from the Essaouira port grills?
Generally yes, millions of visitors eat at the port grills every year without issues. Choose stalls that look clean with high turnover. The fish market inside the medina is considered slightly more reliable than the open-air stalls near the parking lot. Some travelers recommend avoiding the grills closest to the medina entrance (higher prices, more hassle) and going to the ones inside the port itself.
How much does seafood cost in Essaouira?
Essaouira is one of the cheapest places in Morocco for seafood. A plate of grilled sardines at the port costs 30-50 MAD (about $3-5 USD). A full mixed seafood platter for two at the port grills runs 100-200 MAD. Sit-down restaurants range from 60-250 MAD per main course. Freshly shucked oysters at the port are 5-10 MAD each. Always agree on prices before ordering at the outdoor grills.
Where is the best place to buy fresh fish in Essaouira?
Two main options: the fishing port itself (where boats unload the morning catch) and the indoor fish market in the medina center (Marché aux Poissons). The port is cheaper and has the freshest selection early in the morning. The medina fish market is more convenient and has adjacent restaurants that will cook your purchase. At both, you can buy the fish raw and take it to a nearby grill.
What time should you go to the Essaouira fish port?
For the freshest selection, arrive at the fishing port between 7-9 AM when the boats come in with the morning catch. The port grills and market restaurants are busiest at lunch (12-2 PM). Late morning (10-11 AM) is a sweet spot — fresh fish is still available but the crowds haven't peaked yet. The port area is most atmospheric in the late afternoon light.
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