Top 6 Seafront Terraces and Restaurants in Essaouira and Sidi Kaouki
OUR HAND-PICKED SELECTION OF OCEAN-VIEW SPOTS TO ENJOY ESSAOUIRA AND SIDI KAOUKI FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Here is my personal selection, tested, approved, and often revisited, to make the most of the best sea-view terraces in Essaouira and Sidi Kaouki.
Le Panoramique
Le Panoramique lives up to its name. Located right by the beach, it offers a beautiful seafront terrace and a warm, slightly Ibiza-inspired décor where you instantly feel at ease.
It is the perfect place to relax while admiring Essaouira’s vast beach, with the medina stretching out in the distance. The beach itself is full of life: camels napping in the sand, kitesurfers getting ready to head out, children building sandcastles, and magnificent horses ridden by exceptional riders.
This is coastal Morocco at its best — vibrant yet deeply rooted in its cultural identity.
Service is impeccable: welcoming, smiling and attentive staff.
The menu is extensive, tasty, and available throughout the day. A true beach restaurant. No alcohol served.
My tip: We love coming here for breakfast, lounging on the sunbeds directly connected to the beach. One of the best breakfast menus in Essaouira, combining traditional Moroccan options with excellent brunch plates.
@panoramique.brunch
salut maroc
Salut Maroc is a boutique hotel in the medina that was entirely renovated over six years by Helen Howat, a British designer deeply in love with Essaouira.
From the moment you step inside, you know you are not in a generic, catalogue-style interior. The décor is an eclectic mix of vibrant colours and patterns inspired by Moroccan, Berber and Islamic art, with a touch of pop art. The furniture is carefully sourced, as one would expect from a place with such a strong design identity.
This is a truly unique address, one of the few in a city with an incredibly rich artistic energy.
Once the mood is set, you climb the stairs up to the rooftop restaurant, where an exceptional panoramic view awaits — overlooking the ocean and the entrance to the port. The space is arranged over several levels, adding real charm and respecting the traditional rhythm of medina architecture, made up of multiple small terraces at different heights.
The food? Delicious, creative dishes with bold flavours. Moroccan cuisine revisited, such as fish tagine with coconut milk or spiced spider crab gratin.
All of this unfolds in a joyful atmosphere, often accompanied by live music.
My tip: Best enjoyed in a small group. Check the weather, arrive early for sunset, and enjoy a cocktail as the light fades. Salut Maroc captures the very spirit of Essaouira.
@salutmaroc
Océan Vagabond
The seafront restaurant in Essaouira. The view is simply breathtaking: dunes, ocean, camels, kitesurfers… a magical setting that immediately sets the tone.
The style is effortlessly boho-chic, with no fuss — relaxed, simple and full of charm. The brasserie-style menu is varied and appeals to everyone. Efficient and satisfying.
Music plays throughout dinner, enhancing the experience, and around 9pm the DJ takes over, bringing an incredible energy that gets everyone dancing.
This is a place that perfectly combines good food, a friendly atmosphere and seaside celebration. A special mention for families: there is a dedicated play area and food options for children — rare, if not unique, in Essaouira.
A must during any stay in Essaouira if you’re looking for a lively evening with Atlantic vibes.
My tip: Ideal for a festive beachside evening with the family. Parents dance, children play, and everyone eats what they enjoy. A true family-friendly restaurant in Essaouira.
@oceanvagabond.essaouira
La Mouette et les Dromadaires
About one kilometre before reaching Sidi Kaouki beach, take the dirt track on the right — it’s signposted. The strength of La Mouette et les Dromadaires lies in its slightly off-the-beaten-path location, with uninterrupted sea views and a beautifully designed space that invites you to slow down and let time drift by.
You can relax, enjoy an aperitif, and have lunch or dinner thanks to a varied menu.
My tip: Perfect for organising a large family table, with space for children to play, or for enjoying sunset drinks and tapas to the sound of a great playlist or DJ set. Kids’ club during school holidays. @lamouetteetlesdromadaires
Chez Moustapha
Where to eat in Sidi Kaouki after a surf session or a long walk along the beach?
I’ll admit it, I’m not entirely objective when it comes to Moustapha. It’s often our go-to canteen after a productive morning at the office. But every time we take friends there, they love the place, the atmosphere, and the food.
Moustapha is a small restaurant on the “main square” of Sidi Kaouki, its lively heart, surrounded by other eateries, surf schools and small shops. The atmosphere is still very much Moroccan, far from the reassuring European codes found in Essaouira. That’s exactly what gives this place its charm.
It sits right by a stunning beach, with camels, surfers, Arabian horses and sun loungers. It’s lively, relaxed and welcoming — and it feels good to be received this way.
Moustapha offers simple, homemade food, typical of a Moroccan “snack”: affordable and authentic. Fresh fish grilled over charcoal, tagines, Moroccan salads, sandwiches, crêpes, excellent fresh juices, and even pasta for children. Open all day.
My tip: Spending a full day in Sidi Kaouki is a must. Depending on your activity, surf, quad biking, horse riding, walking, or simply relaxing, choose the right moment to stop for lunch at Moustapha.
La Cabane du Pêcheur
La Cabane du Pêcheur feels like a journey to the end of the world, Robinson Crusoe style. I don’t say that lightly.
The place is extraordinary, in that bold Moroccan way that dares to keep things simple. A camel-hair tent set between beach and dune, a basic yet perfectly adequate terrace, rugs, poufs and benches, and that’s it. The art of simplicity, focusing on what truly matters.
You are on a deserted stretch of beach, and that is precisely the magic of the place.
For food: fresh grilled fish following a Moroccan salad, and of course the iconic mint green tea. No frills, just the right product in the right place. From there, everyone creates their own story.
My tip: You can only claim to truly know authentic Morocco after eating at La Cabane du Pêcheur. You won’t be disappointed. Lunch or dinner with your feet in the sand, tasting something genuinely real.
Charming Hotel Riad Eucalyptus
A different way to savour the moment… without going anywhere.
Manager – Boutique Hotel Riad Eucalyptus, Essaouira