36 Best Restaurants in Tangier and the Mediterranean, Morocco

The hugely popular Café Clock company has arrived in a cool blue riad in Chefchaouen. It comes with the same relaxed vibe as its counterparts in Fez and Marrakesh, as well as menu favorites like the camel burger and a wide variety of vegetarian dishes. It's much more than just your standard café, with a range of cultural programs, sessions featuring Riffian musicians, as well as cooking classes with the chef, including bread baking and patisserie. 

Fresh, simply grilled fish and other seafood reign supreme here, along with several resort-style bars placed strategically around the two terraces and captain's cabin–style interior. There is a large selection of Moroccan wines on offer, with Guerrouane being a good bet. The house salads are well prepared and can be made to suit the size of your party. The views of the bay and local fishing boats from the outdoor tables are stunning, and in the evening you can buy your fish straight off the boat and have it cooked to your liking.

For authentic Moroccan cuisine at great-value prices, look no further than this small, family-run restaurant. Dine in the cozy salon or at one of the pavement tables, and choose from an array of brochettes, tagines, pastillas, and briouates (stuffed pastries).

In 1931, an American architect renovated a kasbah mansion and turned it into El Morocco Club. Today it's three venues in one: a sophisticated restaurant serving a fusion of Mediterranean and Moroccan cuisine, a pretty café terrace, and a seductively lit piano bar. The restaurant menu features fare such as foie gras, seafood couscous, and lemon meringue pie. The café terrace, located under a century-old fig tree, offers more affordable salads and sandwiches and is an excellent choice for a leisurely lunch.

Overlooking Villa Mabrouka’s gorgeous gardens and the sparkling Mediterranean, the alfresco L’Orangerie is one of Tangier’s finest—and most romantic—restaurants. Market-fresh fish and shellfish dominate the Mediterranean-influenced dinner menu—perhaps half a dozen oysters or a platter of fruits de mer. You can also indulge in succulent steaks, classic Italian dishes, or traditional tagines. Make time for an aperitif in the Roof Terrace Bar or a postprandial in the seductively lit Jake’s Bar in the main villa. Reservations required for nonguests.

At Asilah's finest restaurant, the sophisticated menu is largely French, with a dash of Asian and Moroccan. A chalkboard highlights the daily specials—perhaps John Dory, crab, or roasted poussin (young chicken); there are great-value two- and three-course prix-fixe menus, too. Pair it with an excellent Moroccan wine or cocktail, and don't miss rounding off a meal with an irresistible dessert. Dine on the terrace in balmy weather; inside it's decorated in warm tones, with dark-wood furniture and white linen tablecloths.

At this iconic, cash-only restaurant, the menu and the price are fixed, so just sit down and prepare to enjoy four courses, designed to be shared by the table. The main event is always the catch of the day—perhaps St. Pierre, dorado, or sole. The dessert might be strawberries (in season) with almonds, smothered in local honey. You'll be served special fruit juice, infused with flowers, cloves, and other secret ingredients, and a souvenir earthenware dish is usually part of the price.

This traditional Spanish restaurant serves up time-honored treats, including Pata Negra ham, beef croquettes in Pedro Ximénez sauce, and mouthwatering meats fresh from the grill–T-bones and other cuts are sold by the kilo. Dine inside the stone-walled restaurant, with its tiled floors, dark-beamed ceilings, and white linen tablecloths, or on the shaded terrace.

Overlooking the Bay of Tangier, chef-owner Nora Larini’s eclectic menu mixes up Moroccan, Mediterranean, and Asian flavors to great effect. Expect dishes such as Dakhla oysters, magret de canard, seafood paella, and sushi rolls; carnivores can tuck into succulent charcoal-grilled steak. The decor is contemporary and neutral; think white marble, pale wood, and polished concrete, while floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of the views. During the day it has a beach-chic vibe—it's particularly gorgeous at golden hour, while after dark candlelight and a DJ sets the mood until late.

This light, bright ocean-facing restaurant serves up delicious fish and seafood, perhaps squid, swordfish, or oysters from Oualidia. It’s a 10-minute walk from the medina but worth it for the expertly prepared dishes, such as clams in white wine sauce, seafood linguine, and grilled sole (steaks and burgers are also an option). This cool space is filled with contemporary art; there's a jazz soundtrack, too. 

The tiled dining room in this Spanish-run hotel is one of the city's best dining options. The  Moroccan-Mediterranean menu includes chicken pastilla and lamb couscous, as well as Spanish fish croquettes and garlic shrimp. And you can wash your meal down with Moroccan wine or a cold beer. Eat on the roof terrace for panoramic views over the city, or enjoy a predinner drink at sunset.

Tuck in as you watch the world go by on the buzzy Place Outa el Hammam, from the front-row seating or the airy terrace. All the Moroccan classics are on the menu—the veggie tagine is particularly popular—along with pizza and fresh pasta from the Italian chef. There are plenty of vegan-friendly and gluten-free dishes, too, including couscous. Those with a sweet tooth should try the Nutella crepe.

The decor of this cute café-restaurant reflects Tangier’s mix of cultures. The chef only makes a handful of main dishes a day depending on market finds—perhaps briouates (small pastries stuffed with meat or cheese) or kebabs—and when they're gone, they're gone. Be sure to wash your meal down with a seasonal fresh juice. You can dine anywhere across the three floors, from the cozy ground floor to the relaxed roof terrace. 

West of the Kasbah, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, and set up on seven levels plunging toward the sea, this laid-back cliff café and Tangier institution opened in 1921 and soon became the favorite sunset-watching haunt of locals and bohemian visitors. Waiters impressively deliver 16 steaming cups of sweet tea at a time, along with bowls of bissara (traditional pea soup). 

Tucked behind the main square and popular with both locals and visitors, Chefchaouen’s first female-owned restaurant has a menu that showcases traditional dishes made with the freshest ingredients. Dine alfresco under an awning; don’t miss the kefta tagine or the fluffy seven-vegetable couscous. You may have to go more than once.

In a prime spot next to the Cap Spartel Lighthouse, this popular restaurant has a sweeping terrace to take in the views. Its wide-ranging menu includes paninis and sweet and savory crepes, as well as salads and fresh fish. Try to time your visit for the stunning sunset.

It's all about the bird's-eye views over the main square from the three-story riad's terraces here, as the food can be hit or miss. Tagines are the best bet, or stick to a mint tea and pastries.

Locals and visitors alike flock to this marine-theme, Spanish-style seafood restaurant for no-nonsense fresh fish, paella, and seafood. The terrace is a nice place to linger over a bottle of Moroccan wine. On weekends, large families join tables banquet-style, so book ahead, especially on Sunday.

Open for lunch and dinner, this laid-back restaurant is difficult to find but well worth the search. Abdou himself, a rare and well-loved Tangier personality, serves up some of the freshest fish, simplest salads, and most perfect paella in the area. You can choose to sit indoors or at a table in the sandy maze of colorful and leafy outdoor spaces that lead out to a fine sandy beach sprinkled with tiny shells and beach umbrellas for hire. The best dishes here are the simply prepared fresh seafood plates. Take the first right about 30 feet after the rotary that puts you on Route de Rabat (N1) and at the near end of the Diplomatic Forest. If you see the Club de Tir, you've gone too far.

Located within the Minzah Hotel, El Korsan serves traditional Moroccan cuisine in sumptuous style. Specialties include succulent mechoui (roasted lamb or mutton) and slow-cooked tagines, often served to a soundtrack of Andalusian music. The service is attentive, and the decor is classic Moroccan opulence.

The sleek café-restaurant of renowned French pastry chef Eric Kayser serves up an array of French goodies such as baguettes, melt-in-your-mouth croissants, pain au chocolat, mille-feuille, and choux buns. Marvel at the elaborate displays, then grab a decadent cake and a coffee, relax, and people-watch.

Front-row seating can be had at the pavement tables of this café smack bang in the middle of the Petit Socco. It's a good place to catch your breath with a coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice as you watch an intriguing cast of characters wander past.

This fabled café has been gracing a corner of the buzzy Place de France since 1927, and its brown leather seats, wood paneling, and mirrors galore will make you feel like you're back in the 1950s with William Burroughs (he wrote here) or in The Bourne Ultimatum (a scene was filmed here). The terrace is the perfect place to watch the world go by over an orange juice or café au lait.

Since 1920 this Larache landmark has occupied a prime spot on the main square. Inside, it's all Art Deco splendor with towering columns, gilded chandeliers, and a grand piano; or you can grab a terrace table, perfect for people-watching over a breakfast of French or Moroccan pastries and perhaps a pizza in the evening.

Built into the Kasbah’s thick ramparts, La Muralla is a maze of dining spaces, from the stone-walled dining room to cozy private nooks and a rooftop terrace that spreads over four levels, with stunning medina views. Chef Pedro Castillo’s menu is a medley of Moroccan, Mediterranean, and Asian flavors—the beef fillet with truffled mushroom sauce is always a good choice—or opt for tapas or sushi paired with a creative cocktail; there’s a good wine list, too. In summer, a DJ is on hand to create a party atmosphere.

This great-value restaurant, with its carved-wood chairs, colorful banquettes, and bare stone walls, is one of the top choices in town for Moroccan dishes full of home-cooked flavor. House specialties include regional favorites such as bissara (fava bean soup) and hearty tagines, as well as plenty of options for vegetarians. If you're with a group, you can order lots of dishes and share them, family-style. 

Homecooked Italian meets authentic Moroccan at this bright and breezy restaurant, with showstopping views over the medina and the Corniche from the three terraces, especially at sunset. Tuck into generous portions of freshly made pasta (the owner hails from Italy): perhaps gnocchi with pesto or tagliatelle with shrimps, and creative salads. And don’t miss the tiramisu.

For a quick snack, head to this no-nonsense tapas bar near La Plaza Nuestra Señora de Africa. Try the insalata russo (a Spanish take on the Russian Salade Olivier), a Spanish tortilla (a mix between an omelet and potato pancake), or some Serrano ham with bread.

Take a break from tagines and head to this popular restaurant just outside the medina. Pizza and pasta are the mainstays of the menu, but they also serve meat dishes and good-size salads. Be sure to save room for the sinful chocolate fondant.