The 13 best beaches in and around Essaouira

Worth a stroll and a few photos, but don’t expect hidden treasures behind the walls.

Windy & beautiful

Perfect place to visit in Essaouira and also is for free

Good vibes and shops with a little wind

Historical breeze. Must visit

A historical place that makes one travel through time

Lovely historical walls. Easy to walk around and not ticketed, just open to all public. Lovely little stalls nearby too. It was quite busy at midday on a weekday, so if you want to avoid the crowds I’d say go early morning.

The oysters were and white wine weren’t not well chilled, the vegetables that were served with the fish are definitely cooked for couscous which was a bummer the fish was well cooked but the veggies ruined it. The service was average but that’s not the staff’s fault, they’re obviously overworked, I would say the place is under staffed, the only thing I didn’t like was that they said they can’t change my beer to Casablanca because of some system, that’s a lousy excuse. I would come back. Nice place with a lot of potentials, should focus on service. The band was good. Toilet was bit dirty.

A wonderful spot in the heart of Essaouira! I loved the stunning view, the beautiful design, and the excellent service. Truly a delightful experience with my family — I’ll definitely come back next year!

A good place to come for drinks just before Sunset, well located and spacious. If you come early enough you'll probably manage to get a good seat to chill and enjoy the view. Only 5 classic cocktails on the menu but a good choice of beers, wines and stronger beverages. We didn't get a chance to ear the live music but the guys were definitely getting ready for dinner time. At night it's a different ambience. You can ear the music blasting all around town until 2am during the week. Teenagers and young locals partying hard, half of them barely standing. Don't come if you expect the customers to be well behaved, it's like a student party in there, fun until you reach 25 y.o. Staff is very patient with drunks making a scene (pushing around, yelling, going shirtless..) 4 guys, one hour plus another half at the exit to deal with one who wouldn't cut it out. Just physically controlling him and asking him to leave. That's it. I've seen security guys smash some faces in about 5m for less than that...

We had the worst dining experience ever at this restaurant. The service was nothing short of terrible; the manager was extremely rude and dismissive throughout our visit. The fish we ordered was undercooked and apparentely served despite being raw in parts, which was very disappointing. It’s okay for a drink here, but definitely not for food. To make matters worse, they still charged us for the undercooked dish, which is unacceptable. Also, beware of the giant cockroaches crawling around the place — quite a disturbing sight. One more thing to watch out for is the manager with the fancy mustache; avoid any interaction with him if you don’t want to encounter more issues. Would not recommend this place for dinner at all!

got 2 old fashion and 2 Negroni less than 1/2 size of normal, but to a very high price. 540 MAD, So stupid of Taros, because we really liked the place, but left feeling overwhelmed by stupidity. :(

Sundowners & sunset vibes. A cool spot, on the more expensive side, but you get a breathtaking view of the sun dipping below the horizon.

Had a disgusting situation at this place when after waiting for more than one hour for my beer to be served and a few reminders in case they forgot, I just went to the bar and bought one, after finishing it after maybe another hour went for a dance and that's when the staff made a scene that I didn't pay for a beer (which has never been served to me in two hours), called the security on my, the director of the venue, which I thought would solve this mistake of his staff, but instead all cocky staff, bartenders together with security and the director teamed up (no surprise) and just started extorting 75 dirham for a beer which I never seen, and director made a clear point straight to my face, "they say you have to pay, so you have to pay, it's just 75 dirham", but for venue this size he surely couldn't accept the loss for a mistake of his staff, and after saying to him that in my opinion this little money they shouldn't risk a reputation for this place, I still have payed money, although for 100% I shouldn't have payed it, just to end the scene and let other people around us have a good time they deserved coming from all around the world to see this beautiful town of Essaouira. And that's how bartender's mistake became a scam real quick. Just because I was alone and didn't have a backup to my side, they felt it and took advantage of that. This is not a sum of money to rip my shirt off for arguing, it's just the principle of justice. I left immediately after that, they honestly ruined the vibe of the night for me, and left strong bitter taste for this place, which by the way is nice overall. Just doing what I have to do and letting people know that nice venue like this is still run by the people which not necessarily would match the face of the venue, so can expect your holiday night end up differently. By all means, I live Essaouira and it's atmosphere, and Gnawa music, place like this should not put a shadow on that, just choose another venue, which Essaouira have plenty to offer

We chose this restaurant because of the nice reviews. The service personnel were very friendly and kind, the place is cute and comfortable. But on the meals I’ve had something to say. My pasta had something unusual for a Bolognese ragú. The garlic was the strongest taste of all, followed by a big amount of parsley and really overcooked rigatoni. The pasta with melanzane e ricotta was better but nothing special. 5stars for the olives as sides. 40€ with antipasti and drinks it’s a little bit too much for what we got.

We stumbled upon this place by chance and absolutely loved it! The vibe is cozy and comfortable, with super friendly service. We especially enjoyed watching the chef at work and seeing everything made fresh. The gnocchi, tortellini, and pasta were all delicious – and the olives served on the side were a real highlight. Honestly the best Italian food we had in Essaouira – we liked it so much we went back a second time. Definitely recommend!

Thoroughly enjoyed the aubergine parmigiana. It needed salt but I never mind adding salt. My partner had the fruits di mare and the seafood was fresh especially the tender and succulent calamari. Sardine balls? Never heard of them were a wonderful starter that I'll never forget. Finally my main crab ravioli. "Mama Mia!" Great parcels perfect firmness and freshness. And my birthday dessert. Wait a minute.... Wow! Panna cotta. All washed down with the lovely Nero D'Avola.

While visiting Morocco last week, I had the pleasure of enjoying diner here. Everything was excellent. The wine, the food, the service, the atmosphere. What a delightful evening. The wine recommendation was excellent. The portions were very generous. I recommend spaghetti bolognese, pizza, and crab ravioli…… and of course the wine…… and it is easy to find in the Medina.

Lovely cosy restaurant! We had the eggplant & ricotta pasta and the bolognaise. Was delicious. The lady cooked the pasta to perfection! Was fresh and hot. Great restaurant. Lovely customer service. Definitely recommend!

If you want a delicious pizza in the heart of the medina, head here. Made in an authentic pizza oven, they are just delicious. The pasta looked amazing too. Generous glasses of wine. Would definitely recommend if you are in the mood for Italian. Cash only.

Very subpar Italian food, came here cause it got recommended in the lonely Planet. It's semi cheap, so that's nice, service was fast. But I've had better pizzas from the freezer to be honest. Undercooked, bland, boring

Incredibly cozy spot perfect for a brunch, located in the beautiful streets of a essaouira . The food is incredible, healthy and with vegetarian options, offering a wide variety of sweet and savory options. Their smoothies were also incredible. Other than the food the coffee was AMAZING. If you are like us and are an avid coffee enthusiast make sure to drop by. And of course special thanks to the staff who were exceptionally helpful and welcoming

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mandala and I can honestly say it’s one of the best healthy restaurants I’ve visited in a long time. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt fresh, clean, and welcoming — a perfect reflection of the food they serve. The menu is packed with nutrient-rich, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and there’s a great balance between flavor and health. I ordered tofu salad- it was absolutely delicious and left me feeling satisfied, not stuffed. My partner had the fish burger, which was hearty and packed with flavour without being overwhelming. What really stood out was the attention to detail: fresh herbs, vibrant produce, and generous portions without excess. Even the drinks were impressive — the green juice and turmeric ginger shot gave a nice energy boost without being too sweet. Service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive.

Beautiful little cafe on the main street through the medina. This place opened earlier than a lot of other cafes so a good place to go for a vegan breakfast. I was disaplointed that they had sold out of most of their tea blends but the avocado toast was delicious.

Delicious food. I got the salmon bagel it was so yummy, and not too heavy. I also got the matcha smoothie and it was incredible. Friendly service as well.

Amazing food, very fresh. Friendly staff and very fast! All together very good, just a bit pricier then local food, but totally worth it. There are also vegan and vegetarian options.

Really yummy coffee, and breakfast. Would definitely recommend. Especially the coffee- was the best so far in Morocco. Higher prices but with corresponding quality

What a beautiful place! The matcha is so good, the best i've ever had. The employees were so nice and the whole place has such a lovely atmosphere :) They have oat milk and almond milk alternatives for anyone who wants it as well, and they also serve food. Thanks for such a delicious coffee!

(Translated by Google) Closed for work (Original) Fermé pour travaux

(Translated by Google) A space that houses a unique and exceptional collection. I highly recommend visiting it (Original) Un espace qui abrite une collection unique et exceptionnelle. Je recommande vivement de le visiter

(Translated by Google) Closed for work according to traders because there is no signage. (Original) Fermé pour travaux d'après les dires des commerçants car aucun affichage.

(Translated by Google) Magnificent, the wealth of our country!!! (Original) Magnifique, la richesse de notre pays !!!

I had a wonderful experience at this beachfront restaurant. The location is absolutely stunning, with breathtaking views of the sea and a lovely island just across the horizon — the perfect backdrop for a relaxing meal. The ambiance is serene and refreshing, making it an ideal spot to unwind, especially during sunset. The staff “Specially MOHAMMED”was welcoming and attentive, and the service was smooth throughout. The food was delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. Whether you’re coming for a quiet lunch or a romantic evening dinner, this place is a hidden gem on the coast. Highly recommended!

Really beautiful place if you like sunset then I highly recommend it It's better to book before coming.. The place is really big and there are many tables.. but it can be crowded sometimes. Despite that, it is a quiet place. 🚧Note they have pork in some recipes.

We only stopped as had seen great reviews. It’s not a beach club but a gorgeous restaurant. We only had drinks and most tables were booked up for food that looked amazing. Worth booking in advance.

I didn’t like this place at all. The service was very slow, and the staff were not friendly. The food came cold and didn’t taste good. It’s also too expensive for what you get. The restaurant looks nice, but the quality is really bad. I would not go back or recommend Ocean Vagabond to anyone.

Beautiful views, delicious food, and relaxing vibes. Try their pizza and shrimp 🍤, we also had the croquettes. I highly recommend this place - it also has live music to add to the ambience. Easy street parking.

Lovely scenic restaurant to relax and eat after a long walk along the coast. I decided to stop here at Ocean Vagabond. I had the 4 fromages pizza and Aperol Spritz, what can I say the pizza was delicious 😋 and the waiting staff were friendly and the service was very good.

A must go to for an Essaouira visit. Best sunset spot. Drinks are reasonably priced and pizza is a super delicious flat crust style. Definitely recommend the Kefta one. Service is phenomenal but the best part is the ocean side camels and horses right outside the window. Live music. Great atmosphere. This place has everything I’ve ever wanted!

Please allow not to review the Essaouira Supratours office itself (though my experience was pleasant enough). No, I want to draw your attention to this inconspicuous street vendor right outside the the office (which does not have a cafe or snack machine). The best (and by far cheapest!) coffee in Essouaria I got from this gentleman who sits there all day long and serves all bus departures. I admit I am certainly a coffee nerd and was a bit worried how on earth I would survive the bus ride to Marrakech without a good cup of the dark brew. (The bus makes a comfort stop at a bar/restaurant after about an hour and I had another cup there, however that coffee was best forgotten instantly.) But this expresso-like coffee, hot and dark and strong, was utterly delightful and bigger than a double espresso. So if you like espressos: here sits your barista and waits for you. Highly recommended. شكرا جزيلا لك، وبارك الله فيك وفي عائلتك. So thank you very much, and may God bless you and your family.

Supratour is a great option to travel between Marrakech and Essaouira but if possible buy your ticket a day or two ahead of your travel day because some bus time slot book up early

Can buy any Supratours bus or train ticket here. There was no waiting (at 3pm). I did need to use my phone to find the train I wanted tickets for. The young man behind the counter was having trouble finding it. It took a while, but I ended up with the correct ticket. Heads up: they only accept cash.

"Excellent transportation service! Everything was well organized and on time, which made the whole experience smooth and stress-free. The team was professional and very helpful. I highly recommend their services! 🚐✨"

Bus was ok, on time, and driver driving safely. However in this specific office (essaouria) the agents were extremely slow, talking to locals for minutes - chit chatting about nothing - instead of serving people which should be their work…

Great service from the staff and Easy to find the agency in the city just by walking. Also Near the city center. All of the staff offer Professional services The bus was Very clean and comfortable and was On-time during the trip. Recommended 💯

Nicely surprised by the service they provided. We took two trips from marakech to agadir and from essauoira to marakech. Both were decent.

Stayed here last week in a private room with a friend. The location is fantastic, 20 mins walk to the Medina and opposite the beach. The staff were super friendly and welcoming. They even sorted out my taxi issue on the last day for me You could see the other guests were happy to interact with others too. The views from the terrace are beautiful Breakfast was a fab selection for a typical Moroccan breakfast My only issues were that the bathroom we had could do with a deep clean. I went and had a look at the communal showers and they were in better condition than ours. I'm sure we paid more for it. Private room so would have thought the bathroom would have been cleaner The beds aren't that comfy but if you're only there for a few days it's fine Noise is an issue. We could hear the music from the terrace in the evening and as people walked and slammed doors on their way up or down. Not ideal for a light sleeper

My favourite hostel in Morocco. Location is easily accessible to the Medina but has an amazing beach location. Dorm are clean, have good lockers and bed curtains. Lastly, the staff is unparalleled, really the sweetest humans - makes the hostel a great social atmosphere all around!

My sister was there last year solo for Gnaoua Festival 27 June to 30 but merged with group mixed with men and women different nationalities. She can not complain about hostel but she was set upon by a Moroccan in the group she merged with she remember an angel T-shirt with mouth full of cigarettes she told me he is married but she came back from this trip pregnant by this man as his charms was to much they called him Moh I would like to wish him congratulations you have a baby girl I hope you tell you wife.

Awesome property, Incredulous setting,location,facilities and all team members were exemplary. Positive can do attitude evident throughout & as a consequence have extended my stay as nothing can surpass my experience here touring Morroco. Special mention to David your host I am an expereienced hotelier and he has given me "wow factors" memories not expereienced in 4/5 star hotels over the years re customer service. Breakfast is substantial, themed dinner nights,cookery classes,excursions,quality en-suite dorms with shower ( grab the sole dorm on the terrace) sunset /sunrises to die for when you walk out your room Trust me, if you wish a quality experience, tranquillity, sun,are a foodie, lose yourself meandering through the Medina, the Port, beach daily till 5pm etc in 25°C here in Essaouira in January.....blows Marakesh out the water. Atm,cafes,restaurants, liqour store, pop ups, beach, all within max 2/3/4mins of front door. Tips. Hail a passing blue cab even if occupied they will take you anywhere in the city/town for 80p !... Wrap up after 17.30, head up to the roof top or terrace with your Shiraz/Chardonnay( be discreet) & sample heaven/paradise in contrast to the UK in the winter.

I've got to say what a fantastic hostel, I'm not going to say a bad word about it because there's nothing bad to say, and I'm being honest ,it's the best hostel I've stayed in and there's been plenty, congratulations Essaouira Beach hostel your the best by a mile of the rest 👏 .the guy on the front desk David from the USA is a quality guy absolutely 💯 % i was stuck with no money or cards and he let me stay in his hostel until my card got back up and running and he never once ask me how long he got to wait for me to pay my bill in fact i had to ask him how much i owed him he's the best host any travelers could wish for ,thankyou dave it was a pleasure meeting you much appreciated ❤️

Hostel under new management and they forced all guests to leave with no prior warning at 7pm due to ‘safety’ concerns. Shambles of a hostel, avoid.

great hostel!!! super close to the beach, 15 min to the Medina, coffee shops and restaurants within 3 minutes staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is great rooms are nice with several lockers, enough storage space, black curtains kitchen and fridge can be used during the day staff keeps the hostel clean rooftop has two floors and is beautiful to hang out and watch the sunset beds are comfortable, bedding is provided and towels can be borrowed as well extra space to hang up wet clothes etc. every Friday there's a free couscous party with traditional Moroccan music had a really great stay

Great stay at Mohammed's place in Essaouira. The apartment was clean, comfortable, and in a perfect location. Mohammed was a helpful and friendly host. Highly recommend!

I had a very nice experience in one of these apartments, we had everything we needed, the location was exceptional and the apartment was unbelievably clean. Highly recommended!!

Great experience ! The apartment was clean and well-maintained, and Mr. mohammed was incredibly polite and helpful. Highly recommend !

The apartment looks great, the place here is safe and quiet, and you will find everything you need with a touch of the local culture and decor of the city, I recommend it.

There are many choices, some are okay some are good, also Mahmoud is very friendly and helpful, I was satisfied in the 3 days I stayed, will definitely come back inchallah

A comfortable and quiet stay.

It’s the place to be at. A good location and a nice set up for the house. You will definitely have a lovely stay and you will enjoy the beauty of the city.

While the camel sand horses end of the beach is certainly not for sunbathing, it clearly has a magic flair during sun set

At low tide this immense stretch of sand is used for exercise and walking and provides a great place to take in the views of Essaouria from the Port to the dunes. Later there are camel rides, quads and many other activities including police patrols on horseback.

eautiful beach! but it is also a dumping ground for dirt like: bottles, pampers, plastic bags, and lots of other waste that people leave on the sand!! English Google To Hindi To Spanish English-Spanish Voice DeepL Write To French Search Results Translation result French English beautiful beach! but it is also a dumping ground for dirt like: bottles, pampers, plastic bags, and lots of other waste that people leave on the sand! As long as Morocco does not understand that it is essential to keep its beaches clean, its animals cared for and respected, there will be a lot of people hesitating to come visit .

The beach felt overcrowded in every direction. It’s still interesting and you can surely find space but the overwhelming amount of horses and dromedary with their masters all around felt a bit too much. They are very competitive between each other to get clients and there was even quite an unpleasant and vivid fight between the “chameliers” while a young family was in their care, on the animals. April being the windy season, there were a lot of kite surfers and it added to the colorful look of the beach.

Pretty nice beach. Sandy and fairly shallow entry. Relatively clean. If one is into camel or horse ride, these are available (personally, I felt that the animals there are often abused and can’t support these activities). Close to a few restaurants and the Medina. Overall, worth a visit.

A tremendous sandy beach in front of the islands. It can be very windy. Great spot for kitesurf, surf and windsurfing. Great for horse and camel ride. One of the best place to see Incredible sunsets

Nice beach for activities. Parking for 10 Dirhams, ATV, horse an camel ride offers. A bit trashy. Good for kitesurfing, but might be up to 5m shore break wave.

Cute riad not far from the medina (about 10-15 mins walk), and with a view of the sea. Shower is completely dark as the bathroom itself is very very dim and once you close the shower curtain there is no light in the shower 😓 Unfortunately the restaurant upstairs was closed during our stay. We had breakfast by the pool. Overall a decent stay.

Absolutely horrendous experience!! Moldy stinky room!! Rude owner! Overpriced food!!Broken TV! We booked a standard double room for 7 nights with breakfast included. When we arrived, the room smelled so strongly of bleach. We assumed that it was because they had just cleaned the floors. The TV had one side of the screen that was broken and showing just white and black. We informed the reception right away. They said they would send a technician to fix it immediately. The technician wouldn’t be coming to check it for another 3 days. After the smell of bleach wore off, the room started to smell so strongly of sewage and mold. On the third night, even when keeping the bathroom door closed we couldn’t sleep with how strong the smell was. We had to keep the windows wide open the whole night, in January! After that as soon as you enter the room, a terrible smell of mold and sewage hits you straight away, even when the room window is left wide open. We noticed that there were mold spots on the ceiling of the bathroom, and that the only ventilation hole in the bathroom was shut. On the fourth day, we complained to the hotel staff and asked to change rooms. The owner’s wife said they know about the mold issue. We were shown multiple other rooms that had the same issue of bathroom ventilation. So we asked to be partially compensated for the mold issue and the broken TV. The owner categorically refused and told us « What do you expect having paid for the cheapest room in the hotel?! You even have breakfast included! There will be no compensation! You can switch rooms, but you will not get compensation » (We paid over 60€ per night, in Morocco! So not exactly dirt cheap). I asked him « How about the 3 nights we already spent breathing in mold. And the broken TV », he replied « That’s your problem! If no one else complained. Then there’s no mold. And if you had informed us about the TV we would have fixed it ». After telling him that we did complain on the very first day, he just shrugged us off. We also asked him multiple times to come up to the room and check it for himself, and he refused every time. After a lot of back and forth, I realized we weren’t gonna get anywhere with him, so I walked away and left my husband talking to him. My husband told him that we would have appreciated any small gesture to make up for the issue. But he just shook his head and said there won’t be any. About 30min later they sent someone up to the room to fix the TV. The person came back down shortly afterwards saying that there’s nothing wrong with the TV. When we went up to check, the right side of the screen was still broken. A little bit later, my husband was downstairs, and the owner came and started screaming at him saying « Why did you and your wife lie to me and say that the TV was broken when it wasn’t?! ». He asked him to come up to the room and check it for himself, which he of course refused again, saying « I have been doing this job for years and never ran into anything like this!! And now I will do to you the same thing that your wife did, and walk away and leave you standing. » Side note: if you do end up going to this place (although I wouldn’t recommend it). Don’t bother with the à la carte menu. It’s pretty overpriced for Essaouira. We had the fish platter and it was pricey and pretty terrible (the seafood was super chewy, the rest of the platter was nothing special) You can see the mold spots on the pictures, although believe me, it smelled a lot worse than it looked. You can also see the broken TV that they claimed there was nothing wrong with.

Affordable price, and very welcoming people. The breakfast is okey. But lunch and dinner are overpriced. There is already a parking and a swimming pool.

Overpriced and underwhelming! Owner is very rude and condescending. I would not recommend the restaurant or lodging to anyone.

Excellent Riad ! Riad Zahra is a perfect place to stay... Amazing service & friendly owners Thank you Mr. Xavier🙏

Cheap and cheerful! Great location. We only stayed for a night and didn’t dine, but food looked great. Walking distance from the beach and medina. Staff were friendly, nice pool area. Room was a bit bland but can’t complain to be honest. Interior of Riad was decorative! Would for sure stay again and recommend to a friend!

Nice and elegant riad. The owners and the staff are warm, polite and helpful. The riad is situated very close to beach and a place, where horse and camel riding is offered. The only disadvantage during our stay was the unpleasant smell both in the lobby area as well as in the room and bathroom. Probably there was a smell of detergents, but it was disturbing.

(Translated by Google) An area for marine vessels to enter, and there is also an area for selling fish wholesale and retail. (Original) منطقة لدخول المراكب البحرية و توجد بها كدلك منطقة لبيع الاسماك بالجملة و التقسيط

Amazing beach especially during the sunset time, you can ride, quads, camels and horses also learn to surf as there are many people who provide these services. Get healthy juice on the way and there are good restaurants nearby. The only inconvenience there are the dogs, some of them aren’t friendly and the province should do something about it.

Windy & nice beach. Very very busy in Aug. You can get cheap beds and use them all day long just be aware there are some charges for toilets. The showers on the beach were great however it seems only certain tourists were being charged to use - one to be aware of. Waves big, lots of fun.

Very wide beach with great views of crashing sea waves along the rocky beach. There are also sandy stretches for beach goers to enjoy a pleasant picnic or stroll along the beach. The castle is especially noted for the scene in Game of Thrones, so it is a popular tourist photo spot. Plenty of seagulls winging their way through the breezy wind. Locals and tourists can enjoy the seafood at stalls near the beach.

Large, beautiful beach with few people on it. You have to walk inside the sea a lot to swim as the slop is very gentle. Be careful of the tide. It can come fast and wet your belongings if you're not careful.

I lived it, beautiful coastline with unique little island structures still intact, little windy but I had a beautiful walk

Gorgeous place with plenty of tourists from around the world. Wish i spent more time here

Strong Winds and Ideal Water Sports: Essaouira Beach is known for its strong and steady trade winds, making it an ideal destination for windsurfing and kitesurfing. * Stunning Natural Beauty: The beach boasts soft golden sand and clear blue waters, overlooking the historic island of Mogador. * A Calm and Relaxing Atmosphere: Unlike some other Moroccan beaches, Essaouira Beach has a more relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, making it ideal for families and individuals seeking relaxation. * Proximity to the Enchanting Old Town: The beach is located close to Essaouira's old medina (walled city), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, allowing visitors to easily explore the history and culture of the region. * Diverse Activities: In addition to water sports and relaxation, visitors can enjoy horse or camel rides along the beach, long walks along the promenade, and fresh seafood at seaside restaurants.