3 Best Restaurants in The Southern Atlantic Coast, Morocco

Umia

$$$$ Fodor's choice

Tucked away along the skala, this chic restaurant is a real treat, offering a daily changing menu—prepared in an open kitchen—that blends seasonal and local ingredients with French savoir faire. The airy restaurant draws in a clientele of expats and tourists with its muted dove grays, glossy white furniture, and quirky art touches, such as a gorgeous Gnaoua mural. Be sure to try the goat cheese from a women's co-op in nearby Meskala; you also can't miss the chocolate fondant with salted caramel ice cream.

22 bis, rue de la Skala, Essaouira, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco
0524-78–33–95
Known For
  • chocolate fondant
  • good service
  • sleek minimalist decor

L'Eden

$$$

The French-style cuisine here draws mainly from what's fished fresh out of the sea each morning but changes regularly according to the chef's suggestion. The restaurant's panoramic views of the beach and the sea are an added plus, as is the great-value lunch menu. Located at the southern end of the beach, among the strip of resort hotels, it attracts locals, too, thanks to the French wine and pastries.

Platinium

$ | Quartier des Dunes

A few blocks east of the beach is one of the city's best cafés, where excellent salads, pasta, pizza, and meat and fish dishes are served all day. Breakfasts come in European or Moroccan style. During Ramadan, the ftour (the meal to break the fast) is particularly good value. Otherwise, just come by for a nous-nous (half milk, half coffee) and watch the world go by.

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