7 Best Restaurants in The Southern Atlantic Coast, Morocco

Set among gorgeous gardens and featuring a menu of local produce, Dar Zitoune is worth the visit from Taroudant. Serving a refined Mediterranean-style menu, it's a favorite with locals as well as with passing tour groups. Sit outside under citrus trees or inside in the large dining room and make the most of the opportunity to eat steak tartare or a Roquefort cheese–and-endive salad. The staff is courteous and speaks English well.  Reserve in advance, especially for special dishes such as couscous, mechoui (spit-roast lamb), or pastilla.

This chic eatery, formerly Le P'tit Dôme (and still sometimes referred to as such), offers an impressive menu of Moroccan specialties and local seafood, with a large Moroccan and French wine list—champagne included—to boot. Sit on the terrace or in the black-and-white dining room. All bread is freshly baked on the premises.

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.

Come to this Moroccan restaurant for a selection of tagines with flavor combinations you don't often find, such as tagine of beef with honey and dried fruits or saffron chicken with almonds. It has an excellent selection of seafood dishes and desserts, along with a selection of Morocco's finest wines. The dark-wood decor is highlighted by colorful lanterns. 

Often overlooked in favor of the smaller, lounge-style restaurants farther along the street, Le Mogadorien has a similar menu but a lot more style, with decor that reflects Essaouira's Amazigh, Arab, Jewish, and Christian heritage and gives you a choice of low-slung Moroccan salon seats or regular chairs and tables. Chef Najiba prepares a range of Moroccan classics and local seafood. The vegetarian tagine features no less than eight vegetables; ask for it with tfaya (caramelized onions and raisins) for an authentic twist. Alcohol is not served.

Moroccan cooking comes with a twist at this French-run restaurant; for example, fish tagines are made with pears, apples, or prunes. The small tables are set around a large, starry lantern, and the deep-red walls, white muslin, and candles create a romantic atmosphere, although it's a little too dark for gazing into each other's eyes. There is a decent list of local wines.

Located in Tamraght, a small surf village 15 km (9 miles) north of Agadir, this oasis of mostly plant-based and wellness-oriented foods is an unconventional experience for Morocco. The bright space is decorated with traditional artifacts and plants, and the menu consists of vegan breakfasts, gluten-free pancakes and pizzas, rice bowls, and vegan and fish tacos with homemade harissa. Recently Ismael, the owner, has opened a second dining room and added meat dishes to the menu, reflecting his experiences traveling and living in Australia.