2-day itinerary

2-Day Essaouira Food Itinerary — Port Grills and Argan Oil

Essaouira is a breezy Atlantic fishing town inside a fortified UNESCO medina, where blue boats unload the day's catch and the surrounding hills are the heartland of argan oil. Two days lets you eat from the port grills to the medina spice stalls and the argan cooperatives.

City: Essaouira
Length: 2 days
Style: Day-by-day eating plan

The plan, day by day

Follow it in order, morning to night — each day builds on the last.

Day 1 — The Port and the Fortified Medina

1

Morning

Breakfast on msemen with amlou (the local argan, almond and honey spread) and mint tea on a café terrace off Moulay Hassan square.
2

Late morning

Walk to the fishing port beneath the Skala du Port, watching the blue boats land sardines, sea bream and conger eel.
3

Lunch

Pick your fish from the quayside grill stalls and have it barbecued fresh, served with bread and a tomato-onion salad.
4

Afternoon

Explore the medina's spice and craft souks, tasting olives and buying ras el hanout and thuya-wood spice boxes.
5

Evening

Dinner of a seafood tagine or grilled sardines at a restaurant near Bab Doukkala, with gnaoua music drifting from the alleys.

Day 2 — Argan, Ramparts and a Seaside Feast

1

Morning

Visit a women's argan cooperative on the edge of town to see the nuts hand-cracked and pressed into oil and amlou.
2

Late morning

Walk the Skala de la Ville ramparts with their old cannons and Atlantic views before the wind picks up.
3

Lunch

Try a plate of freshly grilled prawns and calamari at a medina seafood spot.
4

Afternoon

Take mint tea and almond briouats at a rooftop café overlooking the ramparts and the sea.
5

Evening

End with a long seafood dinner — a whole grilled fish with chermoula and a bowl of Essaouira's saffron-scented fish soup.

Practical tips

At the port grills, check the fish is weighed and priced before it hits the grill to keep the bill fair.
Amlou — argan, almond and honey — is Essaouira's signature spread; buy a jar from a cooperative rather than a tourist shop.
Essaouira is windy year-round (locals call it the Wind City), so bring a layer even for a sunny lunch by the sea.
Buy pure argan oil only from a labelled women's cooperative to be sure it's the real, food-grade product.
To arrange a guided food walk with a local host, message WhatsApp wa.me/212701664704, call +212 701 664 704, or email info@serenitymoroccotours.com.

Frequently asked questions

What food is Essaouira famous for?

Ultra-fresh grilled seafood straight off the boats — sardines, sea bream, prawns and calamari — plus argan oil and amlou from the surrounding hills. The port grills are the town's signature experience.

What is amlou?

Amlou is a rich spread of ground roasted almonds, argan oil and honey, eaten with bread at breakfast. It's a speciality of the argan-growing region around Essaouira and makes an excellent edible souvenir.

Are the port fish grills in Essaouira safe and good value?

Yes — the fish is landed that morning, so it's very fresh. Just make sure your catch is weighed and priced before grilling, and choose a busy stall for the best turnover.

Make it happen

Turn the plan into a trip — find where to eat, book a hands-on experience, or join a guided food walk.

Where to eat Food experiences Food tours Cooking classes