How-to guide
How to Eat Your Way Through Agadir
Agadir is Morocco's big modern beach resort — rebuilt after the 1960 earthquake, so it has no old medina, but it makes up for it with superb Atlantic seafood, a lively fishing port, argan-region specialities from the surrounding Souss valley, and a broad resort dining scene. This guide covers how to eat your way through Agadir.
About 1 to 2 days of eating
Step by step
- 1
Grill fish at the port
Agadir has one of Morocco's biggest fishing ports, and the port's grill restaurants let you pick fresh fish and shellfish and have it cooked simply over charcoal. It's the city's essential seafood experience — sardines, sole, prawns and calamari at their freshest.
- 2
Enjoy the resort seafood restaurants
Along the beachfront and marina, Agadir has plenty of seafood restaurants ranging from casual to smart, serving grilled and fried fish, seafood platters and fish tagines. The modern, beach-holiday setting suits a relaxed seafood dinner.
- 3
Taste Souss-valley and argan specialities
Agadir is the gateway to Morocco's argan country and Amazigh (Berber) Souss region. Try amlou spread, culinary argan oil, and regional dishes, and consider a trip to a nearby argan co-operative to see the oil pressed and buy the real thing.
- 4
Explore the local side beyond the resort
The resort strip is polished but international; for more local food, head into the working parts of town and the New Talborjt area for Moroccan tagines, grills and street snacks at local prices.
- 5
Balance beach dining with tradition
Because Agadir lacks an old medina, its food leans modern and touristic near the beach. Seek out the port, the co-operatives and the local neighbourhoods to balance resort dining with genuinely Moroccan and regional flavours.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Eating only on the touristy beachfront and missing the port grills and local areas.
- Not agreeing seafood prices by weight before the port stalls cook your fish.
- Overlooking the argan and Souss-valley specialities the region is known for.
- Expecting an old medina — Agadir was rebuilt modern after the 1960 earthquake.
Tips from the kitchen
- The fishing port grills are the freshest, best-value seafood in town.
- Agadir is argan country — try amlou and buy culinary argan from a co-operative.
- Head to New Talborjt and local neighbourhoods for Moroccan food at local prices.
- Confirm the per-kilo price before buying fish at the port.
Questions
What food is Agadir known for?
Fresh Atlantic seafood above all, centred on its large fishing port where you can have fish grilled on the spot, plus argan-region specialities like amlou and culinary argan oil from the surrounding Souss valley.
Does Agadir have a medina?
Not an old one — Agadir was destroyed by an earthquake in 1960 and rebuilt as a modern resort city. There's a reconstructed medina attraction, but the city's food is more about the port, the beach dining and the argan region than ancient streets.
Where should I eat seafood in Agadir?
The fishing port's grill restaurants are the classic choice for the freshest, best-value fish. The beachfront and marina have more resort-style seafood restaurants, from casual to smart.
Learn it hands-on in Marrakech
Reading is one thing; doing it beside a local host is another. Book a Marrakech cooking class, or explore the medina on a guided food tour.