Moroccan breakfast
Best Breakfast in Essaouira — Argan, Amlou and Sea Air
Breakfast in Essaouira comes with the region's argan specialities — amlou spread, argan oil for dipping bread — alongside the usual Moroccan griddle breads and honey, often eaten on a rooftop in the cool morning sea air. It is a distinctive, unhurried coastal start.
- City
- Essaouira
- Cuisine
- Moroccan breakfast
- Typical price
- 20-90 MAD
Essaouira sits in the heart of Morocco's argan country, and that shows at breakfast. The great local treat is amlou — a rich spread of ground roasted almonds, argan oil and honey — served with fresh bread and griddle cakes, alongside pure argan oil for dipping. Nowhere in Morocco do you eat these more freshly or locally than here, where the argan trees grow in the surrounding Souss countryside and the cooperatives press the oil nearby.
The rest of the spread is the classic Moroccan breakfast: msemmen and harcha griddle breads, baghrir pancakes, honey and jam, soft cheese, olives, eggs, fresh juice and mint tea. Riad and guesthouse rooftops serve it in the cool morning air with the medina and sea below — one of the pleasures of staying inside the ramparts. Morning stalls in the medina fry sfenj doughnuts and ladle bissara soup for the cheaper, traditional workers' start.
Essaouira's relaxed, arty character makes for a strong café-breakfast scene too, especially around Place Moulay Hassan, where terraces serve coffee, fresh juice, pastries and lighter continental options to a mix of locals and the town's many long-stay visitors. The coffee vocabulary is the national one — nous-nous, café cassé — and the sea breeze keeps mornings mild even in summer.
However you take it, make room for the argan and amlou — they are the local signature and taste far better here than anywhere else. Eat early on a rooftop, watch the boats and the gulls, and let the morning unfold at Essaouira's easy pace.
How to eat well
- 1
Order amlou and pure argan oil with your bread — Essaouira is in the heart of argan country and does them best.
- 2
Rooftop riad breakfasts in the cool morning sea air are an Essaouira highlight.
- 3
Place Moulay Hassan cafés are good for coffee, juice and a lighter continental start.
- 4
For a cheap traditional breakfast, buy sfenj doughnuts or a bowl of bissara from a medina stall.
- 5
The sea breeze keeps mornings mild — a pleasant time to eat outside even in summer.
Frequently asked questions
What is special about breakfast in Essaouira?
Its argan specialities — amlou spread and pure argan oil for dipping bread — which are local to the surrounding Souss region and fresher here than anywhere, served alongside the usual Moroccan griddle breads, honey and mint tea.
Where should I have breakfast in Essaouira?
On a riad or guesthouse rooftop for the full Moroccan spread with a sea view, or at a café around Place Moulay Hassan for coffee, juice and pastries. Medina stalls offer cheap sfenj and bissara.
What is amlou?
Amlou is a spread of ground roasted almonds, argan oil and honey from Morocco's argan-growing Souss region, which surrounds Essaouira. It is eaten with bread at breakfast and tastes like a rich, local nut butter.