Best Seafood in Tangier — Where Two Seas Meet

Tangier's position at the meeting of the Atlantic and Mediterranean gives it exceptional, varied seafood: sole, sea bream, sardines, prawns, calamari, and Mediterranean species landed at the port and sold at the central fish market. The city's long Spanish and international history — it was an International Zone for decades — shows on the plate, in grilled fish and fried-seafood platters (pescaíto frito-style) that would be at home across the strait in Andalusia.

The classic experience is the fish market and the small restaurants around it and near the port, where you can eat the day's catch simply grilled or fried, with bread, salad and lemon. Moroccan-style, the fish also comes as chermoula tagine, and the city does an excellent fried-fish medley. Sardines, as everywhere on the coast, are cheap and delicious grilled. For something smarter, the modern marina and the Ville Nouvelle have polished seafood restaurants with sea views over the strait.

Tangier's Spanish streak means you will also find seafood tapas-style small plates, garlicky prawns (gambas), and fried calamari served as they are in Cádiz or Tarifa just across the water — a delicious cross-cultural quirk of this border city. Pair it with the Mediterranean light and the view of Spain on the horizon and it makes for memorable eating.

Order the day's catch, favour the simply grilled and fried preparations, and don't miss the fried-fish platters that show Tangier's Andalusian side. Whether at a market grill or a marina terrace, the city's two seas deliver some of the best and most distinctive seafood in Morocco.