Seafood
Best Seafood in Tetouan — Mediterranean Catch and Andalusian Flavours
Tetouan sits just inland from the Mediterranean, and fresh fish from the nearby coast — Martil, M'diq, Oued Laou — reaches its tables daily. With strong Andalusian and Spanish influences, the city's seafood carries a distinctive Hispano-Moorish accent.
- City
- Tetouan
- Cuisine
- Seafood
- Typical price
- 50-250 MAD
Tetouan lies a short distance from a beautiful stretch of Mediterranean coast, and the fishing ports of nearby M'diq, Martil and Oued Laou supply the city with excellent fresh seafood. Sea bream, sea bass, sardines, anchovies, prawns, calamari and Mediterranean fish come into the markets and restaurants, cooked both Moroccan-style — chermoula fish tagine, grills — and in ways that reflect the city's deep Andalusian heritage.
Tetouan was the capital of the Spanish Protectorate and has long been the most Andalusian of Moroccan cities, its whitewashed UNESCO medina founded by refugees from Spain. That heritage shows on the plate: fried-fish platters in the Spanish style, garlicky prawns, anchovies, and seafood prepared with a Hispano-Moorish delicacy. The city's cuisine is considered among Morocco's most refined, with Andalusian techniques and a love of subtle spicing and fresh Mediterranean ingredients.
For the freshest seafood, head to the coast at M'diq or Martil, where beachfront and port restaurants serve the day's catch simply grilled or fried with a sea view — a popular summer escape for Tetouanis. In the city itself, the medina and Ville Nouvelle restaurants serve both Moroccan and Andalusian-influenced seafood, often to a mostly local crowd, since Tetouan sees fewer tourists than the imperial cities.
Order the day's Mediterranean catch, try the Spanish-style fried fish to taste the Andalusian influence, and consider a trip to the nearby coast for the freshest grills. Tetouan's seafood, shaped by two cultures and a beautiful coastline, is one of northern Morocco's quiet culinary pleasures.
How to eat well
- 1
For the freshest fish, head to the nearby coast at M'diq or Martil for beachfront and port grills.
- 2
Try the Spanish-style fried-fish platters to taste Tetouan's strong Andalusian influence.
- 3
Tetouan's Hispano-Moorish cuisine is refined — look for delicately spiced Mediterranean seafood.
- 4
The city sees fewer tourists than the imperial cities, so seafood is often priced for locals.
- 5
Order the day's catch and simply prepared dishes to enjoy the freshness.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Tetouan's seafood come from?
From the nearby Mediterranean coast — the fishing ports of M'diq, Martil and Oued Laou — which supply the city with fresh sea bream, sea bass, sardines, anchovies, prawns and calamari daily.
Why does Tetouan's food have a Spanish influence?
Tetouan was founded by Andalusian refugees from Spain and later served as capital of the Spanish Protectorate, making it the most Andalusian of Moroccan cities. Its seafood reflects this in Spanish-style fried fish and Hispano-Moorish cooking.
Where should I eat seafood near Tetouan?
In the city's medina and Ville Nouvelle restaurants, or better still at the beachfront and port restaurants of nearby M'diq and Martil, where the day's Mediterranean catch is grilled or fried with a sea view.