Best Spanish-Influenced Food in Tangier — Tapas Across the Strait

Tangier's Spanish character runs deep. Northern Morocco was a Spanish protectorate, Spanish is still widely spoken in the city, and the Andalusian coast is visible across the Strait. This legacy shows on the table: tapas-style small plates, fried seafood (pescaíto frito, calamares), tortilla, croquetas, garlicky prawns (gambas al ajillo) and Spanish-style bocadillos appear in cafés and bars across the city, especially in the Ville Nouvelle and around the old Spanish quarter. Churros with hot chocolate are a beloved Tangier breakfast and afternoon treat.

The most interesting eating is where the two cuisines meet: Moroccan spicing on Spanish techniques, or Spanish tapas alongside Moroccan salads and tagines on the same menu. Some old establishments date to the International and protectorate eras and still serve a menu that would be at home in Cádiz or Málaga. Fried fish, in particular, crosses the divide seamlessly — the Andalusian love of lightly battered, crisp-fried seafood is entirely at home in a Moroccan port.

To taste this heritage, look for the tapas bars and Spanish-style cafés of the Ville Nouvelle and the streets around the old Spanish theatre and church, order a spread of fried seafood and small plates, and finish with churros y chocolate. It is a reminder that Tangier has always faced two ways — toward Morocco and toward Europe — and its food is richer for it.