22 Best Restaurants in Tangier and the Mediterranean, Morocco

The hugely popular Café Clock company has arrived in a cool blue riad in Chefchaouen. It comes with the same relaxed vibe as its counterparts in Fez and Marrakesh, as well as menu favorites like camel burger and a wide variety of fish dishes. It's much more than just your standard café, and offers fascinating cultural programs featuring Riffian artists and musicians.

Locals and visitors alike flock to this marine-theme, Spanish-style seafood restaurant for no-nonsense fresh fish, paella, and seafood. The terrace is a nice place to linger over a bottle of Moroccan wine. On weekends, large families join tables banquet-style, so book ahead, especially on Sunday.

Fresh, simply grilled fish and other seafood reign supreme here, along with several resort-style bars placed strategically around the two terraces and captain's cabin–style interior. There is a large selection of Moroccan wines on offer, with Guerrouane being a good bet. The house salads are well prepared and can be made to suit the size of your party. The views of the bay and local fishing boats from the outdoor tables are stunning, and in the evening you can buy your fish straight off the boat and have it cooked to your liking.

For authentic Moroccan cuisine at great-value prices, look no further than this small, family-run restaurant. Dine in the cozy salon or at one of the pavement tables, and choose from an array of brochettes, tagines, pastillas, and briouates (stuffed pastries).

Front-row seating can be had at the pavement tables of this café smack bang in the middle of the Petit Socco. It's a good place to catch your breath with a coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice and a crepe as you watch an intriguing cast of characters wander past.

West of the Kasbah, overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar and set up on seven levels plunging toward the sea, this laid-back cliff café opened in 1921 and soon became the favorite sunset-watching haunt of locals and bohemian visitors. Waiters impressively deliver 16 steaming cups of sweet tea at a time, along with bowls of bissara (traditional pea soup). 

Popular with both locals and visitors, the town’s first female-owned restaurant has a menu that showcases traditional dishes made with the freshest ingredients. Dine alfresco under an awning; don’t miss the shrimp tagine or the fluffy seven-vegetable couscous. You may have to go more than once.

In a prime spot next to the Cap Spartel Lighthouse, this popular restaurant has a sweeping terrace to take in the views. Its wide-ranging menu includes paninis and sweet and savory crepes, as well as salads and fresh fish. Try to time your visit for the stunning sunset.

It's all about the bird's-eye views over the main square from the three-story riad's terraces here, as the food can be hit or miss. Tagines are the best bet, or stick to a mint tea and pastries.

Open for lunch and dinner, this laid-back restaurant is difficult to find but well worth the search. Abdou himself, a rare and well-loved Tangier personality, serves up some of the freshest fish, simplest salads, and most perfect paella in the area. You can choose to sit indoors or at a table in the sandy maze of colorful and leafy outdoor spaces that lead out to a fine sandy beach sprinkled with tiny shells and beach umbrellas for hire. The best dishes here are the simply prepared fresh seafood plates. Take the first right about 30 feet after the rotary that puts you on Route de Rabat (N1) and at the near end of the Diplomatic Forest. If you see the Club de Tir, you've gone too far.

This fabled café has been gracing a corner of the buzzy Place de France since 1927, and its brown leather seats, wood paneling, and mirrors galore will make you feel like you're back in the 1950s with William Burroughs (he wrote here) or in The Bourne Ultimatum (a scene was filmed here). The terrace is the perfect place to watch the world go by over an orange juice or café au lait.

Since 1920 this Larache landmark has occupied a prime spot on the main square. Inside, it's all Art Deco splendor with towering columns, gilded chandeliers, and a grand piano; or you can grab a terrace table, perfect for people-watching over a breakfast of French or Moroccan pastries and perhaps a pizza in the evening.

Decorated in over-the-top Moroccan style, with banquettes covered with rich brocade and plump cushions, Hammadi (named after the affable owner) is never dull. Try traditional dishes such as the house pastilla (a meat pie), chicken tagine, or kefta (beef patties), along with a cup of freshly brewed mint tea. The place is definitely touristy, but it also has a certain local charm. There's always a live band playing traditional Andalusian music, and if you go for dinner, you can avoid the tour groups.

This great-value restaurant, with its carved-wood chairs, colorful banquettes, and bare stone walls, is one of the top choices in town for Moroccan dishes full of home-cooked flavor. House specialties include regional favorites such as bissara and hearty tagines, as well as plenty of options for vegetarians. If you're with a group, you can order lots of dishes and share them, family-style. And if you can’t find a table, head to owner Said’s second outpost, Beldi Bab Ssour.

For a quick snack, head to this no-nonsense tapas bar near La Plaza Nuestra Señora de Africa. Try the insalata russo (a Spanish take on the Russian Salade Olivier), a Spanish tortilla (a mix between an omelet and potato pancake), or some Serrano ham with bread.

This small, well-located restaurant sits just outside Bab al-Kasaba, the medina's main gate. The current menu is overly expansive, but the fried fish is always a good choice. There's also a selection of tapas. It's dimly lit inside, so grab a pavement table.

Take a break from tagines and head to this popular restaurant just outside the medina. Pizza and pasta are the mainstays of the menu, but they also serve meat dishes and good-size salads. Be sure to save room for the sinful chocolate fondant.

Stop for lunch at this community center, whose name means "Our House," and you won't just enjoy a scrumptious home-style meal; you'll also be supporting local women and children in need. The traditional couscous served on Friday shouldn't be missed, especially when eaten in the sun-drenched, tiled patio. Don’t forget to check out the small on-site shop.

A narrow alleyway leads off Avenue Mohammed V to a small courtyard with a large fig tree as its centerpiece; you can dine inside or out at the restaurant here. Try the platter of fried fish, which might include calamari, sole, rouget, and shrimp. Beer and wine are available.

The restaurant in this Spanish-run hotel is one of best options for a great homemade meal short of being invited into a Tetouani home. Fine Moroccan dishes include chicken pastilla, fish skewers, and delicious nut-based pastries, as well as Spanish croquetas (fritters). Picky eaters will find hamburgers, and you can wash your meal down with Moroccan wine or a cold beer.

Decked out in dazzling blues and whites, this seaside house behind Place de la Kasbah has been turned into a tea salon and restaurant by the owners of the guesthouse Dar Nour. Tuck into delicious Moroccan dishes in the intimate salons or on the terrace with stunning sea views across to Spain. Order à la carte or choose from the three-course fixed-price menu, which includes fresh salads, tagines, and almond pastries. And don’t miss the unique mint tea, a special blend with added rosemary and verbena.