Renowned for the authentic atmosphere of its old town as well as for its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Essaouira is a coastal city in Morocco that knows how to seduce more than one visitor by its assets, and this by day and by night
After your day of visits and relaxation, what to do in the evening once the night falls? Granted, the nightlife scene in Essaouira may not be as crazy as in other cities in the country, but there are still a few bars, restaurants and other nice places that promise to give you a good time
We have selected for you some of the best things to do in the evening in Essaouira: trust us, there is something for everyone!
Table des matières
The best area to go out and party: the medina
The main district of the city, the medina is the place that concentrates the most night activity in Essaouira
The best thing to do if you have no idea where you are going to spend the evening is simply to wander through the alleys of the old city and let yourself be guided to the place that will delight you!
This area of Essaouira is bustling with life even at night, and this can be seen especially in the Moulay Hassan square where you can still see street vendors and street performers putting on a show
Also, if you want to be sure to find a good restaurant for dinner or a bar for an evening drink, the medina is the place to be!
We especially loved walking along the medina’s ramparts: with the lights coming off, and with the ocean right next to it, there’s a really nice atmosphere there that’s just sublime!
Best chicha bars and traditional bars
Triskala
In the heart of the medina, in the bend of a small quiet street, Triskala is a traditional bar/restaurant that serves you very good quality Moroccan dishes
It is an address that we particularly recommend for the freshness of its products: to say, the card changes regularly according to the arrivals of fruits and vegetables, meats and fish.
Website : https://www.facebook.com/triskalaessaouira/
Shisha Bar
Surprisingly, there are less shisha bars in Essaouira than we would have thought… but after some research, we chose the Shisha Bar: a little bit outside the medina, the staff welcomes you very warmly and is very attentive to you!
The place is quite quiet and the prices are more than reasonable: count about 80 dirhams (7.5 euros) for a traditional mint shisha.
Address: 629 Avenue de Rabat, Essaouira 44000, Morocco
Best cocktail bars and lounge bars
Restaurant Il Mare
If you are looking for a sophisticated lounge bar that also serves great food, Il Mare is the place for you!
The food served is very fine; the prices on the menu seem to be a bit more expensive than other more traditional places, although based on European standards, which is still more than affordable.
Il Mare is known for its live music and excellent local dishes, but what we particularly liked was the terrace with a view of the ramparts and the sea
Guests flock here to find the perfect place and atmosphere for a successful stay in Essaouira, but they are also attracted by the possibility of sipping champagne while watching the sunset to the sound of piano notes… and that is unforgettable!
Website: https: //www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g298349-d968357-Reviews-Il_mare-Essaouira_Marrakech_Safi.html
Beach and Friends
In a different atmosphere than the Il Mare restaurant, we also suggest the Beach and Friends as a lounge bar address in Essaouira: acidic decoration and relaxed atmosphere!
Entirely on the same level and on the beach, the restaurant’s room extends into a large, partly shaded terrace
You will find pizzas and salads on the menu of the Beach and Friends, along with hamburgers and other sandwiches for very reasonable prices, but it is especially for its drinks, cocktails and juices that we strongly suggest you to visit it!
Website : https://beach-and-friends.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral
Best places to go out with girls
Les Chandeliers
Among the restaurants in the medina that are worth considering for a girls’ night out (or a boys’ night out, we don’t judge!), let’s mention Les Chandeliers
A few meters from the beach, we guarantee you a very nice and pleasant place in which you feel good at first sight. Its cosy side is favourable to long conversations that last until noon!
Les Chandeliers offers a Moroccan cuisine but also continental, so you can satisfy everyone!
The restaurant has two floors with a very comfortable mezzanine on the upper level where they serve excellent tapas.
Website: https: //ma.annuaire-horaire.com/societe/Restaurant-ESSAOUIRA-Les-chandeliers/5310752
Le Trou
Not far from the beach and the fishing port, Le Trou is one of the oldest establishments in Essaouira and has a very nice traditional decoration with beautiful stone walls
It is mainly a bar for locals, but they are very nice and friendly if you say hello with a smile!
We suggest you this address for its very attractive prices and for its warm and relaxed atmosphere suitable for evenings with girls (or boys!).
Website : https://fr.restaurantguru.com/Unknown-But-Cheap-Essaouira
Best rooftop bars (terrace bars)
Le Chalet de la Plage
For a drink with a view of the ocean and the setting sun, we suggest you try the Chalet de la Plage: located on the waterfront, it offers a good wine list, including a selection from a nearby vineyard, and also serves very good quality seafood cooked with refinement… and in an exceptional setting!
Of course, it’s not a rooftop bar, but we think it would be a shame to miss this address if you are looking for a place with a view in Essaouira.
Website : https://www.lechaletdelaplage.com/
Taros
Place Moulay Hassan is the main square of Essaouira, and it is perhaps even more lively at night than during the day!
A really good address in which we strongly invite you to go if you are in the area is Taros
Overlooking the square, it also has a terrace where you can have a drink or a meal with a great view on the sea! During the summer, concerts are organized here from time to time.
They serve delicious and refined dishes but surprisingly not too expensive, and their drinks and cocktails menu is really too much
A tip: we encourage you to go in the early evening, so you can admire the colors of the setting sun reflected in the ocean water!
Website: http: //www.letaros-essaouira.com/
Best restaurant/bars to listen to live music
Café Restaurant Le Chrysalis
The Chrysalis has an extraordinary atmosphere… It is a restaurant, a tapas bar and a lounge bar that offers an international cuisine and a rich menu for a very low price, but above all it is an incredible music scene that offers memorable concerts with talented local artists!
For a crazy evening with good music, we absolutely invite you to go there!
Website : https://www.facebook.com/Le-Chrysalis-Essaouira-1451472268473856/
Restaurant D’Jazy
The D’Jazy is another good address that we share with you in Essaouira if you are fond of inventive cuisine based on freshness, all this mixed with live music!
On the menu: salads, spring rolls, grilled meats, seafood and fish dishes
In the glasses: delicious cocktails and fruit juices as well as a wide choice of drinks with or without alcohol
As a lounge bar and restaurant, D’Jazy distinguishes itself by its daily musical program mainly centered around jazz, but which also leaves room from time to time for other styles played by local and international artists.
Website: https: //www.facebook.com/Djazy-essaouira-2158840287773091/
What else to do in the evening in Essaouira?
The medina
During your stay in Essaouira, if you’re wondering what to do in the evening, there’s nothing like walking around the medina in the evening and enjoying the sweetness of life mixed with the nightly hustle and bustle of the locals and tourists!
We particularly enjoyed strolling through the alleys of stone houses with whitewashed facades under the arches of which street vendors were still busy. To walk, the coolness of the night contrasts with days that can be hot.
The port
Leaving the medina through the Bab Sbaa gate, if you go further south down Avenue Mohammed V, you will find the fishing port of Essaouira
In the evening, the fishermen return on their small bright blue boats from their long day of work: it is really at this time that we suggest you go there, because you will witness animated scenes!
The activity is indeed in full swing in the small fishing port of Essaouira, and going there at the end of the day will be an ideal time for you to come and soak up the soul of the city and its port activity. This place leaves an unforgettable memory, that’s why we gladly share it with you!
Moulay Hassan Square
One of the most beautiful esplanades of the city of Essaouira that we now suggest you to see is the Moulay Hassan square. With a view on the ocean, it gathers many cafes and restaurants all around
In the evening, families and groups of friends stroll around (tourists as well as locals), and it is also a great playground if you have children, as they always enjoy chasing pigeons and seeing cats coming back from the port… be careful not to lose sight of them though!
If you are lucky, you can even see a street show on the Moulay Hassan square!
A sunset on the beach
Essaouira is known for its medina but also for its magnificent 2.5 kilometer long beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
To appreciate the beauty of this place, we suggest you go there a little before nightfall.
Take a seat on the beach, bring something to eat if you want, and watch the sun set in the distance and the shimmering colors of the water… Honestly, it’s just beautiful!
The Gnaoua and World Music Festival
Are you in Essaouira in June? Then you certainly can’t miss the Gnaoua and World Music Festival!
It’s simple: the whole city is in effervescence and there is a magical joie de vivre conveyed by the 500,000 spectators who come to attend four days of music concerts. In the spotlight: the Gnaoua, a Moroccan musical style focused on trance and mysticism.
During the festival, the Moulay Hassan Square hosts the largest open-air stage of the festivities, and internationally renowned artists can also perform there
It is then transformed into a festive audience! A little bonus: most of the shows are free, so make the most of it!
Website: https: //www.festival-gnaoua.net/fr/accueil