Once known as Mogador, Essaouira is a must-visit city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast that combines an incredible arts scene with a rich history and some of the best seafood in the country. It’s one of my favourite places to visit in Morocco and I highly recommend you spend at least a few days here. For foodies, it’s also a dream, with an eclectic choice of cafes and trendy eateries clustered within its whitewashed medina.
For those seeking to immerse themselves in the culinary traditions and flavours of this captivating destination, there are a wealth of food tours and experiences on offer. Yes, you’ll find Essaouira cooking classes offering hands-on workshops, but there are also active adventures that allow you to discover the area’s coastal beauty and share meals with local families.
In this article, I’ll highlight 5 of the best Essaouira food tours and experiences that reflect the diversity of what is on offer. Whether you want to discover the best street food that’s available or feast in a native forest, there’s something for everyone.
To learn more about things to see and do in this beautiful coastal city, check out my Ultimate Travel Guide to Essaouira.
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Best history + food tour of Essaouira
For a snapshot of the city (including its culinary heritage), you can’t go past this 3-in-1 Essaouira food tour. It combines historical insights into Mogador with “live like a local” experiences and street food samples to keep your belly satiated along the way. If it’s your first day in Essaouira and you want a general overview of the city, then this two to three-hour food experience is ideal.
You’ll begin by sampling delicious pastries and sweets at one of the oldest bakeries in Essaouira before walking along the city’s impressive fortifications. Learn about Mogador's storied past as you stroll the narrow streets of the medina, with your guide transporting you back to the 17th century. For a unique cultural experience, you'll visit a traditional herbalist's shop, learning about ancient Moroccan remedies as you sip on a glass of mint tea.
In my opinion, no visit to Essaouira is complete without feasting on seafood at the port and you won’t miss out on that experience during this Essaouira food tour! Mingle with the locals as you watch your catch being grilled to perfection right before your eyes, then eat with the smell of salt wafting through the air.
Throughout this Essaouira walking tour, you’ll pass by workshops selling traditional artisan goods and hear the sounds of Gnawa music permeating the air, with a guide at your side to answer any questions you may have. This immersive experience promises to leave you with a deep appreciation for Essaouira's history, culture and gastronomy, making it a perfect introduction to the city.
“A wonderful snapshot of the city from a local's point of view. The highlight was picking up the fresh ingredients for the dinner.” - Chris (read more reviews here)
Best Essaouira food tours and experiences
Best local cooking experience in Essaouira
This foodie experience in Essaouira is just as much about connecting with its host, Abdou, as it is about learning the secrets of Moroccan cuisine. It’s a laid-back (but hands-on) cooking class that takes place in the comfort of his home and is a great opportunity to better understand the local lifestyle.
Top tip: If you’re looking for a more professional setup at an Essasouira cooking school, check out Moroccan cooking class at L'Atelier Madada below.
The experience begins in front of the historic Bab Doukkala gateway, where you'll meet Abdou before heading to the local market. Here, you’ll hand-select the freshest ingredients for your feast, choosing from an array of high-quality meats, fragrant spices and locally grown vegetables. Abdou will introduce you to his most trusted vendors, with the warm banter an experiencein itself.
Once your shopping is complete, you'll head back to Abdou’s home, where you'll be welcomed with a Moroccan mint tea before diving into the hands-on cooking process. In addition to demonstrating traditional cooking methods, your guide will share the cultural traditions behind each step. At the end, you’ll sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labour - a tagine made with love!
No matter your dietary needs or preferences, this private cooking class in Essaouira can be customised to accommodate. By the end of the experience, you'll depart with not only a full belly but a wealth of knowledge and appreciation for the gastronomic and cultural heritage of this captivating North African country.
"Wonderful evening, Abdou is a naturally friendly host and interesting company, great food too, you won't regret it.” - Rachael (read more reviews here)
Looking for accommodation? Check out my list of the Best Hotels in Essaouira.
Best professional cooking class in Essaouira
Occupying a trendy space in the heart of Essaouira’s medina, L’Atelier Madaba is one of the city’s best cooking schools. It is housed within a historic almond warehouse and combines the facilities of an industrial kitchen with the cosiness of a cafe and concept store.
During this hands-on cooking workshop in Essaouira, you’ll get to immerse yourself in the flavours and traditions of Moroccan cuisine, beginning with a visit to the local spice souks. Guided by an experienced chef, you’ll learn about the dizzying array of herbs, spices and other local produce that form the backbone of Moroccan cuisine and select the freshest, most flavourful ingredients.
Back in the kitchen, you'll put your newfound knowledge to the test as you learn to prepare an array of classic Moroccan dishes, including mouthwatering tagines, light and fluffy couscous, as well as savoury pastries known as pastilla. After your cooking session, you'll sit down to enjoy a two-course Moroccan lunch, featuring the dishes you've just prepared. Warm up with hearty harira soup and sample zesty zaalouk (a warm eggplant salad) before finishing with a refreshing mint tea.
While this is definitely one of the best cooking classes in Essaouira (it receives rave reviews and has the Viator Badge of Excellence), it’s a “professional” workshop led by highly experienced chefs and with a structured schedule. For some, that’s exactly what they’re looking for! If you’re craving more of a “local” experience filled with cultural insights, then the laid-back nature of Abdou’s How to be a real Moroccan chef might be for you.
"Very impressed with this experience. It was absolutely five stars. Thank you so much for your generosity of spirit, professionalism and for making sure we had a really fantastic day, we really did learn so much.” - Elizabeth (read more reviews here)
Best Essaouira food tours and experiences
Best camel trek food experience in Essaouira
If you’re tossing up between a camel trek and a food tour in Essaouira, you can experience both on this half-day tour. It’s led by a friendly team of cameleers, who are always eager to share their cultural heritage and cuisine with guests.
Your adventure begins at Plage d’Essaouira, where you'll be outfitted in the traditional Sahrawi attire - a shawl and flowing Darâa robe - to fully embrace the experience. As you set off on your camel caravan, you'll first pass by the impressive Bordj El Baroud, the ruins of an ancient Portuguese fortress that was later rebuilt by Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah. This historic site, with its ties to Carthaginian and Phoenician civilisations, once served as a lighthouse.
Continuing on, you'll catch a glimpse of Dar Soltane, a former palace that once housed the high dignitaries of the Makhzen government. After a brief history lesson, you’ll continue through an area of undulating dunes backed by native forest while enjoying magnificent views across the windswept terrain.
Halfway through this Essaouira foodie experience, you'll be treated to a locally-inspired meal, cooked outdoors on an open fire and served in a picturesque natural setting. In my opinion, there’s nothing quite like the taste of a slow-cooked tagine and things always taste better when eaten amidst nature! This immersive Essaouira food experience promises to leave you with lasting memories of the city's rich cultural heritage and the thrill of exploring its landscapes on camelback.
“What a great experience this has been, thanks to Ahmed, Hussein and Imman. (Not forgetting the handsome camels ) We had a superb trek along the beach and a delicious meal, cooked over an open fire in the forest.” (read more reviews here)
Best Essaouira food tours and experiences
Best active food experience in Essaouira
Led by the wonderful Naima, this guided walk near Essaouira is a great way to explore the city’s surrounding landscapes AND enjoy an authentic culinary experience with a local family. It’s a full-day foodie tour and requires a good level of fitness as you’ll be walking for much of the day.
Naima will lead you through a forest of euphorbia and argan trees, where you’ll learn about their significance to Moroccan culture. After arriving at the coast, you'll enjoy a scenic hike along a gorgeous beach before reaching the picturesque cascades of Sidi m’Barek. The hike continues inland through terraced fields where the local people cultivate a bountiful array of crops throughout the seasons.
After hiking through an impressive canyon, you’ll reach the charming village of Sidi Ahmed Essayeh where you'll be warmly welcomed by an Amazigh family. It’s then time to settle in for a well-deserved tagine, slow-cooked to perfection, while hearing about their rural lifestyle.
This highly-rated Essaouira food tour is a great way to explore the city’s scenic surroundings and enjoy an authentic cultural interaction. Previous participants always praise Naima’s personable nature and the wonderful views experienced along the way.
“Naima is a sweet soul that would definitely make a plus of your experience. Very knowledgeable of the local culture and landscape, she is eager to explore and explain all the details.” - Elina (read more reviews here)
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About the author
I'm Malika, a global traveller who first visited Morocco in 2014 before marrying a local and settling down in a little village on the Atlantic coast. Over the years, I've developed an intense love for Morocco, its majestic landscapes, storied cities and the incredibly warm hospitality of its people. As the owner and content creator of Malika in Morocco, I share my years of experience exploring the country, from north to south and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert. I am passionate about helping others plan their Moroccan travel adventures to ensure they get the most out of their North African experience.