Chefchaouen

What to do in Chefchaouen, Morocco

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen, the Blue Pearl, the Blue City, we probably all heard of this place before, known by its beautiful blue coloured medina. I had the privilege to visit this city in the north of Morocco twice and now I would like to share my tips for a weekend in Chefchaouen!

Discover your inner photographer

First things first: make sure to bring a camera! This city is so crazy beautiful that you will regret it if you do not bring one. Every. Single. Street. Is beautiful in its own way and has a different shade of blue. Everywhere you look you will see picture perfect spots. Add beautiful Arabic writings, doors and colourful fruits and bags full of paint to this and trust me, your camera will be full with Blue Pearl photos. It will be difficult to create ugly pictures in this special place!

Chefchaouen
Paint, Chefchaouen
Paint Chefchaouen

Doors of Chefchaouen

While walking around in the blue medina, make sure to pay attention to the beautiful diversity of doors in this city. I know.. I am talking about doors, but come on, look at the pictures.. Do I need to say more?…

Door Chefchaouen
Door Chefchaouen
Door Chefchaouen
Door Chefchaouen
Door Chefchaouen
Doors of Chefchaouen
Doors of Chefchaouen

Meet the local inhabitants

Now that we are talking about photography anyway, the local (furry) inhabitants of Chefchaouen are also worth meeting and taking pictures of. Morocco as a country has many  many cute cats walking around in the streets, but Chefchaouen is like the cats kingdom as there are so many! I loved to meet all these furry friends and they love to pose for beautiful pictures with different shades of blue in the background!

Cats of Chefchaouen
Cat of Chefchaouen

Get a view on the city

As beautiful the city is inside the medina, I can also recommend to walk a bit up the hill and leave the medina. From a distance you can have a beautiful view on the city and the mountains. From here you will see blue, but also white coloured houses built against the beautiful Rif mountains. You can choose to go all the way to the Spanish Mosque and watch the sunset from here. I cannot tell you if it is good, as I did not have the chance to do this!

view on Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen

Visit Place El Haouta

One of the squares that you should not miss while you are in Chefchaouen is Place El Haouta. This cute little square has a blue centrepiece surrounded by little cafes where locals are drinking their daily coffee or Moroccan tea. With the beautiful Rif mountains in the back, this scenic place is worth a stop.

Square Chefchaouen

Drink tea at Place Outa El Hamam

Did you know that the northern way of making Moroccan tea is different from how they do it in the south? Where you will most likely get a small pot of tea with the mint inside the pot and a small glass to pour it in in the south of the country, you will get a big glass of tea in the north. Here, the mint will be inside the glass instead of in the pot.

Place Outa El Hamam is the perfect place to try out a glass like this as you will have a nice view on the busiest square of Chefchaouen.

Mint tea Chefchaouen

Eat street food

Chefchaouen is home to some nice food stalls, juice stands, pastry stands and some rather hidden street food places. I really loved the fresh orange juice and some cinnamon like cookies. What I also loved was a small window with a man inside preparing some kind of potato dish which was a typical snack from Chefchaouen. Try street food where the locals eat it and I can assure you that you will get a whole new experience, it is definitely worth it!

streetfood Chefchaouen

Eat at Chez Hicham

This riad offers a wide selection of Moroccan kitchen and it all tastes so good! Located in the middle of the centre, this restaurant has something for everyone. Even for a veggie like me there were some interesting options. I chose to go for a typical soup from the north called ‘Bissara’ which is made of a particular kind of beans. It is quite thick and together with saffron, the taste is something I never had before in my life. The second dish I had was a vegetarian pastilla, which I can also highly recommend. Even though pastilla (or bastilla) is not typical from the north, I never had a good opportunity to try one as it normally prepared with chicken, pigeon or seafood.

Bissara Chefchaouen

Drink a smoothie at Café Clock

With a relaxed atmosphere and a beautiful view from the rooftop, Café Clock is a must visit when you are in need of a break. Either choose one of their smoothies, drink a cup of tea or enjoy one of their (veggie & vegan) food options!

Cafe Clock Chefchaouen

Stay and eat at La Petite Chefchaouen

My last tip for Chefchaouen is to stay at ‘La Petite Chefchaouen’ and most importantly EAT there. The cook prepared a full Moroccan meal for us with salads, Moroccan spinach, zucchini, soup, tajine and a delicious dessert. I am not exaggerating when I say that this was the best meal I had so far during my stay in Morocco.

The rooms itself are very modern and beautiful but still have that Moroccan touch. It is located in the middle of the medina and thus has an amazing location. Breakfast is served at the rooftop from where you have a beautiful morning view over the city.

Extra tips

I do have some other tips that I unfortunately not yet have experienced myself. So I cannot share my experience but I still think they are worth mentioning.

Visit the kasbah

This kasbah is located at the main square in the city and even though I did not have time to visit it, I think it is worth a stop!

Hike to the Akchour waterfalls

For those feeling active and in the mood for some nature, the hike to Akchour waterfalls is said to be amazing. With multiple waterfalls along the way and a trail that’s not too tough, this hike is definitely recommended!

Watch the sunset from the Spanish Mosque

As I was lucky having beautiful rooftop terraces I never had the urge (and time) to go up to the Spanish Mosque to watch the sunset. But from what I have been told, this should be the best spot to experience a magical sundown!

Chefchaouen
The Blue Pearl, Chefchaouen
Street of Chefchaouen

If you have some questions or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

Legzira beach

An overnight in Legzira, Morocco

Legzira beach

This beach was already on my Morocco bucket list for a very long time. In the beginning of March 2020 I finally had to chance to go and all my (high) expectations were met! Legzira is a small town famous for its beach and is located south of Agadir, close to the town of Sidi Ifni. In this blog I will tell you everything you need to know for an overnight stay in Legzira.

The arch

The Atlantic coastline of Morocco is very long and impressive, but this is definitely one of my favourite spots of this coastline. What makes Legzira so special is the huge, natural stone arch that is crossing the beach. Until the year of 2016 there was another arch next to it, but unfortunately this one collapsed. Still, it is definitely worth a visit as the colour, consistency of the rocks and the whole setting are very unique.

During the ‘Golden hour’ the arch turns golden orange and with sunset you will be able to get a magical view through the hole. Do make sure to take the tides into account, as with high tide the water blocks the arch and you will not be able to get to the other side again. At the beach, there are some little houses and restaurants where you can enjoy a nice Moroccan meal like a tajine.

Where to stay

During a clear night, you will be able to see the sky getting filled with stars. This is one of the reasons why you should spend the night in Legzira. Other reasons are the beautiful sunset, diner next to the ocean and the fact that (if you do not have a car) public transport is not the best!

My tip for accommodation would be Complexe Kasbah Lagzira. Which is located on top of the cliffs in front of the beach. With a stairs you can get to the bottom of the cliffs and from here you can walk in a few minutes to the arch. The complex consists of many apartments, suitable for multiple persons. With a living room, two bed rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and an extra toilet, these apartments are very spacious but also still very affordable. However, the entire property could use a fresh touch as it looks quite old and a bit forgotten. The peace, quietness and location however do again make up for this and we had a lovely stay here!

Sidi Ifni

I would also like to suggest to have lunch at the nearby town called ‘Sidi Ifni’ and especially at the little restaurant called ‘Nomad’. This colourful restaurant serves a nice amount of Moroccan dishes for a descent price and is located in a cute street. Sidi Ifni is a quiet town too but it is nice to spend some time here. As we visited in low season, I do not have any experience with how busy it can get in high season!

Sidi Ifni

Paragliding Legzira

Another AMAZING activity that you can do in Legzira is Paragliding. Together with Parapente Legzira and a 4WD you will go up the highest mountain in the area for take-off. The paragliding gives you an amazing feeling of flying and the area is crazy beautiful. From the dry mountains, you will fly over the small village of Legzira towards the sea. From here you have a great view on the arch and the entire coastline. 

After +- 10 minutes flying, you will safely land again on the beach. This was an once in a lifetime bucket list experience to me and I would recommend it to everyone! The price of this flight is 500 Moroccan Dirhams which is a bit less than 50 euros.

How to get there

Legzira is located around 3 hours driving south of Agadir. Unfortunately, public transport to this beautiful place is not ideal. You can take the CTM bus to the closest city: Tiznit. From here you will need to find a shared taxi (taxis that fit 6 passengers) that will take you to either Mirleft or Sidi Ifni. From here you will need to take another taxi to Plage Legzira. However, once you get there, it will be difficult to find transportation back.

This is why I would recommend getting either a private transfer (expensive) or to rent a car. In this way you can drive in a relaxed pace and stop whenever you want. We rented the car for two full days and left on a Saturday morning. We arrived in the early afternoon and went to Sidi Ifni by car for lunch. On the way back we stopped for lunch and a walk in Tiznit.

Place Outa El Hamam is the perfect place to try out a glass like this as you will have a nice view on the busiest square of Chefchaouen.

Road to Legzira

Tiznit

Tiznit is a city on the way from Agadir to Legzira and is known for its silver jewellery. It is not big, but it is nice for a stroll through the medina and to have lunch on your way. I love it that every Moroccan city has its own unique medina, so it keeps amazing me every time. Men preparing their herbs in big bags, chickens in cages ready to be sold, butcheries and in Tiznit also a lot of jewellery places of course. I would recommend to include Tiznit in either your way to Legzira or your way back as it is definitely worth a look.

If you have some questions or other remarks, please leave a comment or contact me!

small sahara

Where the ocean meets the Sahara: Sandboarding in the Small Sahara

small sahara

When you think about Morocco, you will probably think of the desert. The Sahara is the biggest desert in the world and a must see when you are in Morocco. However, the most beautiful places like Erg Chebbi are far away from the popular tourist cities. For example from Marrakech you will need at least a 12 hours’ drive to get to Merzouga from where you can go into the desert.

Surf Paradise Morocco

As I did not have the time yet to visit the Sahara, I decided to do a trip a bit closer to home. This trip is offered by Surf Paradise Morocco (https://surfparadisemorocco.net/), which is a surf hostel located in Tamraght. From here they organise multiple trips in the surrounding areas including this sandboarding trip. Around 4 pm they pick you up from the location you want in the area of Taghazout, Tamraght or Agadir, but a pick up in Agadir costs 5 euros extra. I decided to travel to Taghazout myself (which costs 7,5 dirhams by bus which is around 75 euro cents) and wait there for the pick-up.

small sahara

Banana plantations

I thought that there would be a whole group of tourists as the website says it can be a group up to 20 people, but when they arrived it was just the owner of the hostel with two other Moroccan men. The drive from Taghazout to the Small Sahara takes around 30 minutes and has the most gorgeous views of the coastline. During this trip you will also pass by the big banana plantations and we stopped in a nearby village called Tamri to buy coffee and go to the toilet. Here, they also bought a Moroccan doughnut for me.

Small Sahara

After arrival at the site, you first have to walk and climb a dune to get to the real dunes. Here there is no vegetation anymore and all you see is sand and the ocean in the background. It is called the Small Sahara as there are only 5 or 6 sand dunes, so do not expect a big desert. These dunes are high and steep which make them perfect for sandboarding.

The guide brought a surfboard and showed me how to stand on it. It is quite difficult to get speed as the sand slows you down. This makes it more difficult to keep your balance and there is a possibility that you will fall with your face in the sand like I did. Luckily, the sand is soft and the fall will not hurt. Determined to do it right, I tried again and this time I made it all the way to the end and it felt awesome!

small sahara

Views of the ocean..

Of course, walking up the dunes with the surfboard is very exhausting, which is why we all lay down in the sand and enjoyed the view. The people were all super chill and relaxed and gave me the freedom to do whatever I want. There was also some time for pictures and videos of this amazing spot. I felt extremely free and the place itself is super quiet. Even if you do not like to go sandboarding, this place is beautiful and fun to go to.

I would definitely recommend to plan a visit to the Small Sahara during your trip in Morocco to escape the busyness of the cities. Surf Paradise Morocco plans its trips in the afternoon so that you will experience the sunset. Unfortunately I was not lucky as there was no sunset this night, but the timing of the day still made the whole scenery look magical.

small sahara

If you have any questions about sandboarding in the Small Sahara or other questions you can always send me an email!

My 7 favourite sunsets around the world

As I am from the Netherlands and it often rains in this country, I always prefer a destination with lots of sun to travel to. Not only brings the sun warmth and a nice tan (however, I always turn red immediately..) the sun is maybe at its most magical when it is about to set.

Lots of people come together to watch the sun disappear after a full day of activities. I always think about the places where the day will start after it ends where I am at that point in time. As I love to sleep, I prefer watching sunsets over sunrises.. Which is why I would like to share my 7 favourite places for watching the sunset that I have experienced so far.

Walakiri Beach, Sumba Indonesia

This beach was already mentioned in my Sumba highlights post, but I think it also deserves a spot in this list. The sunset here creates a beautiful image of mangrove tree silhouettes. These trees look like they are about to dance, which is why they are often called ‘Dancing Trees of Sumba’ and people pose with them as if they are dancing. This trip was very special to me as we went to Indonesia to do research about waste management on two islands: Sumba and Belitung. I will never forget the beautiful people we met and the experiences we had..

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Sleeping in the desert was on my bucket list already for a long time. To see the sun set in this desert with nothing around you and in full quietness is just magical. The desert gets filled with beautiful sunrays and colours and if you are lucky you see a family of camels passing. After the last string of light the desert is dark and you will see a sky full of stars..

Hassan II Mosque Casablanca, Morocco

This spot is perfect for the ones that love architecture and photography. The mosque with the colours of the sun shining created magical pictures. During sunset a lot of families come to the square in front of the mosque to enjoy a nice evening out. The Moroccan culture and architecture in combination with the colours of the sunset is the reason why this place is in this list.

Agadir beach, Morocco

Another spot in Morocco to enjoy a beautiful sunset is on the beach of Agadir. Now that I live here, I look out of my window every night to enjoy the sunset. Every single time I get amazed by the different colours of the sky. At one point, the whole sky turns a bright purple and in combination with the mountains in the background and the palm trees, this is a must see sunset!

Agadir beach
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Liberty Bridge Budapest, Hungary

For this next sunset we are going to Europe. Of course, to enjoy a nice sunset you do not have to fly for hours. There are a lot of beautiful places for sunsets closer to home. This next one is in Hungary, which I experienced with my sister during our interrail trip. In our hostel they told us to go to Liberty Bridge during sunset. During this time of the day, people from all over the city come to this bridge and climb on it to find the best spot to sit and watch the river. Here, the sun will set behind a mountain and you will have a beautiful view on the river and the city. The whole experience of sitting (or standing) on a bridge with lots of people around you is a unique way to end your day!

budapest brug

Termoli, Italy

I experienced this sunset when I was traveling alone through Italy for my research. Being alone while watching the sunset does not make it any less special. It made me more aware of how privileged I am to be able to travel and enjoy beautiful views like these. Termoli is a small harbour town in the region of Puglia and this sunset shining on the pastel coloured houses looked amazing.

Monkey Mia, Australia

For this last sunset we have to travel all the way down under to Monkey Mia in Western Australia. We also have to travel far back in time as I experienced this sunset in 2007! But the fact that I still remember this place says it all. Imagine being at a tropical beach, watching the sun set and see a dolphin swimming right in front of that fire red sun. Do I need to say more, mate?

monkey mia australia

Liked this post? Or do you have another great sunset spot to share? Contact me!

Agadir Oufella

7 things to do in Agadir, Morocco

Agadir Oufella

Agadir, located in the South of Morocco is a popular beach destination for both international and domestic tourists. In this blog I will list some of my favourite things to do or see in this busy coastal destination.

Agadir Beach & Boulevard

The beach of Agadir is long and is surrounded by a big boulevard with little shops and restaurants. At the beach there are multiple spots to rent a sunbed and umbrella, but if you prefer to just lay on your towel then there is also enough space. At the beach there are multiple activities offered like surfing, bodyboarding and jet skiing. However, Agadir is not the best spot to go surfing as the waves are often not high enough and too close to the shore.

Of course, during the winter period the sea is not perfect for swimming anymore. Still, this area is perfect for a beach stroll and getting some fresh air. So also if you are not a swimmer or a beach activity person, you can still enjoy the nice sea breeze and a fresh mint tea afterwards.

Agadir beach
Agadir boulevard
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Agadir Marina

This small pleasure port is located between the big port and the beach. Here you can find restaurants, shops and people trying to show off their newest outfit or car. From here, you can also go on a boat tour. Eat here in the evening to enjoy all the young people trying to find a spot to park their cars and get ready for a night out. For one moment, you feel like your in a French or Spanish port instead of a Moroccan one.

Agadir Marina

Memoire d’Agadir & Jardin d’Olhao

After the earthquake in 1960, there was not much left of Agadir. In this little memorial site you can see pictures of the city before and after the earthquake and read news articles from during the catastrophe. After this history lesson you can wander around in a nice park and clear your head. This is also a place where younger people and families like to come in their weekends to relax.

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Agadir Oufella

After visiting the memorial and seeing the pictures, it is nice to see the remains of the Kasbah in real life. To be honest, there is not much left of it. There is just a wall and a few rocks, however, it is still worth a visit because of the great view over Agadir. Especially during sunset this place has a magical view.

After the earthquake they placed big rocks on the mountain in the shape of 3 Arabic words and every night these words light up and give a magical touch to the beach side of Agadir.

Agadir Oufella

Shop at Souk El Had

Some say the Souk of Agadir is the biggest souk of Africa. Even though this statement is not true, it is still very big and worth a visit during your time in Agadir. This big souk has a roof and contains 12 gates (bab). I would recommend to start at Bab 6, as this is a nice big gate from where you will get a nice entrance to the souk. Here you will find everything variating from fresh fish, meat, fruit and vegetables to tea pots, clothing and furniture. Masses of colourful fruits are stacked on top of each other and bananas are hanging from the roof. This is the place to shop your Moroccan souvenirs as the prices are better here than in the tourist shops.

My tip as a solo female traveller here is to, if you can, go with a local person. This will give you the freedom to just walk and look around without shop owners trying to sell you something. If you are not in the position to go with a local, I still recommend you to go as this, to me, felt more like real Morocco than the rest of the city.

bab 6
Souk el Had

See the Mosques

During your time in Agadir you will probably hear when it is time for prayer because of these mosques. Even though non-Muslims are not allowed to enter, the outsides of these mosques are worth to see. The architecture and the details of all mosques in Morocco amaze me and I think these mosques are just gorgeous. There are two mosques relatively close to each other: Lebanon mosque and Mohamed V mosque.

mosque lebanon

La Medina d’Agadir chez Coco Polizzi

After the earthquake in 1960 an Italian-Moroccan artist named Coco Polizzi designed a new medina in Agadir as a reconstruction of the old medina. Using traditional Berber techniques, this medina feels like an open-air museum. Even though it is not the ‘real’ medina anymore, I do think that it is worth the visit! It is a nice and quiet space and with the entrance ticket you will get a free drink at the terrace. Ticket costs 40 dirhams.

Taghazout

A perfect day in Taghazout

Taghazout

Surfer or no surfer, Taghazout is definitely worth a visit. I went by public bus to this small fishers village, which is now a relaxed surfing heaven. Taghazout has some of the best surf spots in Morocco and offers a lot of classes to beginners and more advanced surfers. I like to surf, but this time I did not go to surf. I took my camera, travel journal and swimsuit and was ready to enjoy a nice and relaxed weekend day.

How to get to Taghazout

To go to Taghazout, which is located around 20 kilometres up North from Agadir, you can take bus 32 from Wilaya – Jardin Belvere and it will cost you 5,5 dirhams. This bus will run every 15 minutes, but be prepared that the bus can run late. After half an hour you will arrive in Taghazout, but make sure to pay attention because the bus driver will not tell you where you are.

I went without a plan, so I was kind of lost in the beginning. However, when you start walking you will soon see that it consists of one big street with shops and restaurants and when you turn left into the small streets and just keep walking, you will end up at the beach. And that is where we want to be! If you want to go surfing, there are tons of surf shops and schools to choose from. Either take classes or rent your equipment and start playing in the sea yourself! As I worked all week and spend the whole Saturday walking in the streets of Agadir, I chose to do the surfing some other time.

Taghazout bus stop

Where the bus stops – Taghazout

Taghazout without surfing?

Also without surfing Taghazout is great fun! Drink a smoothie and eat some healthy food at World of Waves or eat a nice pizza, pasta or tajine at Windy Bay. Both places have a very nice atmosphere, with nice staff and a great view over the beach and the Atlantic ocean. Use one of the stairs to get to the beach and stroll around through all the little boats that are laying on the beach. I used this opportunity to take some pictures of this picturesque spot.

Now that you are on the beach already, you can go enjoy the sea and take a nice swim. At first I did not feel very comfortable with wearing a bikini, but then I saw multiple tourists doing it so it was okay. The local people here are very friendly and they will not stare at you. They are minding their own business and playing some sports on the beach.

World of Waves

World of Waves

Windy Bay

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IMG_9419-min

Anchor Point & Surf Berbere café

After some relaxation at the beach I was ready for the second part of my day: walking towards Anchor Point. This should be the spot to watch the professional surfers, instead I was walking in the heat and I did not see anything spectacular. Maybe it was because of the time of the day and the little amount of wind, but I was a bit disappointed by that. After giving water to some cute kittens there, I walked back to the centre of the village (a 20 minute walk). I decided that I did not want to end my day like this, so I went back to the cafes at the water and sat down at the Surf Berbere café for a nice mint tea. This spot is just like a dream! Sitting on a Berber cushion with a low table and looking at the water with the sun getting lower is the perfect way to end your day in Taghazout. But be aware: practicing your Moroccan tea pouring skills here is maybe not the best idea as the wind might blow your tea away!

The view during the walk to Anchor Point

Moroccan mint tea at Surf Berbere café

The way back to Agadir

Around 6 pm I decided it was time for me to get back to the busy city of Agadir, so I walked back to the same spot where the bus dropped me off. The bus was (according to Google Maps) supposed to come around 6.20 pm but it did not show up. Something past 7 pm the bus was finally there and as I was getting up to go to the bus, I got passed by a lot of locals that tried to get in the bus before everyone else. I ended up standing in the bus again even though it arrived empty.. So be prepared to ‘fight’ for your spot in the bus! On the way back, the bus cost me 7.5 dirhams.

I loved Taghazout and I will definitely go back to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and maybe do some surfing!

 

Moroccan mint tea

Morocco: Where to eat?

Moroccan mint tea

This blog is all about FOOD! Because I LOVE food and I think it is a huge part of a person’s experience at a destination. Food is culture, food is ambiance, food is enjoying what a place has to offer. Still, I do think that the place where you eat is very important and as a vegetarian it is slightly more difficult to find a good spot where you can enjoy some (local) cuisine. Local here is between brackets because we all know that after some days (or meals) you might want something else than local food.

Morocco is famous for its Tajine dishes, couscous with fresh vegetables, pastries and the most delicious mint tea you will ever have! Next up are some places to eat that I loved during my trip to Morocco. Hopefully, as I am living in Morocco, this list can get bigger! But for now: Bon Appetit! 

Marrakech

Let’s start with Morocco’s most popular destination by tourists: Marrakech. This city in the middle of the country is famous for its medina and the Djemaa el Fna square, as it is a famous city trip destination, you can find a lot of nice places to eat. Of course, a lot of travel books like the Lonely Planet already wrote a lot about these places. Still I would like to share some of my pearls, that I enjoyed during my time in Marrakech.

Broc the Kashbah

So my number one we found on one of the last days of our trip. It is a bit further away in the medina but once you get a hold of the medina in Marrakech, it is easy to find. This place is called: “Broc the Kashbah”. There are some nice guys working and it is all about vegetarian and vegan food, vintage clothing and atmosphere and fresh juices! There are only a few dishes on the menu but they are delicious! I liked the fact that they sell vintage clothing and make clothes themselves. The staff working there are super nice and helpful. The whole place screams creativity and fresh food. I would definitely recommend going here if you would like to escape the crowds.

 

NOMAD, Le Jardin, Cafe des Epices

My next tip are three different restaurants in the medina of Marrakech but they are in the same concept. That is why I combined the three of them. You will probably already know these places but as I thought they are very nice, I wanted to share them with you! These places all offer Moroccan dishes with a twist and they are vegetarian friendly! At NOMAD and Café des Epices there is a nice rooftop and both are located nearby a cute square in the medina. Le Jardin is a bit more hidden and is a nice garden inside a building in the medina. They are all worth a visit for either lunch or dinner!

 

Kosy Bar

My last tip in Marrakech is called: “Kosy Bar”. This restaurant is located in the centre of Marrakech near the palaces like the Bahia Palace, which is a famous tourist spot in Marrakech. The best place of Kosy Bar is its rooftop overlooking a small square. Here you can eat dishes like homemade pizzas or Asian food like sushi. But if you prefer the Moroccan cuisine this is also your place!

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view from Kosy Bar

Essaouira

The next city that I would like to discuss is Essaouira. I loved this little fishers town because to me this felt like authentic Morocco. Essaouira is famous for its great waves for surfing and its arty medina. There is a lot of art for sale in the medina and near the coast you can see and buy fresh fish from the fish market.

Le LOVE by Caravane

This restaurant was one of my highlights of my trip. It is divided into two separate restaurants by a little street in the middle of the medina of Essaouira. One restaurant is mainly cocktails and tapas and the other is an a la carte restaurant. Both inspired on the Moroccan cuisine, however with a complete unique twist! The staff is incredibly kind and helpful and the menu is very different and unique. But besides the great and different food, the decorations of this restaurant are what makes this place extra special. It is located in old riads with a lot of light coming from the top and decorated in the brightest colours. Here you can really feel the artistic vibes of Essaouira. The owner himself is an artist, which becomes very clear when you look at the surroundings. If you are lucky, you will experience a traditional show during your dinner. Le LOVE by Caravane is the place to be if you are looking for something unique and exciting!

Vagabond Beach

After a morning of intensive surfing you might want to sit down and enjoy a good lunch. We did this at the Vagabond beach. This relaxed and nice restaurant is located at the surf spot of Essaouira and offers multiple dishes varying from fresh salads with goat cheese to nice homemade burgers. Come here to enjoy a nice view of the beach and the camels laying on the beach waiting for customers.

Le Chalet de la Plage

This place is located at the beginning of the beach of Essaouira and offers what a beach restaurant should offer: fish! However, if you are a vegetarian like me, it is still a very nice restaurant to go to. I enjoyed some of the best filled eggplants (aubergines farcies) I have ever had in my life. However, it is not the cheapest place, but if you have some money to spend, enjoy some nice fresh seafood here or choose one of the other Moroccan dishes.

Rooftop of Le LOVE by Caravane

Fez

Fes was one of my favourite destinations in Morocco. Its ancient, dazzling medina with 9000 streets make you feel lost in a second. However, if you do know where you are and you are looking for a nice place to eat and cool down from the heat: here you can find my favourite spot of the Fes medina.

Nacho Mama

As a vegetarian, the Moroccan kitchen is not always the easiest. So every time we had the option to try something else I was very happy. After a hot day getting lost in the medina of Fes we stumbled upon a tiny, pink restaurant called: “Nacho Mama”. We fell in love with its colours and happiness and its Mexican inspired food! But not only the food is good about this place, the two people (at that time) working here are very kind and make time for you to talk to you. This little Mexican restaurant is set up by a native Moroccan lady called Najat Kanaache who lives in Fes but also lived in Mexico for a while. Najat is an amazing chef and also has another famous restaurant called: “NUR”. I have not been here myself but from what I heard it is a famous restaurant serving Moroccan dishes in a unique way. More about Najat is coming soon on my website so stay tuned!

Rabat

As Rabat is the capital city of Morocco we did not want to skip this place. Here we were impressed by its different medina and its location at the coast. There was one restaurant that stole my heart here..

Le Dhow

It is not the cheapest place in Morocco to eat but it is definitely worth a visit. Le Dhow is an old traditional ship laying at the boulevard of Rabat and serves all kinds of fresh seafood. It has a magical atmosphere to dine on a ship. However it is not entirely vegetarian friendly, besides the salads. So I went here for a seafood risotto and it was delicious (apart from my guilt of course..).