9 Best Vegan Restaurants in Essaouira Right Now!

If you’re living the vegan life and looking for the best vegan restaurants in Essaouira then this guide is for you.

After all, I have been living in Essaouira since January of 2023 and know all about living on a plant-based diet since my partner is vegetarian. I know, he is like the only Moroccan who hates meat.

As a result, we regularly go out to eat and look for amazing vegan places to eat in Essaouira. I too like a plant-based diet and like to eat vegan whenever I can.

Thankfully, you will have NO problem finding something to eat as a vegan in Essaouira. There are a ton of options available and you deffo won’t go hungry.

However, if I had one tip for you it would be that you usually don’t need to go to specialty vegan restaurants to find vegan food. In fact, you can usually find vegan food at non-vegan restaurants in Essaouira.

In fact, most restaurants throughout the city serve vegetarian tajine and vegetarian couscous, both of which are usually vegan.

Sure, you can go to vegan restaurants. But, you will usually have to pay more since they specialize in plant-based cuisine. Basically, it just depends on you and what is more important to you.

If you care more about saving money, then go to a traditional restaurant in Essaouira and order a vegan option.

However, if you’re sick of eating veggie tajine (been there) and want a variety of options, or just don’t want to ask the server 50 questions to make sure the food is actually vegan, then hit up some of the restaurants on this list.

I have visited all of these spots and will give you my HONEST review. This way you can actually decide if the place is worth visiting as you enjoy being vegan in Essaouira.

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Best Vegan Restaurants in Essaouira

1. Shyadma’s Vegan Food

Alright, I dragged my partner here because this vegan restaurant is well-located in the Medina and has a wide variety of vegan foods to choose from.

I was pretty excited to eat here but then that excitement turned to disappointment. I dunno whether the restaurant was short staffed or the the chef was just having a bad day, but it took us nearly two hours to get our food.

Full disclosure, we were not the only ones who were annoyed by the wait since another couple with a small child almost left.

Anyway, when we finally did get our food it was okay. My partner had the falafel while I had a veggie tajine. Basically, it was alright but not amazing enough for us to want to go back.

Sorry, to be so negative, but I can’t lie and say I had an amazing time here. Nor do I want to go back and see what else they have to offer.

So, my best advice is to give it a try and hopefully, you enjoy it more than we did. Maybe stop by before you get super hungry. This way if you have to wait awhile it isn’t a huge deal.

Local Tip: Be sure to get a SIM card in Morocco before you visit so that you don’t have to rely on restaurant WIFI.

2. Le Corail Vegan Food

Alright, this vegan restaurant is marginally better than Shyadma’s Vegan Food. Yes, the service was slow. However, our food came out faster than at Shyadma’s Vegan Food.

I ordered the chickpea tajine and really liked the flavor. I wish it had had more sauce, but other than that I thought it was really good. In contrast, my partner hated the falafel and struggled to finish it.

He said that the owner bragged about how good the falafel was but then the falafel tasted like he had never had real falafel in his life. It was also expensive and like 10 Dirhams for one falafel.

So, if you stop by then be sure to order a tajine. They have a bunch to choose from. Remember, falafel isn’t a traditional Moroccan food and a lot of people in Essaouira don’t know how to make it.

Yup, you’re much better off ordering something Moroccan instead. My partner is just nuts and basically only eats falafel.

3. Triskala

Alright, the first thing you need to know about Triskala is that the menu is small (maybe 12 items) and not everything is vegan-friendly. However, the last time I was here with friends they had at least two vegan options on the menu.

My friend ordered the falafel and said it was cooked to perfection. Trust me, that is high praise since she is Lebanese and has been to Lebanon a bunch.

Anyway, I had the Rfissa with lentils and it was really good. My only issue was that what they gave me was not Rfissa. See, Rfissa is a dish that is made out of noodles that are made out of mssemen.

It is usually made with meat, so any time I see a veggie option I get it. However, what they gave me were thin noodles (used in Seffa) that were topped with tons of tasty lentils and carrots.

The food was amazing and I gobbled it up. But, it wasn’t what I expected since Seffa and Rfissa are two very different Moroccan foods.

Overall, though, I would definitely come back. The food is good, the staff are friendly, and the decor makes you want to hang out here.

Just be aware that they don’t open for dinner until 6:30 pm. We showed up too early and had to wait around since they close in between lunch and dinner. Whoops.

4. Mandala Society

This is another one of my all-time favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurants in Essaouira. I like it because everything on the menu is marked as either vegan or vegetarian-friendly.

So, you don’t really have to guess what is vegan or ask a ton of questions when you order. Just look at the menu and choose from amazing options like a smoothie bowl or Mandalavoca (like avocado toast) for breakfast in Essaouira.

Or, if you want to eat later in the day then opt for the bean burger, the Buddha Bowl, the Mediterranean Falafel, or the Crunchy Quinoa.

Personally I have had the Mediterranean Fafafel and the Buddha Bowl. I hated the falafel and LOVED the Buddha Bowl.

I thought the veggies tasted great and were cooked to perfection, making the meal feel very healthy and fresh. In contrast, the falafel tasted weird and like it was cooked by someone who has never had real falafel.

Overall, I have been to this place many times and love it. I just think I prefer their breakfast/brunch menu in Essaouira since I think the dishes are stronger than what is on their lunch/dinner menu.

Also, please be sure to bring cash when you visit since they do not accept credit cards.

5. Pasta Baladin

If you are sick of Moroccan food or are just really craving some authentic Italian pasta, then stop by Pasta Baladin.

No really, the food is actually good since the owner is from Turin and knows exactly how to make AMAZING pasta that you can’t stop eating.

The last time I came here I ordered the Verdure Miste and it was very tasty. The pasta was well-cooked, the sauce was flavorful, and it came with loads of peppers, eggplant, zucchini, fresh tomatoes, and onion.

They even have gluten-free pasta available too. So, if someone you know is gluten-free in Essaouira then this is a great place to go.

All in all, the portions are generous, the staff is lovely, and my partner adores the Tiramisu (obviously not vegan-friendly). I just wish the pasta came with a bit more sauce.

6. Azouka Eatery

Azouka Eatery is like this oasis of calm in the Medina since you can dine among beautiful, potted plants. It’s also a place where you can go to order amazing fusion Scandinavian and Moroccan cuisine.

No really, this place is unlike anywhere else in Essaouira and they always have a few unique vegan-friendly options. So, if you are over tajine then please come here. They serve super unique food I haven’t seen anywhere else in Morocco.

The last time I stopped by, I ordered the green hummus and eggplant zaalouk. Yeah, I was starving.

Both were amazing and I think the zaalouk was one of the best I have ever had. I also thought the sourdough bread was incredible and I basically could NOT stop eating it.

FYI, the oat cookies are also amazing but I don’t think they are vegan-friendly, unfortunately. I also love that the staff are super friendly and make you feel like you are part of the family. So, nice and it always make me want to come back.

7. KSOU Cafe and Restaurant

The first thing I love about KSOU is that the views from the rooftop are amazing. I could just sit here for hours and look out at the ocean.

The second thing I love is that they have recreated these amazing Berber tents. You can snuggle up inside one while on the roof and enjoy some live music as you enjoy one of the best things to do in Essaouira at night.

Full disclosure? This place can get very crowded and the service can sometimes be very hit or miss. That’s why I suggest visiting at an off time.

However, the veggie couscous is lovely. I like that it is served with tons of lentils on top and is very saucy. I also like that they have a wealth of fun drinks to choose from too.

The only negative is that there aren’t a ton of vegan options to choose from. So, if you visit then you might feel a bit limited on what you can order.

8. Asian Red Food

I am putting Asian Red Food on this list because it is basically the only Asian restaurant in the city. It is also a nice, low-key eatery that serves vegan options like spring rolls, vegetable stir-fry with rice, Thai curry, and vegetable-fried noodles.

The last time I was here I had the vegetable green curry. I liked that it was actually spicy and that the staff offered to give me extra rice (at no charge) when I ran out.

I also liked that the prices were very reasonable and that everything was between 60 and 75 Dirhams ($6.00 and $7.50). However, the spice in the curry kind of overpowered all the other flavors. As a result, I don’t think I’d order the curry again.

However, I would like to come back and try some of their other dishes since I have heard great things. Plus, I mean there is only so much tajine I can eat before getting bored (LOL).

9. Beach and Friends

Beach and Friends definitely isn’t my all-time fave restaurant in Essaouira. However, I added it to the list because it sits all the way at the end of the beach in Essaouira and features beautiful views of the ocean.

Therefore, it’s a great place to sit at a table, overlooking the ocean, as you dig into vegan fare like a quinoa salad, Thai salad, and a falafel burger.

TBH, I think the prices are a bit steep and that the food is good, but not great. However, that makes sense since you’re really here to sit by the ocean.

It’s also worth noting that this is one of the best bars in Essaouira. So, the music comes on at night and the restaurant turns into a dance floor. Therefore, stop by before 9:00 pm if you don’t feel like dancing the night away.

Map of the Best Places to Eat in Essaouira for Vegans

Conclusion

That just about wraps up this guide and I hope you now understand where to eat in Essaouira as a vegan. Trust me, you will not go hungry and will have a ton of delicious foods to choose from.

If all else fails, just order things like amlou, Moroccan salads, tajine, zaalouk, couscous, Moroccan bread, etc.

You can even do a bit of shopping in Essaouira and pick up these amazing foods if you don’t feel like going out to eat. Do this and you’ll be able to enjoy all the vegan culinary awesomeness that Essaouira has to offer.

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