11 Best Cafes in Essaouira to Visit Right Now

Love coffee and want to visit one of the best cafes in Essaouira? If so then you have come to the right place. Not only do I love coffee almost as much as I love life itself, but I live in Essaouira.

Yeah, I have been living here since January of 2023 and absolutely love it.

So, I make it my mission to find the best coffee in Essaouira every chance I can get. Sure, Morocco is known for its amazing mint tea. But, there are a wealth of Essaouira coffee shops that serve some amazing brew and cool snacks too.

Many of these spots also make great places to hang out since they have comfy seats, fun decor, and a chill vibe.

Therefore, no one would fault you if you wanted to spend the day sipping coffee and relaxing.

After all, that is kind of what Essaouira is all about. It’s a quiet little beach down where you can slow down and enjoy the chill vibe of the city.

So, use my local guide to the best coffee places in Essaouira to grab some delish coffee. This way you can chill out like a total pro in one of my favorite cities in Morocco.

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1. Cafe L’Espirit

I stumbled across this super cute Essaouira cafe the VERY first time I was in the city and it was awesome.

Not only are the staff super lovely and happy to chat with you about anything, but my cappuccino was great and the avocado toast is always delicious.

It’s a great place for a low-key breakfast in Essaouira, especially if you’re over Moroccan food. Additionally, I love that they have all this comfy, cozy seating lining the quiet side street right in front of the cafe.

This coffee shop in Essaouira is small though and you definitely won’t be able to sit inside. I also would not visit on a rainy day since basically all of their seating is outdoors.

So, if you are looking for a quiet cafe to chill in then this is the place to go since it is a bit removed from the main streets of the Medina.

FYI, they are generally open between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm daily. However, like with most things in Morocco, that isn’t set in stone can absolutely change.

You can also find some of the best hotels in Essaouira and some rad Essaouira riads on the road too.

2. Hostel La Smala Rooftop

One of my favorite things to do in Essaouira is to head up to the roof of Hostel La Smala and enjoy the amazing views of the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean and the Old Skala. You can almost see some of the best beaches in Essaouira too.

Yeah, this cafe in Essaouira has some of the best views in the city and is a great place to relax after a long Essaouira day trip since it’s one of the best hostels in Essaouira too.

The white, beach-inspired tables, round wicker lanterns, and potted cactuses kind of make you wanna stay forever.

In terms of the menu, the prices are pretty reasonable and you can order things like the Smala Veggie, It is a great sandwich made with delish grilled veggies, kabab bread, salad, a honey vinaigrette, and their signature sauce.

It’s really good but the menu is quite small and really only features three sandwiches total, although they do serve brekkie until noon.

However, if you’re looking for something sweet then you can dig into a variety of crepes, ice creams, and milkshakes, in addition to coffee, fresh juice, mocktails, and sodas.

The staff are also friendly and they have great wifi, as well as seats with comfy cushions. My one complaint is that their seats aren’t beneath full shade.

So, the rooftop can get hot during the day and bright sunlight can make your laptop hard to see. The also sometimes close off the rooftop to non-guests during peak season in Essaouira (like July and August).

Local Tip: Like most cafes in Essaouira, this place does not serve alcohol and is not an Essaouira bar. You’ll have to go to a restaurant or hotel to drink in Essaouira.

3. Mandala Society

I first visited the Mandala Society in Marrakech for brunch and then later visited the location in Essaouira where the franchise was started.

The good news is that this place is big and they serve coffee/cappuccinos made with non-dairy milk – a real rarity in Morocco that makes this one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Essaouira.

The bad news is that this place is always packed with people and the prices can feel high at 75 Dirhams ($7.50) for a brunch entree. It’s also hard to work here since there are signs prohibiting the use of laptops in certain places.

I have eaten here a couple of times and the food is really good, as is the coffee. I love the banana bread with amlou and chocolate sauce as well as the avo toast.

Sure, this feels like more of a restaurant in Essaouira, but we have definitely sat down and had some Tiramisu cake here, which was delish btw.

All in all, this is one of my fave breakfast spots in Essaouira and I will keep coming back. They also have a great Essaouira brunch menu that comes complete with tons of gluten-free options in Essaouira.

4. L’Atelier-Café Boutique

I love this place so much and come here every chance I can get. I mean, the decor is delightful, the space is hella big, and they serve an amazing array of cookies, cakes, waffles, and drinks.

TBH, their coffee isn’t my favorite. But, everything else is amazing. I ordered their homemade quiche and gobbled it up. I love that it was served with a cute side salad instead of bread.

I know they also have avocado toast but I have never had it myself. Yeah, the savory items aren’t on the main menu. But, you can find these items featured on the menu hanging on the right above the main counter above the cakes.

Additionally, there are tons of tables inside and a huge, round work table in the back. So, bring your laptop and take advantage of their awesome wifi.

Afterward, check out their fun boutique and do some shopping in Essaouira since they have lots of cool things for sale. You can even find some fun accessories to add to your Essaouira wardrobe.

You can also sign up for a fun Essaouira cooking class or even try out making bread if you are wondering how to spend the day in Essaouira.

You can also visit the best hammam in Essaouira afterward since it is literally right next door.

5. Picknick Cafe

Picknick Cafe in Essaouira isn’t big. But the interior decor is lovely, making this a great place to hang out.

You can also grab a seat at an outdoor table since this Essaouira coffee shop sits along a main road and is the perfect place for people-watching.

I love the coffee as well as the avocado toast and the falafel bowl. It’s just a really lovely place to go sit with a coffee and eat something light/healthy to eat for breakfast or lunch.

Yeah, the do a lot of salad bowls here, which is a nice change of pace from traditional Moroccan cuisine.

It’s not a great place to do work though since this cafe in Essaouira is small and has these odd tables made out of metal bowls. So, the surface of the table dips down and makes it hard for you to lay your laptop flat on the table.

The tables are cute but not helpful when it comes to work. But, this cafe is super cute and a great place to hang out before you travel from Essaouira to Marrakech.

6. Koozina Garden

If you are heading to the Supratours bus station then visit Koozina Garden since it’s on the way. It’s a charming cafe that sits on this spacious patio just outside the Medina.

So, grab a comfy seat at a distressed white table and sit beneath pieces of green cloth that hang above you and provide you with much-needed protection from the sun.

It feels like you’re sitting on the patio of someone’s garden, making this a great place to chill for an hour or two before you leave the city.

I also love that this cafe has some pretty cool drinks and food for you to order. Last time I stopped by I had the banana cinnamon juice and the date and goat cheese salad.

Both were fresh and delicious, although I thought my drink was a bit expensive at 35 Dirhams ($3.50). However, I love the atmosphere and the fact that you can try lots of cool things at one of the best cafes in Essaouira.

And if you’re not sure how much time to spend in Essaouira then definitely make time to stop by this epic spot since it is a safe spot in Essaouira.

7. Saha Kfe

This Essaouira coffee shop is another fave of mine. See, many local kitties like to stop by and hang out at the tables and chairs of this outdoor cafe in Medina.

So, I like to stop by and play with my feline friends when I have a bit of extra time on my hands.

They also have Wifi and make a mean cappuccino as well as a delish avocado toast. I also love that the staff are super friendly and invite you to sit down and chill for as long as you like.

Yeah, you never feel rushed or like you have to leave your table even when they are busy.

Sure, the food menu isn’t huge. But, the cafe is atmospheric since all of the tables sit outside in a small square.

They also serve a small selection of foods like breakfast (just bread/Moroccan breads and butter), msemen, Berber omelets, fresh yogurt, and more.

A variety of coffees and fresh juices are also available and are super refreshing on a hot day. I had the mango, orange, and banana juice the last time I stopped by and loved it. I thought it was a bit expensive at 40 Dirhams ($4.00) though.

But, this is an all-around great place to sit and chill if you need a break from kite surfing and surfing in Essaouira.

8. Kesh Cup

I initially discovered Kesh Cup during my first few days in Marrakech. I loved that they had a wide variety of high-quality espresso drinks as well as tons of monins to flavor your drink with.

Like the location in Marrakech, Kesh Cup in Essaouira is pretty small. There are many four or five-stools for you to sit down at and grab a nice cappuccino, latte, or espresso.

Because this is more of a grab-and-go place, I wouldn’t spend a ton of time here. Yeah, seating is limited and you are right on a main street. There is also no food, but they are open on most major holidays.

So, if you need a coffee in Essaouira and nothing else is open, Kesh Cup has got you covered.

9. Bonzo Coffee Shop

Need a break from the Medina? If so then head to Bonzo’s. This super Instagrammable cafe is about a 15-minute walk from the Medina and serves up an amazing latte.

I also just really love the decor here since it includes fun graphics on the walls as well as lots of neon signs.

They are also super well-priced (20 Dirhams for a latte) and you can get a ton of cool specialty drinks like a caramel macchiato, a matcha latte, milkshakes, mojitos, boba, juices, and more.

Plus, they have a fairly decent food menu too. So, if you want a quick bite to eat or a snack then try their bubble waffles, regular waffles, cakes, pancakes, grilled cheese, and more.

I am a fan of the whipped cream Nutella bubble waffles. I also LOVE that nothing here will cost you more than 30 Dirhams ($3.00) max! So, stop by and visit one of the best coffee shops in Essaouira.

Oh, and they are open until like 10:00 pm. So, this is a great place to go if you need a late-night coffee fix.

10. Pumpkin

Pumpkin is one of the first coffee shops I stumbled upon in Essaouira since it sits right on the main street in the Medina.

It’s a small spot, with charming pink and white decor that has a cozy French country vibe. I don’t usually sit down here since this place is pretty small and only has a few tables inside and outside beneath the awning.

But, they do serve a good latte and have a variety of homemade baked goods for sale. So, you can get everything from brownies to homemade bread and energy balls.

My partner is a huge fan of the brownie while I love their energy balls. They are healthy and satisfying and come in three unique flavors.

They also sell a small selection of sandwiches, although every time I was here they were out of hummus. So, I was never able to try the sammie I wanted.

They are also cash only so definitely have some handy before you visit. They are also open late so this is one of the best things to do in Essaouira in the evening.

11. Sisterhood Coffee and Shop

Last but certainly not least is this super stylish, wonderfully Instagrammable cafe in the Medina. It’s filled with awesome tile work, funky decor, and mismatched tables/chairs that make this a massively cool place to hang out.

Yes, the prices are a bit high, but they serve nice espresso-based drinks and my partner loves their brownie. They have also recently expanded their menu to include more savory items too, as well as brunch.

Therefore, you can check out their brunch menu and relax on their newly opened terrace as you enjoy things like avocado toast, banana peanut butter toast, etc.

You can also stop by for breakfast, which features an array of traditional Moroccan breads. After you eat, have a look through their vintage store and see what kind of cool things you can find.

Also, keep an eye on their social media accounts since they regularly host a bunch of cool pop-up events and dance workshops for the community, complete with live DJs.

Map of the Best Cafes in Essaouira

That wraps up this guide to the best coffee places in Essaouira. Did your fave places make the list? If not then let me know.

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