If you are looking for the best rooftop bars – with sounds and some stunning sunset views over Essaouira, then this is the post for you. We did the background checks, the leg work, maybe a little dancing and some taste testing on 5 rooftop bars in Essaouira just for you! And we CAN confirm that each of these rooftop bars in Essaouira serve alcohol, they have great views and they serve food.
At the end of this research we discovered that while there aren’t a lot of options for rooftop bars in Essaouira… the 5 that we found had good vibes. There is something about music in Morocco, and each of these roof-top bars that we mention below all have one thing in common… good music and great vibes!
If you haven’t visited Morocco before, then I need to quickly introduce you to Gnaoua. Because much of the rooftop music scene in Essaouira is focused around live music, and much of what you’ll hear is gnaoua.
Gnaoua music is played on a local instrument that goes by the name gimbri or sintir. It consists of three strings and is played by plucking the strings whilst tapping the drum-like body of the instrument. The sound is a rhythmic bass, and when incorporated with the metal castanets and song… a sound uniquely Moroccan is created. It gets inside you and before you know it, you are moving in time to the rhythm.
Gnaoua is what you want to hear as the sun sets beyond the ramparts of Essaouira! Here are our top five places to do it…
Also: check out our posts on Best Restaurants in Essaouira & Complete Guide to Street Food in Essaouira.
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Table of Contents
Taros Bar
🪕 Gnaoua music plays some nights
🍻 Alcohol is served
💃 Dance floor is FUN when it starts
🗺 Location – within the medina
This is without a doubt one of the busiest rooftop bars and music scenes in Essaouira. You are less likely to hear gnaoua here, but you are very likely to find a good time.
At 6pm this is a busy sundowner hub, so get there early to grab a good seat. There are several terraces and mezzanine levels to catch the sun go down, each with great views. From the right spot you can get a great view over the large square and the iconic Sqala du Port of Essaouira. And the live music alternates from one night to the next.
They have a menu and bar snacks if you feel like grabbing dinner at the same time. And if you stay on till around 9pm Taros transforms into a dance floor. July and August are the busiest months by far, with everyone flocking to Essaouira for the cooler days and evenings.
We thoroughly recommend Taros for a great night out. It’s definitely the place to be after 10pm until the early hours of the morning. The DJ hits some great tunes, the dancing is fun, and the crowds are out for a good night.
We can recommend the 1Litre handle of Flag Beer as good value for money!
Salut Maroc Riad & Bar
🪕 Gnaoua didn’t play during our visit
🍻 Alcohol is served
💃 No dance floor
🗺 Location – within the medina
Salut Maroc pops with colour AND atmosphere. The bright and bold colours draw you in through the large doors of the beautiful riad and up a few flights of stairs to the rooftop. If you’re eating, you’ll be directed to the right with some of the best views in the house. From these seats you’ll eat dinner as you overlook the rampart walls and canons, out towards the sea.
If you are just stopping in for a drink, you’ll be guided to the left. In a cosy corner, take a seat among large floor cushions, colourfully painted and tiled walls. Order yourself a local Casablanca beer and enjoy the golden hour from one of the prettiest rooftop terrace bars in Essaouira.
Salut Maroc gets a thumbs up from us… the staff were super friendly, the beer was cold, and the views were perfect. There was no live music on the night we went, but it was still one of my fav rooftop bars in Essaouira.
Il Mare Restaurant
🪕 Gnaoua plays every night in the restaurant
🍻 Alcohol is served
💃 No dance floor
🗺 Location – within the medina
Another great place within the medina walls for sundowners, live music and a seafood dinner. You will hear Il Mare before you see it. This is because the gnaoua plays every night over summer and it bounces out over the rampart walls.
Il Mare is divided into seating areas. Guests who are there for dinner get the prime seats on the top terrace floor with the gnaoua playing metres from the tables. While those who there just for a drink are given a table on the terrace below.
So, this is what I recommend… if you are not planning on eating dinner then best to order something small and try get a table on the top floor. This is where the energy is and the music too of course. The music is well worth it!
Recontre Rooftop Terrace
🪕 Gnaoua plays every night
🍻 Alcohol is served when requested
💃 No dance floor
🗺 Location – within the medina
Now in my opinion this is gnaoua at it’s finest. The gnaoua band play every night from 7pm and they are incredible. We visited Recontre twice and the first night the band weren’t able to play due to another commitment. However, we went back a couple of nights later… and I’m super glad we did because the energy was awesome!
The space is small, and the view is kind of restricted… but that doesn’t matter when the music plays. The crowd is a mixed group, but a lot did tend to be Moroccan which tells that these are repeat customers who come for great music.
The roof top terrace extends over two levels and overlooks the rampart walls. The best view is from the top mezzanine, but for front row music grab a seat on the first terrace. You can order food here, but it really does lend itself more towards being a place for drinks. Just quietly alcohol isn’t on the menu, but you can ask for a beer which they will happily serve.
The Roof Top Bar
🪕 Gnaoua plays some nights
🍻 Alcohol is served
💃 Small dance floor
🗺 Location – outside the medina, views over the beach
This is great place if you are staying outside the medina or you want a sundowner after an afternoon on the beach. Approximately half way along Essaouira beach, the Roof Top is trendy, it’s busy and the staff are super friendly. Ask for Redouan if you visit, say My Free Range Family sent you and he’ll take good care of you.
At the Roof Top you can expect beautiful views over Essaouira beach, a DJ playing tracks that you’ll find yourself humming along to, or later in the evening live gnaoua music. A Spanish inspired menu of tapas is available if you are feeling hungry. We ate croquettas and patatas bravas with our Flag Special beer, while the kids each tucked into a soda.
The Roof Top is split over a couple of rooftop terraces, so there is plenty of space to find a table of your preference. The cushioned seats were comfortable, and the Mediterranean inspired design will leave you with those warm fuzzy holiday feels.
Map to the Best Rooftop Bars in Essaouira
As always, I love to leave you with a little map to help you find your way around the best rooftop bars in Essaouira.
Tap on the numbers to find the exact location and to navigate to the bar of your choice.
Please note: This post is relevant for the high season. In the quieter months, you can expect that these bars may temporary close or music schedules to change.
Taking Children to Rooftop Bars in Essaouira
In all of the bars we have mentioned above, children are welcome. Keeping in mind we were visiting between the timings of 6pm to 9pm for sundowners and dinner.
While kids are definitely welcome, we recommend taking a few things for them to do as the bars are not necessarily set up for children. This way everyone gets to enjoy themselves, the adults included.
More on Essaouira and Morocco
We spent a month in Essaouira, we got to know our way around and so we created this Essential A-Z Guide of Essaouira, be sure to check it out for more tips and tricks. Here are some other posts that you might find helpful for your vacation in Essaouira.
- 12 Best Restaurants in Essaouira
- 16 Best Things to do in Esaouira
- Staying at the Ryad Watier – A Full Review
- 8 Best Riad Stays in Essaouira
Feel free to send a message if you have any questions about planning your stay in Essaouira. And don’t forget to drop your comments below if you have more rooftop bars in Essaouira to add to this list
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