Morocco Traveler’s Recommendations of the Best Places to Dine in Chefchaouen.
CAFE CLOCK
Cafe Clock is the perfect lunch spot in Chefchaouen. The Chefchaouen location is four stories and offers breathtaking, uninterrupted 360-degree views. Try their famous camel burger or roasted chicken with lentils, a Chaouen staple dish. For vegetarians, Cafe Cafe offers Moroccan tapas from Fes, vegetable b’stilla, gazpacho, and aubergine salad with goat cheese and ras el hanout (Moroccan spice with up to 45 ingredients). Cafe Clock is also an ideal place to consider at sunset and for nightlife as it offers Andalusian live music and storytelling. Other activities offered by Cafe Clock are a Cooking Class, Bread baking calligraphy lessons. Current film screenings and musical concert events as listed on their website. The first Cafe Clock was founded in 2006 in Fes by Mike Richardson; a Marrakech kasbah location also exists. For over a decade, the cafe has been recognized as a cultural hub and promotes a cross-cultural exchange between locals and visitors.
Address; 3 Derb Tijani, Chefchaouen, Morocco
Phone: +212-539988788
LA LAMP MAGIQUE
Perched atop the kasbah offering stunning 360 views of the medina and beyond. With 6 floors of seating to choose from, a fireplace on each for the chillier winter evenings there is plenty of space – the terrace being the obvious first choice. Cut out archways, brightly painted floors, and banquette style seating give it an Arabian Nights feel.
Choose from a set three-course meal or try the aubergine with garlic appetizer before chicken tagine with prunes and almonds. Pastilla and other traditional Moroccan dishes such as couscous are also served by friendly wait staff decked out in Aladdin costumes to suit the festive atmosphere.
Address: Rue Targui, Medina
Phone: + 212- 539 98-90 71
CASA HASSAN
The restaurant inside the Casa Hassan is divided into several dining rooms painted in a light blue with a cheerful and bright atmosphere.and welcoming on a chilly evening, when a fire roars and warms the bones. The staff are very hospitable and the open kitchen allows guests to see the chefs at work.
The menu includes the traditional Moroccan fare with a few twists. The fresh goat-cheese salad, a local Rif speciality and a traditional pastilla are just a couple of delights found on the menu here. There is also a fixed price daily special including a starter salad and soup, main and dessert.
Address: Rue Targui,
Phone: +212-5-3999 86 15
DAR COM
Vegetarians will be delighted to find a place where choices abound. Start off with a Moroccan salad, typically three to four veggie dishes – olives, split pea soup, and aubergine puree are serves here. The couscous with seven vegetables, caramelized onion and topped with peanuts will satisfy any hunger before finishing off with a light dessert of sliced orange sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
A romantic setting with little artisanal details everywhere, there are two indoor and two outdoor levels of seating and a view of the town. Perfect for a cozy, relaxing evening meal.
Address: Rue Swika
Phone: +212-661 70 55 70
AL KASBAH
This brightly decorated and cheerful place has an animated feel, with its central dining area and series of secluded booths decked out as Berber tents. A good location in the central medina just off the main square for people watching or checking out a football match on the television screen. Flavourful Moroccan standards are the order of the day – fish tagines and couscous plates – plus a paella that’s worth the extra wait. Food is prepared fresh and served quickly – dishes tend to appear while you’re still finishing the previous course!
Address: Plaza Uta El Hammam
AUBERGE DARDARA
Dar Dara is a most delightful charming auberge within a rural setting in the Rif Mountains that serves up the local gastronomic, hearty fare. It’s a favorite of Moroccans and on the bucket list of many foreign travelers. From Chaouen traditional bisara to goat cheese terrain, eggplant caviar, grilled rabbit, goat tajine and creme du carmel, each bite is guaranteed to offer perfection. Dar Dara uses all organic produce and meat. The owner Jaber is the head of the kitchen and always on-site to supervise. Nestled in the Rif Mountains between Chefchaouen and Fes Dar Dara makes for the ideal dining excursion from Chefchaouen or when driving to Fes. The auberge also offers overnight stays in Berber style decorated rooms, team building, treks, and cooking classes. Moroccan Travel Expert, Alecia Cohen, has coined Dar Dara as a “must place to dine” while visiting Morocco.
Address: 2 N2, Derdara