There are many reasons to visit Agadir, including kilometres of virtually unspoilt sandy beaches, culture that is waiting to be soaked up in the old Kasbah and “new Medina”, days spent surfing or trips to explore impressive natural spaces with mountain gorges and deserts. But all these incentives would count for nothing if you don’t include Agadir’s food, and Moroccan food in general.
If you’re preparing for your trip to Agadir, wondering what you’re going to eat in the city, and unsure whether or not the restaurants are any good – don’t worry! It’s a beach destination and is popular with visitors from both Morocco and abroad, ensuring a wide range of dining options. Agadir has everything from small, local neighbourhood bars to smart restaurants with views of the marina or La Corniche.
We recommend trying traditional Moroccan cuisine in unpretentious restaurants because it’s a great way to discover the country’s culture, but also letting yourself be tempted by other options, such as places with live music and an atmosphere worthy of the Arabian Nights. Of course, treating yourself to refined dining in a restaurant with an international vibe and delicious French dishes is also a wonderful idea; many are top quality and prices aren’t as steep as in Europe.
Typical dishes to try in Agadir
When it comes to traditional cuisine, it’s just as important to know what to eat as where to eat in Agadir. You might be familiar with many of the city’s traditional dishes because they’re the same as those in other parts of Morocco, and may even be part of your everyday diet. Even so, there’s no escaping the fact that they taste better in their place of origin, and the couscous you eat at home probably has little in common with what you’ll find here.
Harira: a hearty soup
Let’s start our list of typical Moroccan dishes with harira, a traditional soup that is a great way to start a meal. You’ll find different versions, but it always has a highly nutritious base of meat (beef or chicken), legumes (lentils or chickpeas), pasta and vegetables. It has a distinctive tomato and spice flavour and is usually thickened with flour to give it a creamy texture. It’s a hearty dish so people often eat it during Ramadan to break their fast.
Tangia or ‘bachelor’s stew’
Tangia is a meat stew normally made with lamb or beef and turmeric, cumin, garlic, lemon pickle and sometimes ras al hanut. It’s oven-roasted in a clay pot called a tangia which gave it its name. This meat dish, often known as ‘bachelor’s stew”, used to be cooked in an earth oven with the ashes of a wood fire, but this cooking method is less common today and communal or domestic ovens are normally used.
Couscous: an essential dish
Couscous is a type of wheat semolina that is commonly used in homes around the world because it’s easy to prepare – but believe us when we tell you that what you’ll eat in Morocco has a far more special flavour. Couscous can refer to both the grain and also a Moroccan dish with beef, lamb or chicken, vegetables, chickpeas, etc. Vegetarian versions also exist.
It’s an extremely popular recipe in North African homes because it’s cheap and easy to make. A meat stew with vegetables is usually made in a tagine and then a couscoussier, a pot that is perforated so the steam from the stew can rise up and cook the grain, is placed on top. This is definitely a dish you have to try in Agadir after a long day on the beach or surfing because it’s traditional, delicious and nutritious.
Sardines: Agadir royalty
Sardines are one of the essential dishes you have to try in Agadir. In fact, this coastal city has one of the most important sardine ports in the Atlantic. We recommend visiting the fishing port first, watching the boats coming and going, and seeing the fishermen go about their daily lives – a world so real and different from the tourist experience. Then, choose a bar or restaurant that serves sardines and get ready to fill your boots. There are several down-to-earth places near the port where you can eat well. Sardines in Agadir are cheap, healthy and are a real treat after a dip in the sea. Bars sometimes don’t serve alcohol, so if you’d like to enjoy them with a beer, make sure to ask first.
Bissara: bean or pea purée
Bissara is a cheap, simple and delicious dish. If you’re not sure what to eat in Agadir, don’t think twice and order it as a starter. If you like the creamy texture of purées and the flavour of vegetables, you’re bound to love it. It’s a common recipe in Morocco and across northern Morocco, and is made with peas (making it green in colour) or beans (turning it white) as the main ingredient, plus garlic, cumin, lemon, paprika, and a drizzle of olive oil. Bissara is similar to the world-famous hummus, which is made from chickpeas, and is also served as a snack or starter in restaurants.
Where to stay in Agadir
A buzzing, happy city like Agadir deserves a hotel to match that will guarantee a lovely stay with the beach on your doorstep and the city centre just minutes away. Why not stay in the Allegro Agadir, a four-star hotel set amid gardens with pools, a buffet restaurant and bars? It has 321 large, fully refurbished rooms so rest and relaxation are guaranteed. Make sure to book one of the prettiest rooms with a terrace and sea views.
If you’re travelling as a family, you can also make use of the Mini Club which has its own pool and garden so your kids can have fun with other children, giving you some free time to go surfing or play golf nearby.
We love the cheerful colours of the hotel’s communal areas and rooms – the Allegro Agadir definitely lives up to its name!
