Essaouira: eat fresh fish at the port without a surprise bill

How the port grills work

At the port entrance, stalls lay out sardines, sea bream, red mullet, squid, prawns and sometimes lobster on ice. You choose what you want to eat, it is weighed, then grilled in front of you and served with bread, salad and sauces.

The price depends on the species and the weight. Sardines and small fish are very cheap. King prawns and lobster push the bill up quickly.

Good habits

Ask the price per kilo of each fish before choosing. Once weighed, have the total announced, including bread, salad and drinks, and confirm it before the fish goes on the grill. Be wary of stalls where you are rushed or where prices are not displayed.

Another option, popular with locals: buy your fish at the medina fish market, then have it grilled for a small fee at one of the nearby eateries that offer this service.

The right time

Come at lunchtime, when the blue boats are back and the fish is the day's catch. After your meal, enjoy the port itself: the yards where wooden boats are still built, the gulls and the view of the Skala are all free.