Location: Essaouira
Top Things to do in Essaouira
Top 10 Museums in Essaouira, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region
Portuguese, French and Berber architecture frame the maze-like streets of Essaouira, a charming and vibrant port and resort town on the Atlantic Ocean. Nearby, couples and families stroll the beaches of Cape Sim and Sidi Kaouki, which also attract surfers of all types. Relaxation is easy to find here, as is a bus to Marrakech, for those looking for a daytrip.
Restaurants in Essaouira
1. Galerie La Grotte
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
2. Touarass Art
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Hicham Touarass est un artiste autodidacte Marocain né à Essaouira le 31 janvier 1981. Issu d’une famille d’artisans spécialisés dans la marqueterie thuya. Sa passion pour l’art commence depuis son enfance ou il manifestait un intérêt pour les tapis berbères marocains tissée par lui même dans son propre atelier qui était le déclin du commencement de sa carrière. Il s’inspirait du travail de son père, motifs, couleurs vives et riches des tapis berbères marocains pour créer ses toiles. Touarass consacre son art à son vécu, représentant la culture, les coutumes et traditions marocaines. Il crée ses toiles en se basant sur de l’huile et de l’acrylique. Il excelle dans plusieurs styles d’art tel que l’art naïf, l’abstrait, le pointillisme, et la calligraphie. Son atelier est ouvert au public aux remparts de l’ancienne médina d’Essaouira sis au N10, rue scala.
3. Tourass Hicham
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
4. Centre d'art Le Real Mogador
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 126 reviews
Ex-Consulate of Italy, this riad has unique architectural features for the medina of Essaouira. A visit is required! Real Mogador offers exhibitions of both Moroccan and foreign artists. Said Ouarzaz, an artist of recognized talent (twice exhibited in Arab World Institut (Paris), King museum of Antwerp,... until Singapore & China), is there permanently: a retrospective of more than 100 paintings is in progress; this is THE EXHIBITION TO SEE in Essaouira. Regular performances are announced on Facebook (Francois.j.Real). Music is part of concept & place! Others artists (musicians, actors, writers,...) are often invited. Soon it will be possible to drink coffee, tea,... or eat home mad fresh salads, cakes,...
Reviewed By 173JenniferG - Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Le Real Mogador was the highlight of our visit to Essaouira! It is a stunning building with absolutely beautiful artwork. I went back 2 times within my stay. The owner is lovely and very willing to let us view the unique artwork. A very special experience!
5. Le Coin Des Artistes
6. Galerie Du Sud - Redone Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Tonyjoe01 - London, United Kingdom
A great place to browse or buy fantastic art works. Redone & Jamal are so helpful & accommodating & make the experience so easy.
7. Galerie l'Arbre bleu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
8. Cooperative Mogador Dag Souiri
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
you find in our showroom Very high-quality silver jewelry. Made by hand by souiri craftsmen in our workshop
Reviewed By annabE1951UW
Ethically and beautifully made silver jewelry. An incredible array of traditional tribal and modern silver jewelry. Also antique tribal finery. You will find it hard to choose. The people are so kind and helpful. We browsed for over an hour and we’were encouraged to take photos. My favorite shop in all of Morocco. A highlight of my trip.
9. Galerie la Kasbah
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
In a beautiful restaured 18th century Riad, Galerie la Kasbah offers its visitors one of the most prestigious art show in all its aspects. Spread over an area of 4300 square feet on the ground floor, including eleven halls, each one represents more than three artists with different schools of art: Realism, Abstract, impressionism, surrealism, symbolism, and calligraphy. Not to mention the Souiri artists whose art is very special (naïve) and have very well succeeded such as Tabal, Bouslai, Atrach, Ali Maimoun, Erraad, Talbi and many others. For lovers of artisanal art (furniture, sculptures, pottery, Zelligs, the first and the second floors display wonderful pieces of art. Galerie la Kasbah has its own collection of 22 artists who passed away that dedicated their life for arts, the collection is at the disposal of experts in plastic art.
Reviewed By 194dannm - Biloxi, United States
This is one of the most interesting places that I have visited in about a dozen countries on 6 continents. I say "place" because it is hard to fit it into a single category: mainly it is a cross between a museum and an arts/cultural artifacts gallery, housed in a fascinating, beautifully preserved, classical Moroccan structure that I learned was once the family home of the three brothers who are the proprietors. The other reviews mention that you can browse at your leisure, with staff available to answer questions. Absolutely true. There is no pressure to buy anything, and a complete willingness to answer questions. I took a brief look in one morning to see if it was worth more time, and brought my wife back the next day. I made it clear that at our age buying was not in the program; we should be unloading rather than adding to our possessions (all true, or so I thought at the time). Absolutely no problem there, I was told. Take your time, feel free to go anywhere and ask anything. So we did, for maybe 3-4 hours. The range of material is impressive, the quality almost uniformly high or better. In the process of looking I was gobsmacked by two pieces. I was severely conflicted: I really didn't want to buy anything; and I didn't want to leave without these. I had a long debate with myself;. My wife and the co-owner with whom we had been speaking were no help -- they had taken me at my word (as I had up to then) that I was not going to be buying anything. It was my dilemma, and they were not going to push one way or the other. (I have been in the collectibles business, and was a terrible salesman. My philosophy was that the item will sell itself to the right person. The proprietors of this gallery seem to share that philosophy, which I appreciated. After the routine hard-sell of the souks throughout Morocco, this was especially welcome.) Ultimately, I decided to buy the two items, and they are now hanging in the entrance hall of our house. We were near the end of our Morocco vacation, and had run our cash down to the point that some of the purchase had to be made with plastic. No problem; and a fair exchange rate to boot. Rather than lug our items with us for two days and then subject them to the vagaries of airline checked luggage, we asked the gallery to FedEx them to us. Again, no problem. Packing was expert; delivery was prompt. I should add that I had a chance for extended conversation with two of the brother/owners. These are sophisticated, highly intelligent men, and making their acquaintance was a privilege. I would love to have had more time to get to know them better. If you are in Essaouira (which you should be for at least a couple of days if you visit Morocco), you would be making a serious mistake not to spend at least several hours here. And if you seriously do not want to buy anything, leave your cash and cards at the hotel to make it just a little harder to give in should the urge arise.
10. Synagogue Slat Lkahal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By Irl2304 - Drogheda, Ireland
As I had studied the Jewish Synagoge in College, I was very interested in the synagogue in Marrakech. On the day I visited it was very quiet., it is not used as a place of worship but is maintained by people. It is a small building but completes with everything.A friend who was with me loved the ambiance of the place. The synagogue is in the centre of the Jewish quarter, where Jewish people lived and worked. Both are worth a visit as the Jewish people are part of the history of Marrakech
