Restaurant Khmissa
- Getting there
- A short walk from the fishing port, inside the Essaouira medina walls
Why it’s in the log
Khmissa is a small, family-run restaurant a few minutes' walk from Essaouira's working fishing port, and the port is the reason it's worth seeking out — the fish on the menu comes from the boats a short walk away, not a cold-storage supply chain. The signature dish is a slow-cooked fish casserole, built up in layers rather than grilled and plated fast.
It's a simple room, not styled for photos, and the review count for a place this size says something about how consistently it delivers rather than a marketing push. Locals and travelers turn up for the same reason: the fish is what it's supposed to be.
Go for lunch, when the catch is freshest and the kitchen has the day's best ingredients to work with.
“Order whatever fish came in that morning and let them cook it their way — that's the whole point of the place.”