Where to Eat in Ouarzazate With Kids

We were only in Ouarzazate for two nights, so this is not a long list. But of the places we tried, two were good enough that I would go back for them, and they are the two I point people to when they ask where to eat in Ouarzazate with kids. One is casual and costs almost nothing, the other is the nicest restaurant in town. Both worked with a three year old and a seven year old, which is the real test.

Where to Eat in Ouarzazate With Kids: Our Two Favorites

We were not in Ouarzazate long so we didn’t get to try too many places.  But there were two standout restaurants of those we tried that I highly recommend that are probably the best restaurants in Ouarzazate.  If you are coming from Marrakech, remember that the further you trek into the desert, the fewer food options you will have.  We were told by our guide and read on many blogs that you need to be careful what you eat in rural areas when heading to the desert.  Apparently, a lot of this is due to the lime(the mineral, not the citrus fruit) content in the water.  Westerners are not used to the lime content in the water here and it can have unfortunate tummy results.  It is best to stay away from all raw produce, fruits, etc, due to this.  It is also wise to stay away from any seafood…

Back to where we ate!  We enjoyed a delicious home cooked breakfast every morning at our Riad, complementary, as it goes pretty much everywhere in Morocco. 

It was interesting to see the egg dishes and preparation as you head into the desert as it varied from what we experienced in the Marrakech, Fes and surrounding areas.  The eggs here and in the Sahara were packed with so much flavor and spices, they were wonderful!  I try to recreate these egg dishes now that we are home but they are never the same….sad face.  To read more on our Riad in Ouarzazate, visit our Where to Stay page.

For Something Casual: The Full Sun

The Full Sun is a cafe offering Moroccan and international cuisine.  When we found this place, it was still a bit new with only 10 reviews (since then it’s popularity is snowballing).  The reviews were so detailed and those few people were really raving about it so I thought why not?  People were right!  We were so surprised at how good the food was.  We took a break from the typical Moroccan fair we had been consuming and ordered some international cuisine.

Dawson ordered the burger and to his surprise it was one of the better burgers he has eaten in any country!  I was shocked to hear him say that, and the fact that this burger was the equivalent of $3 USD, overjoyed!  Kaida, our 3-year-old, was excited to see lasagna on the menu as it is one of the few food items she eats.  It was a welcome break from the french fries she had been eating for every meal. It too was only $3 USD, and could have fed nearly two adults!  I ordered the pasta carbonara, which was good, not the best, but a pleasant break from Moroccan food to switch things up.  Overall, this cafe was clean, the staff friendly, the portions large and inexpensive but most importantly the food was delicious!!  We easily could have eaten all of our meals here and been happy.  This is definitely one of the best restaurants in Ouarzazate if you are looking for casual and super affordable.

You can read reviews and details for The Full Sun on TripAdvisor.

For Something Fancy: Jardin Des Arômes

Jardin Des Arômes is a lovely French/Moroccan restaurant.  Probably one of the highest end restaurants in Ouarzazate but pricing is still lower than you would find eating at a restaurant of this caliber stateside or in Europe.  The food was incredible!!!  It was Moroccan but with the delicate touch of the French.  Moroccan food tend to be large, heavy, and filling so it was nice to experience Moroccan food in a way that wasn’t so intense.

We ordered the caramelized chicken tajine and pastilla and a puff pastry trio, each with a different meat and seasoning.  We were very happy.  Everything was packed full of flavor, perfectly cooked and not overly heavy like I mentioned earlier.  The pastilla au lait for dessert was delectable!  It’s essentially a milk pastilla and tastes a little bit like cereal, but in every good way.  A must try! Our server was pleasant but the service was a bit slow (which I attribute to the fact that we went on the first day they reopened after COVID and the party of 15 people that ordered the same time as us).  The atmosphere upstairs was really nice, the tables are set in a beautiful outdoor garden.  This is one of the best restaurants in Ouarzazate if you are looking for high end dining and delicious French/Moroccan fusion..

You can find more information and reviews for Jardin Des Arômes on TripAdvisor.

Tips for Eating Out in Ouarzazate With Kids

A few things worth knowing before you plan your meals here.

Ouarzazate is your last easy stop for food variety. The further you go toward the desert, the fewer options there are, so if your children need a break from Moroccan food this is the town to take it in. The Full Sun is the obvious place for that, and a plate of pasta or a burger for around three dollars buys a lot of goodwill from a tired child.

Be careful with raw food as you head south. Our guide told us the same thing we had read in a dozen places: the mineral content of the water in rural areas is not what western stomachs are used to, so it is worth avoiding raw produce and fruit you have not peeled yourself, and skipping seafood entirely this far inland.

Breakfast is almost always included. Riads across Morocco include it, ours did, and the egg dishes get better and more heavily spiced the closer you get to the Sahara. Do not skip it and buy breakfast out, you will be paying for something worse.

Book the nicer place earlier in the evening. Service at Jardin des Arômes was slow on our visit, and while there were good reasons for it that night, a slow kitchen and hungry children are a bad combination. Go early and let the garden do the entertaining.

For the rest of the town, our Ouarzazate with kids guide covers how it fits into a Morocco route, and there is more in the best things to do in Ouarzazate with kids, where to stay in Ouarzazate with a family and our Ouarzazate family itinerary.