Best Rooftop Restaurants in Chefchaouen — Views Over the Blue City

The whole appeal of a Chefchaouen rooftop is the panorama. From a terrace above the medina you look across a tumble of blue-washed houses and stepped lanes to the Rif mountains that cradle the town — the twin peaks that give Chefchaouen its name (from the Berber for 'look at the horns'). It is one of the most distinctive townscapes in Morocco, and the rooftops are the best place to take it in over a meal or a pot of tea.

The food on the terraces is honest mountain Moroccan: tagines (including the good local vegetable and goat versions), kefta, salads, and the region's cheese and honey, served simply. Many rooftops belong to guesthouses and small restaurants clustered around Plaza Uta el-Hammam and up the medina slopes, and they tend to be relaxed and unpretentious rather than glossy — in keeping with the town's laid-back, traveller-friendly mood. Mint tea and pastries make a fine reason to climb up even without a full meal.

Late afternoon into sunset is the magic hour, when the low light warms the blue walls and the mountains glow behind the town. Because Chefchaouen is at altitude, evenings can be cool, so a layer helps for an after-dark meal on the terrace. The town's calm, unhurried atmosphere makes lingering over the view especially pleasant here.

Take a terrace table around the square or up the blue lanes, order a slow tagine or mint tea, and time it for golden hour. Simple food and an unforgettable view — that is the Chefchaouen rooftop at its best.