Our menu changes almost every day, and it isn’t for show. Here’s how tonight’s dishes get decided.
The choice happens in the morning, at the port
Essaouira is one of Morocco’s last great artisanal fishing ports, and it sits just minutes from La Coupole. Every morning, the boats that came in overnight decide the menu: we buy what’s there, in limited quantities, rather than ordering a fixed list in advance. When the trade winds blow too hard and the boats stay moored, the menu shrinks — and we’ll tell you so plainly at your table.
What you’ll find, season by season
Sardines and mackerel are almost always available, and they’re far better here than their reputation suggests. Depending on the day, you’ll also find John Dory, sea bass, gilthead bream, red mullet, squid, and sometimes rock lobster. Prawns and razor clams, for their part, depend on the tides.
The simplest cooking is often the best
A fish caught that morning doesn’t need much: grilled over charcoal, a drizzle of olive oil, some preserved lemon, and that’s it. We also offer a house chermoula for those who want the spiced version, and an oven-roasted preparation with seasonal vegetables for larger fish meant to be shared.
Ask for today’s suggestion
It’s written on the board and announced by our floor staff, with the weight and price per kilo for whole fish. Don’t hesitate to ask to see the fish before it goes to the kitchen — it’s perfectly normal here, and it’s the best freshness guarantee there is.
Fancy dropping by?
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