Essaouira Shopping Guide: Best Spots for Crafts, Carpets, Fashion, Oils & Souks
Essaouira's laid-back vibe offers fewer shops than Marrakech but perfect hassle-free souks for relaxed browsing over intense haggling. Its compact, navigable medina stocks Morocco's popular goods alongside local treasures like thuya wood carvings, vibrant art, raffia shoes, and organic argan oil—Morocco's liquid gold.
Best for Arts and Crafts
Essaouira excels in artisans crafting fragrant thuya wood—a native northwest African conifer—into intricate boxes and decor, often inlaid with other woods or mother-of-pearl. Observe marquetry masters at Coopérative Artisanale des Marqueteurs.
Mashi Mushki ('no problem' in local dialect) is a charming gallery-shop featuring local artists' colorful paintings, prints, handwoven throws, bags, and jewelry. At least 10% of profits support Project 91, owner Jeremy Davies' initiative providing vocational training and jobs for youth.
Danish collector Frederic Damgaard fell for Essaouira in the 1960s, opening Galerie d’Art Damgaard in 1988. This trailblazing space highlights local painters and wood sculptors like Mohamed Tabal.
Retro furniture fans love Elizir Gallery (22 Ave d’Istiqlal) in Abdellatif Rharbaoui's former restaurant, brimming with vintage gems like Vernor Panton lamps, film posters, and antique Berber doors. Too bulky? They'll ship worldwide.
Best for Carpets and Blankets
Unsure about boucherouite vs. Beni Ourain? Expert Mustapha El Boussaidi at Galerie Jama, dealing in Moroccan rugs since age 11, specializes in stunning vintage pieces—more art than carpet. He'll explain age, origin, and motifs in a low-pressure setting with fair prices and some negotiation room.
Pop-In (79 Derb Chbanat), an extension of Mashi Mushki, occupies an old workshop selling vintage and new carpets plus sequin-embellished handiras (wedding blankets) at great value.
In Souq Joutier's right corner, Abdel's compact shop overflows with vintage silk blankets, handiras, and pom-pom wool throws. For affordable modern versions, Koulchi (1 Rue Jbala) offers vibrant cotton-wool blankets, customizable on request.
Best for Fashion and Accessories
Essaouira's pioneering concept store, stylish Histoire de Filles by Parisian Christelle Pailly, curates Moroccan and local designers for all ages: Max & Jan clothing, Las Chicas, Lalla bags, Luc Baille jewelry, and Cote Bougie candles.
Traditional doum palm fiber shoes abound; Rafia Craft offers chic designs at budget prices. For premium babouche slippers, Younes (Souq El Gazel, #181) handcrafts comfy leather/suede pairs in every style and color.
Mohamed Ouchen’s shop (4 Rue El Attarine) crafts leather bags, boots, belts, and pouffes. Rachid (22 Rue Laalouj) weaves sparkling sequin or embroidered baskets.
Tazra (45 Rue El Attarine) showcases award-winning Omar Samat's traditional jewelry; custom rings/earrings available with notice. Corallo (176 Ave Mohammed Ben Abdallah) features Neapolitan Stefano's unique silver-and-stone pieces with pearls, topaz, or turquoise.
Beach essentials? Gipsy Surfer has sunglasses, surfboards, and Essaouira-made T-shirts.
Best for Oils and Spices
Sidi Yassine’s boutique highlights organic argan oil products: 100% natural body oils scented with lavender, rose, or ginger for dry skin; lip balms as gifts; culinary cold-pressed oils and addictive amlou ('Moroccan Nutella').
Adjacent to Histoire de Filles, L’Atelier by Christelle’s husband Pasha blends cafe and shop: enjoy juices, smoothies, veggie bites, then grab organic honeys, olive/argan oils, spices, jams, and homeware from La Verre Beldi or Arts Tissage Tam.
Herbalist Seddiki Mohamed’s aromatic shop (203 Marche aux Epices) offers fresh spices: Ras El Hanout for stews, plus cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, paprika, saffron for home tagines.
Au Petit Bonhomme de la Chance stocks hammam kit—black soap, rhassoul clay, mitts—plus teas, perfumes, cactus oil. Owner Habiba Ajaoui co-authored Discovering the Spices of Morocco (English/French).
Villa Maroc sells Ecocert-certified argan/olive oils from their farm.
Best for Souq Shopping
Sunday joutiya flea market near Bab Doukkala spills with stalls from car parts to jewelry, clothes, bikes—bargain hunters, dig in.
For rural authenticity, Had Draa souq (30km away) draws Berber farmers for livestock auctions (camels too), produce, tea chats, on-site butchery, and grills. Packed—heed 'balek!' ('watch out!'). Smaller Ida Ougourd market on Wednesdays.
