Sometimes the best travel stories come from the unexpected. After years of exploring Morocco—wandering through medinas, hiking mountain trails, and discovering hidden corners of this beautiful country—I finally made it to Ouarzazate Morocco. You know what surprised me most? That it took me this long to visit.
Ouarzazate sits at the gateway to the Sahara, where the High Atlas Mountains meet the desert. The locals call it the "door to the desert," and after spending time there, I understand why. But let me share something honest with you: my first visit wasn't perfect. I made mistakes. I learned lessons. And that's exactly what I want to share with you today.
Arriving in Ouarzazate: First Impressions
The drive to Ouarzazate is spectacular. Blue skies stretched above us, and the weather felt perfect—not too hot, not too cold. After rain in other Moroccan cities, we were blessed with sunshine.
We hadn't booked accommodation ahead of time. Some travelers plan every detail; others prefer spontaneity. We were somewhere in between. Using Booking.com on the road, we found Hotel Ibis and decided to check it out. The price? Around 600 dirhams for the night with breakfast included. Not bad for a comfortable stay in this desert town.
One thing struck me immediately: Ouarzazate felt quiet. Beautifully quiet. The kasbahs dotted the landscape, their earthen walls glowing in the afternoon sun. Despite having traveled across Morocco many times, this was genuinely my first time here. Sometimes the places closest to us remain unexplored the longest.
Where to Stay: Hotel Ibis Ouarzazate
Let me be straight with you about Hotel Ibis. This isn't a luxury riad with intricate zellige tilework, but it delivers exactly what a tired traveler needs.
The hotel sits conveniently in town, making it easy to explore on foot. Our room was clean and comfortable—nothing fancy, but that wasn't what we came for. The real surprise came the next morning at breakfast.
Breakfast Worth Waking Up For
The breakfast buffet exceeded my expectations. They served everything: fresh baghrir (Moroccan pancakes), msemen, croissants, cheese omelets, olives, and various salads. There was butter, ghee, and plenty of options whether you prefer sweet or savory.
A good breakfast changes your whole day. When you start the morning properly fed, you have energy to explore without constantly thinking about your next meal. The variety included healthy options too, which kept us going as we walked around taking photos and discovering the town.
If you're planning to visit Ouarzazate Morocco, I recommend Hotel Ibis for its solid breakfast and clean rooms. The service was good, and everything you need is available. Sometimes simple and reliable beats fancy and complicated.
The Restaurant Mistake: A Lesson in Choosing Where to Eat
Here's where I learned an important lesson about dining in Ouarzazate.
We were hungry—really hungry—after arriving. We asked a security guard for a restaurant recommendation, and he suggested a place called Al Bahja. He said it had local food at good prices. The restaurant was right next to our hotel, which seemed convenient.
Big mistake.
What Went Wrong
When we arrived, the restaurant was busy. Tourists filled the tables. I thought, "This must be good if it's so popular." Wrong again.
They didn't display prices on the menu clearly. That's the first warning sign. You should always know what you're paying before ordering.
We ordered tagines—a classic Moroccan dish that should be cooked slowly over charcoal in a traditional clay pot. What arrived wasn't that. The vegetables were cooked in a pressure cooker on the stovetop, then transferred to a tagine pot just for presentation. You could tell immediately.
The taste? Completely different from a real tagine. I've cooked tagines myself in France over charcoal. I know the flavors of tagines from Souss, from the north, from different regions of Morocco. Each area has its own style and taste. This wasn't any of them.
The salad they brought was mixed strangely—sweet and savory together in a way that didn't work. We couldn't finish it.
The Real Cost
We paid 300 dirhams total for two small tagines, some salad, lemon and banana juice, and a few briouats. That's about 260 dirhams for the food plus 40 dirhams for drinks.
Compare that to the previous day: we had eaten at a small place in Tizi n'Tichka pass. The tagine there was delicious—absolutely wonderful—and cost only 60-80 dirhams. The local people running that place were kind and genuine. The food was fresh and made with care.
The Tourist Trap Reality
After watching other customers, I realized what was happening. Tour groups came with guides who likely received commissions from the restaurant. The restaurant focused on volume, not quality. Cook quickly, serve many people, and rely on tourists who won't return anyway.
Don't make my mistake. Just because a restaurant is busy doesn't mean the food is good. Just because it's recommended doesn't mean it's authentic.
What I Learned About Eating in Ouarzazate
Let me share some practical advice for dining in Ouarzazate Morocco:
Check the prices first. Any restaurant that doesn't clearly display menu prices is probably overcharging tourists.
Real tagines take time. If a tagine arrives within 15 minutes of ordering, it wasn't cooked properly. Traditional tagines need slow cooking over charcoal.
Ask locals, but be specific. Instead of asking "where's a good restaurant," ask "where do YOU eat?" Local people eat at different places than they recommend to tourists.
Trust your instincts. If something feels off about the presentation or the atmosphere, it probably is.
Watching Football the Moroccan Way
After our disappointing meal, we decided to watch the Moroccan national team play at a local café. We arrived around 4:00 PM for a 5:00 PM match.
Finding seats was nearly impossible—everything was reserved, like a stadium. But we managed to squeeze in somewhere. Watching football with Moroccans is an experience in itself. The passion, the cheering, the collective hope—it brings everyone together regardless of where they're from.
That café experience felt more authentically Moroccan than the tourist restaurant ever could.
Planning Your Ouarzazate Visit
The town is famous for its film studios—Atlas Studios has hosted productions from "Gladiator" to "Game of Thrones." The kasbahs, including the famous Aït Benhaddou nearby, draw visitors from around the world.
The weather in winter can be unpredictable. We had beautiful sunshine, but other cities had rain. Bring layers and check forecasts.
Ouarzazate makes an excellent base for exploring the desert regions beyond. From here, you can reach Tinghir, the Todra Gorge, and eventually the Sahara dunes.
Final Thoughts: The Beauty of Imperfect Travel
Was my first visit to Ouarzazate Morocco perfect? No. Did I make mistakes? Absolutely. Would I go back? Without question.
Travel isn't about getting everything right. It's about experiencing places authentically—including the disappointments and the unexpected moments. That mediocre restaurant taught me more about navigating tourist areas than ten perfect meals would have.
The blue skies, the quiet streets, the kasbahs standing against the desert landscape, and the excellent breakfast at Hotel Ibis—these are what I'll remember. And next time, I'll know exactly where NOT to eat.
Have you visited Ouarzazate? What was your experience with restaurants there? Did you discover any hidden gems I should try on my next visit? Share your stories in the comments below—I'd love to hear where you ate and what you discovered in this fascinating gateway to Morocco's desert.