Mandala Society

Breakfast: Still full from the previous night’s feast, we wandered to Mandala Society, a meat-free and mostly organic cafe. I opted for a smoothie ($4.60); my friend went for a chia pudding breakfast bowl ($7.70). This barista-style cafe with Icelandic roots offers a taste of Scandinavia in Morocco.

Run by an Icelandic-Moroccan family, this cozy café focuses on sustainability. All dishes are made using local produce and fish (the only type of meat served) always comes from the town's fishermen. The coffee is also fair trade.

Start with breakfast at millennial-friendly Mandala, set up by a Moroccan-Icelandic couple. It has pretty wooden chairs, Jules Verne novels on the shelf and avocado on sourdough on the menu (from £6; mandalamaroc.com). Weave southwest between street porters and fruit-sellers to find the Citadel, a fortress built in the 1760s for Sultan Mohamed III. He wanted more trade, but not without protection from the Europeans, so he hired an insider — a French architect influenced by the mega-forts of Vauban — to build this desolate garrison.

I first visited the Mandala Society in Marrakech for brunch and then later visited the location in Essaouira where the franchise was started. The good news is that this place is big and they serve coffee/cappuccinos made with non-dairy milk – a real rarity in Morocco that makes this one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Essaouira. The bad news is that this place is always packed with people and the prices can feel high at 75 Dirhams ($7.50) for a brunch entree.

Mandala Society is a stylish vegetarian café with a big heart, particularly great for breakfast (try the pancakes with banana and amlou, a fortifying Berber spread made with almonds, argan oil and local honey), with a good offering of vegan dishes. It serves fresh, local, and organic produce wherever possible. And just when you think it couldn’t get greener, you learn that they also support fair trade businesses and are plastic free.

Mandala Society is quite the café institution along the main boulevard. Serving fair-trade, speciality grade coffee that originates for Honduras, as well as a range of teas, this Essaouira café also gets top marks as a prime people-watching spot. However, along with it’s excellent reputation, it’s prime location means that Mandala Society is a popular spot and often busy.

I loved Mandala so much I went almost every day, and then again when I visited Marrakech. A little on the pricier side (by Morocco standards, that is - for a Londoner, it would be considered reasonable!) it’s worth it for almost every single menu item. The breakfast burger makes my mouth water just thinking about it, and the chia pudding was the best I’ve had ever.

There’s no better way to start the healthy eating section of this Essaouira restaurant guide than with Mandala Society, arguably the most popular health-focused restaurant in the city. It’s a modern restaurant that serves an appetizing menu of brunch dishes, salads, and veggie burger options. How delicious does this vegan buddha bowl look?

If you’re looking for a healthy meal or a vegetarian option, Mandala Society is a great choice. This cozy cafe serves up fresh fare that’s a welcome change if you’re over Moroccan food. They serve all the classic dishes like avocado toast, chia pudding, and Icelandic oat pancakes paired with fresh juices and specialty drinks.

If you are searching for a place that cares about sustainability and ethically sourced products then the Mandala Society should be on your list. This is the perfect place to stop in for a fair-trade coffee. Although the menu is not 100% vegan they offer wholesome meals with vegetarian and vegan options.

If time allows, stop by Mandala Society for a nice coffee or head to Pâtisserie Driss for dessert. Just watch out for stray cats looking for a snack since the Medina is filled with friendly felines who like to join travellers for a bit of al fresco dining!

A charming family-owned cafe serving simple healthy vegan and vegetarian brunch options like delicious Icelandic Pancakes loaded with fresh fruit or omelet with a side of avocado and salad. The cafe is one of the medina’s best people-watching spots.

Mandala Society – On the main street you’ll find Mandala Society, our favorite eatery in Essaouira!. It’s run by an incredibly friendly Moroccan man and his Icelandic wife. The menu features special dishes, all prepared with fresh ingredients.

Our first lunch in Essaouira is at the very centrally located, meat-free spot Mandala Society. I have a vegan buddha bowl - fresh, colourful and full of veggies and quinoa. It’s not the cheapest place in town, but I would recommend.

On one of the main roads in the Essaouira medina, is this busy and popular cafe. The words soul food spring to mind when you think about Mandala Society. The coffee is great quality and the menu selection is mouth wateringly good.

One of my very favorite places in all of Morocco is Mandala Society. They have a great breakfast, brunch, lunch and tea menu for whatever strikes your fancy. The menu is fully Moroccan ingredients but with an international feel.

Mandala Society is a great little restaurant, run by a Moroccan-Icelandic couple. A creatively decorated place with delicious (especially cold) dishes!. They also have a restaurant in Marrakech.

And finally get lost in the alleys of the Medina of Essaouira to find yourself drinking tea at the Mandala, a small café-restaurant that offers organic delights and homemade cakes daily.

Experience the ultimate haven for coffee connoisseurs and vegetarians. Indulge in a culinary journey that combines delectable meat-free meals at Mandala Society.