Essaouira for Digital Nomads: Escape the crowds with the best cafes, Fast Wi-Fi & Ocean Views

When Ale and I talk about returning to Morocco, the question isn’t just about the surf or the souks—it’s about whether we can actually get work done in the meantime. Essaouira is one of our favourite destinations, but for years, it had a reputation: great vibes, terrible wifi.

We went back to prove if that’s still true. We spent days wandering the Medina not just to drink coffee and mint tea, but to speed-test every router we could find. We were looking for that perfect balance: the frantic energy of the Souk outside, but a stable wifi connection inside.

We spent time bouncing from one accommodation to another to see what the city looks like from different angles. From beautiful riads in the entangled maze of Essaouira walls, to cheap hostels with reliable wifi and sunny terraces. This isn’t a generic travel guide.

This is a logistical breakdown of where to find the only reliable fibre internet, which cafés actually have outlets (and which ones ban laptops), and how to navigate the “Windy City” without ruining your equipment. This is a complete Essaouira Digital Nomad Guide, tried and tested.

Is Essaouira Good for Digital Nomads? (Pros & Cons)

Essaouira was the first big city, and we weren’t sure it was the right fit. The Medina of Essaouira is big, but not so much to get you overwhelmed. There are enough places to visit; switch the atmosphere now and then to avoid boredom. Terraces have ocean views, stable wi-fi and a great seafood menu.

You can adapt working from there, but the sun hits hard, an hour might be too much. Some cafes and restaurants have complimentary fast wifi connection and neither know they are Digital Nomads ready.

Also, after having been all around Morocco, we truly recognise that Essaouira is actually affordable in comparison. Still, you can get that intimate atmosphere of a village, with some of the best perks of a thriving city.

Sure, it gets touristy, especially on weekends and during public holidays (like when we arrived smack in the middle of the Eid al-Adha frenzy). But, give it a night or two, and you’ll find your rhythm.

The Truth About Essaouira Wifi

• Average Speed: 12–24 Mbps (ADSL is common).
• Fiber Availability: Rare inside the Medina; common in New Town.
• Upload Speed: Often <2 Mbps (Bad for cloud uploads and social media streaming).
• Starlink: We didn’t find any place advertising it.

Where to Stay: Wifi-Tested Accommodations

To get the most complete accommodation guide to Essaouira we jumped from one place to another. Well, all three were completely different, and of course three kinds of travellers.

We did that in Sapa too, and it was fantastic to fit and understand every budget option. We stayed in a fancy Riad, an affordable hostel, and a co-living space outside the medina. All of them delivered big time, and this is real proof that Essaouira is digital nomad friendly.

Best Coliving: Welkam Home Review (Fiber Speed Test)

It’s the best place in Essaouria for digital nomads which prioritize serious work and community. We originally booked it for its proximity to the CTM Bus Station, Welkam Home & Coliving turned out to be the #1 productivity spot of our entire Morocco trip.

The Work Setup:
Forget trying to work from a cafe. We saved money by investing in a good place to live instead. They have a dedicated coliving space built by a former nomad who understands the struggle. Also, on the third floor, a lounge area where to decompress from a heavy session. Walkup the stairs and go to the lounge to enjoy the breeze. They thought about everything.

• The Setup: 15-inch monitors available for free (Game-changer for editing photos).
• The Wifi: Fibre optic, stable, and fast enough for heavy uploads.
• The Community: Shared kitchen, real conversations, and zero “party hostel” noise.

The Reality:

• Pros: Walking distance to the center but quiet and safe at night. The owner is a legend who has travelled the world and brought the best practices back to Morocco.
• Cons: It’s almost always fully booked. We had to monitor Booking.com daily for a cancellation.

Riad Baladin

If you need a soft landing in Essaouira, Riad Baladin is the most “aesthetic” workspace in the Medina.

The Work Setup:
We tested the wifi at 35 Mbps (Download) in the central courtyard—fast enough for video calls. However, signal strength drops significantly inside the stone-walled rooms. We ended up working from the ground floor communal area, which is quiet, inspiring, and full of power outlets.

The Reality:

• Pros: Incredible breakfast (served until 12 PM!), fast wifi in common areas, and a bookable Jacuzzi that saved our backs after a week of surfing.
• Cons: Rooms are dark and lack desks. Do not book this if you plan to work from bed.

It’s hard to find at first (use Google Maps offline mode), but waking up to the sound of seagulls on the rooftop terrace makes the maze worth it.

👉 Read our full Riad Baladin Review for the speed tests.

Moga Hostel

If your priority is cheap rent and social vibes over luxury, Moga Hostel is the gritty, authentic choice.

The Work Setup:
Don’t expect ergonomic chairs. The magic here is the top-floor communal area. We clocked solid upload speeds (enough for YouTube) and found it surprisingly calm during the day.

What we found:

• Pros: Dirt-cheap private rooms, reliable wifi on the top floor, and located 30 seconds from Brotherhood Coffee (our favourite cafe for morning boost).
• Cons: It’s an old building. The maintenance is rough around the edges, and the rooftop is basic compared to other hostels. Wifi lacks a bit in the dormitory and privates. There is no curtain in the bunk beds.

Laptop-Friendly Cafes in Essaouira (With Plugs)

Let’s be clear: You will not find Bali-grade co-working cafes here. But there’s a growing wave of spots genuinely built (knowingly or not) for digital nomads in Essaouira. We found that smaller towns like Tamraght and Taghazout were more ready for digital nomads. However, if you want a bit more than village vibes, there are a few cafes that are suitable for laptop sessions.

The nook

This is the classic example of a cafe that doesn’t know that it is digital nomad-friendly. Located in an alley away from the busy medina, we went there midway between our accommodation hopping. The waffle was so good, and very gentle in the amount of Nutella.

We spent almost an hour, and didn’t get our laptop out. The Internet was fast, and we were both able to work on our phones easily. There were not many people around, but the nice table, calm atmosphere and delicious food for good prices (lower than the medina) made it a great spot to refuel.

Beach Cafés (Ocean Vagabond, Le Panoramique, Beach and Friends)

There are three cafes that are the most popular among expats. Ocean Vagabond, Le Panoramique, and the beach and friends are right on Plage Tagharte, and within walking distance from Welkam Inn. We went there on the last day, but at sunset, without taking our laptop out. It was so nice to see camels and horses running on the beach.

Bonzo Medina

The most popular cafe in the medina of Essaouira is Bonzo Medina. The coffee shop is in an internal court, which makes it less discoverable to classic tourists. You can sit outside with your laptop and order that Matcha. They also offer brunch, cakes and delicious lattes.

Sisterhood coffee

If you want a retro-style cafe that suits your notion of addition, Sisterhood delivers. It’s the only kinda cafe that offers such vibes within the medina. Coffee is good and prices are fair (smoothies 45dh).

Wi-Fi at this cafe is strong, and there are a few power outlets. We were impressed that it is run by a female collective, and when researching the best cafe to work from in Essaouira, this received great reviews from solo female travellers.

L’Atelier – Cafe Boutique

While it might not be the fit for every digital nomad, this beautifully decorated cafe is a meeting point for many expats. Slightly on the expensive side, it has a great long table with the right lights to make your day productive. The Internet is strong, and the service is one of the best in town.

You can also give it a go at their workshops, pottery and cooking classes on top. They also have a handicrafts boutique shop adjacent.

Essaouira Soul Coffee

While we didn’t work from here, it was our way to slow down in the Essaouira souk. Soul Cafe is a small shop run by a “coffee wizard” with a passion for the perfect service. If you have a local SIM or get on board with our suggestion for the best eSIM for Morocco, you can stay here for hours.

Order a 20dh mint tea, watch the people pass by and get inspired. A cat was always sitting on Ale’s lap, and was among our best moments in Essaouira.

Noqta Space

The only co-working in town is Noqta Space. This unique space for digital nomads is located within walking distance from the medina, and close enough to the Supratour bus stop.

At Noqta you’ll find super fast wifi (very unique in Essaouira), multiple work spaces, private rooms, comfy chairs and a nice rooftop terrace. We didn’t work from here, but it was on our radar. We visited Essaouira during a public holiday, and this space is also closed on the weekend.

How’s the Internet in Essaouira?

• Mobile Data: Maroc Telecom (15GB for ~$12).
• eSIM: Sim Local (Best coverage). You can get affordable plans with up to 20GB fast 5G internet service.
• WiFi: Most guesthouses/cafes offer free WiFi, but manage your expectations—perfect for emails, Google Docs, and some cloud work. For Zoom calls, invest in extra mobile data as backup, or go to a co-living space like Welkam.

Cost of Living for Digital Nomads in Essaouira

Let’s talk numbers: after four days in Essaouira, our spending averaged about 1,036 dirhams per day for two people, with a total of 4,144 dirhams. That’s with zero budgeting wizardry—just our real receipts. Here’s how it played out:

Accommodation topped the list at 2,624dh. We tried a coliving apartment, a friendly hostel, and a classic riad—all solid, with prices between 200–400dh per night. We splurged a bit more only on the stay at the Riad Baladin.

Eating out was a bonus of Essaouira: tasty lunches, sunset market snacks, and beachside dinners, all for 614dh. We didn’t live off street food alone; groceries/market nibbles for 159dh kept us stocked up on fruit, water, and breakfast basics (while this was included in all accommodations, we had it every time a second one).

Our “fun” spend—387dh—includes a few sandal-shopping sprees and souvenirs. It adds up (yeah, we caved for the cloisters and cute market bits).

Transport: Getting in and around cost us 360dh, mainly on bus fares and the taxi from the CTM station.

No hidden costs, no posh splurges, just honest travel. Essaouira let us enjoy a slice of coastal life without panicking over every dirham—something we rate highly as digital nomads.

READ ALSO | How much does travel in Morocco really cost?

Need	Our Pick/Tip	Price Range	Why We Loved It
Best Cafe	Brotherhood Coffee	12–30dh/drink	Epic coffee, right in the medina, friendly people
Beachside Work Spot	Ocean Vagabond, Le Panoramique	15–40dh/drink	Waves + WiFi
Budget Eats	Souk Stalls, Papaye	2–50dh	Honest prices, tasty stuff, fresh
Coliving Space	Welkam Inn	150-225dh/night	Quiet with 70 Mb/s WiFi
Favorite Hostel	Moga Hostel	80-120dh/dorm	Social, central, secure
Coffee on the Go	Soul Coffee, Curly coffee.	10–24dh	Real-deal Moroccan coffee

Is Essaouira an upcoming Digital Nomad Destination?

Let’s end with brutal honesty: Essaouira isn’t built for digital nomads—it just works for them, and definitely the increase in demand will make it a better destination in the future.

If you’re after the “Next Bali”, you’re in for a gentle, slightly salty reality check. Which isn’t bad at all. Bali lost its authenticity touch, which is still the core of Essaouira and the whole Atlantic Coast of Morocco.

If you’re craving a DN base where:

• Surf and medina sights swap places
• You can have breaks on the beach
• It’s still relatively affordable compared to Marrakech and Fes
• Great accommodations

…then you’ll thrive here.

We loved our time as digital nomads in Essaouira. We’d come back, rinse, repeat—just with a sturdier sun hat, a fresh data top-up, and a strong espresso at Brotherhood to start the day. There are several other destinations on the Atlantic coast you should consider as digital nomad: Taghazout, Tamraght and Agadir.