In Tangier, every pastry shop is an invitation to pause, look up from the bustling medina and savour a sweet moment. Between ultra‑local neighbourhood spots, fine pastry houses and places that are all over social media, the city is full of venues where you can enjoy both traditional Moroccan cakes and modern creations. In this section, you’ll discover the must‑visit pastry shops you absolutely need to add to your itinerary to make the most of your sweet stay in Tangier.
Tangier is a city where you can literally plan your days around sweet breaks, as the pastry offer is so rich and diverse. From long‑standing family institutions that keep traditional Moroccan recipes alive to modern boutiques inspired by major European pastry houses, each address reveals a different side of the city. For a North American traveller, it’s the perfect opportunity to taste both classics like gazelle horns, honey briouats or almond pastries, and more contemporary creations served in elegant settings with sea views. By selecting a few unmissable pastry shops, this guide helps you structure your foodie itinerary without getting lost in the sheer number of options once you’re there.
Must‑visit pastry shops in the heart of the medina
In the heart of Tangier’s medina, pastry shops are much more than simple businesses: they are real landmarks for both locals and travellers. As you wander through the sloping streets leading up to the kasbah, you’ll come across storefronts where the windows are overflowing with gazelle horns, honey‑soaked cakes, almond briouats and melt‑in‑the‑mouth shortbread, often sold by weight and beautifully arranged on large trays. This is where you can really feel the city’s sweet soul: far from the overly touristy places, these medina pastry shops let you taste family recipes, sometimes passed down over several generations, while watching everyday life in Tangier unfold.
Chic and modern addresses for a sweet break
If you love elegant tea rooms, stylish displays and desserts that look like they belong in a magazine, Tangier will not disappoint you. Outside the medina, several modern pastry shops and cafés offer refined entremets, tarts inspired by French pâtisserie, beautifully crafted individual cakes and coffee‑shop‑style drinks. These chic addresses are perfect for a quiet sweet break after a day of sightseeing, to get some work done on your laptop, or to enjoy a more “European‑style” experience while still staying in Tangier, sometimes with beautiful terraces or wide views over the city.
Traditional pastry shops loved by locals
In Tangier, the pastry shops locals love most are not always the most visible to tourists, but they are often where you’ll find the most authentic cakes. These neighbourhood spots, sometimes open for several decades, offer a wide range of Moroccan classics: gazelle horns, fekkas, ghribia, chebakia, almond briouats and small sesame biscuits, sold by the piece or by the kilo. By watching locals line up before holidays or at the end of the day, you can easily spot these places: they’re ideal for tasting real everyday Tangier pastries and putting together a mixed selection to take with you on your walks or to share with your hosts.
Instagrammable spots for dessert lovers
If you enjoy taking photos of your desserts as much as eating them, Tangier offers plenty of perfect spots for your Instagram feed. Between modern cafés with colourful neon lights, design‑driven pastry shops that pay attention to every detail in their windows and trendy places that are very visible on TikTok, you’ll easily find venues where aesthetics matter just as much as taste. Beautifully plated desserts, latte art, sea views or medina rooftops… these Instagrammable spots are ideal for travellers who want to share their sweet experiences live with their community while discovering the most modern side of Tangier’s pastry scene.
Where to have a sweet breakfast in Tangier?
In Tangier, having a sweet breakfast is almost a ritual, whether it’s on a terrace facing the sea or in a lively café in the city centre. You can enjoy msemen or baghrir drizzled with honey, viennoiseries inspired by French baking, freshly squeezed orange juice and a good mint tea or strong coffee, all at generally very affordable prices. Whether you choose a medina café, a neighbourhood pastry shop or a more modern address, starting your day with a sweet breakfast in Tangier lets you experience the city at the same pace as the locals while treating yourself from the very first hours of the morning.
Best pastry shops to buy boxes to take back to the United States or Canada
Some pastry shops in Tangier are particularly well suited if you want to buy boxes of sweets to bring back home to the United States or Canada. They usually offer neatly presented assortments of dry or semi‑dry cakes (gazelle horns, fekkas, almond shortbread, sesame biscuits, chebakia) that travel well and keep for several days. Don’t hesitate to ask for sturdy boxes and to mention that you’re flying: many pastry shops are used to international travellers and can advise you on the most practical formats to carry in your cabin luggage or checked suitcase.
