A colourful and fragrant Moroccan restaurant in Montpellier's cosmopolitan Figuerolles neighbourhood, serving generous tajines, couscous royale, and bastilla pastilla in a warm tented interior. Montpellier's strong North African community means this is the real deal, not a tourist imitation.
Chez Nour is a colourful and fragrant Moroccan restaurant in Montpellier's Figuerolles neighbourhood in Occitanie, a cosmopolitan quarter just west of the city centre with a strong North African identity built over successive generations of immigration. Montpellier has one of the largest Moroccan and North African communities in France, and restaurants in Figuerolles reflect this with a quality and authenticity that is not always found in tourist-facing Moroccan restaurants. Chez Nour serves the full range of classic Moroccan home cooking: kefta tagine with egg and tomato, chicken tajine with preserved lemon and olives, couscous royale with merguez, lamb, and a vegetable bouillon, and the pastilla — the extraordinary sweet-savoury pigeon or chicken pie dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon — which here is prepared with genuine care for the original tradition. The dining room is warmly decorated with North African textiles, lanterns, and a tented ceiling that creates an immersive atmosphere. The tea service — pot of fresh mint tea poured from height into traditional glasses — is performed with ceremony and is part of the meal's ritual. The couscous is steamed to order rather than reconstituted; the lamb in the tajines is slow-cooked for hours. Prices are modest: the couscous royale at €18 represents exceptional value for the quality of cooking.
Signature dishes
- Couscous royale avec merguez et agneau — €18
- Tajine de poulet aux olives et citron confit — €16
Good to know
- Known for
- Authentic Moroccan cuisine in Montpellier's Figuerolles quarter
- Hours
- Tue–Sun 12PM–2:30PM and 7PM–10:30PM; closed Mon
Location
22 Rue Aristide Briand, 34000 Montpellier, France
43.6049, 3.8689 View on map
Highlights
- Authentic Moroccan home cooking in Montpellier's Figuerolles quarter — genuine North African community restaurant
- Couscous royale with merguez, lamb, and steamed vegetable bouillon — steamed to order, not reconstituted
- Pastilla de poulet — sweet-savoury Moroccan pigeon-style pie with cinnamon and icing sugar
- Tajine de poulet aux citrons confits et olives — a Moroccan classic prepared with slow-cooked care
- Ceremonial mint tea service poured from height in the traditional Moroccan manner
Tips for visiting
- The couscous royale is the essential order — steamed to order and substantially better than most Montpellier versions
- Book a table in advance on Friday and Saturday evenings when the restaurant fills with the local Figuerolles community
- The pastilla is made in limited quantity — ask when booking whether it will be available for the planned visit
- The mint tea is included in the spirit of the meal; ordering it as a closer rather than a drink with food is the traditional way
- Figuerolles neighbourhood has several adjacent food shops and bakeries worth exploring before or after the meal
Accessibility
The restaurant is at street level on Rue Aristide Briand in the Figuerolles quarter, an area with standard pavement. The dining room is on one floor. The entrance is at ground level and accessible to wheelchair users. Contact the restaurant to confirm specific arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tajine?
A tajine is both a North African cooking vessel (a glazed earthenware dish with a conical lid) and the slow-cooked stew prepared in it. The conical lid circulates steam back into the dish, producing tender, flavour-concentrated meat or vegetable dishes with a rich sauce.
What is bastilla or pastilla?
Bastilla (also spelled pastilla) is a traditional Moroccan pastry filled with spiced poultry (traditionally pigeon or chicken), eggs, and almonds, enclosed in warka pastry leaves and dusted with icing sugar and cinnamon. It is one of the most complex and distinctive dishes in Moroccan cuisine.
Is Chez Nour suitable for vegetarians?
Yes. The menu includes vegetable couscous (couscous aux légumes) and vegetable tajines alongside the meat dishes. The kitchen can accommodate vegetarian requirements.