El Cielo Restaurant

El Cielo Restaurant is a garden restaurant on Rue Raouachid in Chefchaouen, in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region of northern Morocco. Its draw is the garden setting, which offers a green, open-air contrast to the stone lanes and blue walls of the medina, and gives diners shade on warm days. The kitchen is described as Moroccan-Arabic fusion, mixing Moroccan flavours with wider Arabic influences, and the dishes listed for the venue are Moroccan-Arabic fusion plates rather than a single signature dish, so visitors should ask the staff which plates are available on the day. In practice this style often combines the familiar northern Moroccan spices of cumin, ginger, saffron and preserved lemon with ideas drawn from the wider Arab world, such as grilled meats, mezze-style starters and rice dishes. The dining atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried, with seating among plants and a noise level that stays low to moderate, making it suitable for couples, families and small groups. There is no dress code beyond the modest clothing customary in Moroccan towns. Because Chefchaouen is a largely alcohol-free destination, the beverage side centres on mint tea, coffee, fresh juices and soft drinks, and visitors should not expect a wine programme. Prices are mid-range for the town, roughly 80-150 MAD (about $9-$16) per person, though the venue does not publish a full menu. Reservations are generally not required and walk-in seating is usually possible; the venue can be reached by phone on +212 5 39 98 92 45. Garden tables are the first to fill on sunny days and at weekends, particularly in spring and summer when day-trippers from Tangier, Tetouan and Fes arrive. Rue Raouachid is a short walk from the medina, so it is reachable on foot or by a short taxi ride, and the setting is welcome after a long day exploring the steep lanes.