Restaurant Hamsa

Restaurant Hamsa is a rooftop tea house and restaurant at 32 Place Outa El Hamam, the main square of the Chefchaouen medina in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco. Its name refers to the hamsa, the hand-shaped protective symbol widely used in Moroccan decoration. The rooftop position gives an elevated view over the plaza, the kasbah and the blue-washed buildings, which is the main reason visitors choose it. The cuisine is Moroccan, with no Michelin recognition or chef lineage; the focus is simple, affordable food in a relaxed setting. Signature dishes are soup, tagine and desserts, a combination that suits a light lunch or a pause between sights, and the tea-house side of the business means mint tea and pastries are natural additions. The dining room character is calm and informal, with casual dress and a noise level lower than the street-level cafes below, apart from the sound of the square drifting up. The beverage programme revolves around Moroccan mint tea, coffee and fresh juices. Prices are at the budget end for the town, roughly 50-90 MAD (about $5.50-$10) per person for a set meal or tagine, although menus are not published and figures are indicative. No telephone number is published, so reservations are not available in advance and the venue operates on a walk-in basis; roof tables fill first around sunset and in the busy spring and autumn periods, so arriving a little earlier is the practical approach. The location on the square makes the restaurant easy to find, but the rooftop is reached by stairs, and the surrounding lanes are cobbled.