Cherif Al Idrissi Airport

Cherif Al Idrissi Airport is a small, single-terminal facility, so don't expect a sprawling food court — but what it lacks in variety it more than makes up for in authenticity. The modest café near the departure lounge serves freshly brewed Moroccan mint tea and decent espresso, alongside buttery msemen flatbreads and honey-drizzled chebakia that taste genuinely homemade. Grab a window seat early and watch the Rif mountains in the distance while you settle in.

For something more substantial before your flight, the snack counter typically offers harira soup — that deeply spiced tomato and lentil staple that northern Moroccan families swear by — along with kefta sandwiches wrapped in khobz bread still warm from the oven. It's simple, unfussy food that reflects exactly what you'd find in any family kitchen in Al Hoceima itself. Portions are generous and prices are refreshingly honest compared to most airport dining experiences across the Mediterranean.

If you have the luxury of time before heading airside, the real recommendation is to eat in town first. Al Hoceima's waterfront restaurants serve grilled sardines and sea bass caught the same morning, dressed with chermoula and charcoal smoke, in a way no airport counter can replicate. Think of the airport café as a warm send-off rather than a destination meal — the mint tea alone is worth arriving a little early for.