20 Best Places to Eat in Mauritania: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Mauritanian cuisine is a rich blend of Saharan nomadic traditions, North African Arab-Berber flavors, and Sub-Saharan West African ingredients. Centered around grilled meats, fresh Atlantic fish, rice, couscous, dates, and sweet mint tea (Atay), dining in Mauritania is rooted in deeply generous desert hospitality.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

When dining in Mauritania, be sure to experience these staple national specialties:

Thieboudienne (Ceebu Jën): Mauritania's national coastal dish of spiced rice cooked in rich tomato broth with fresh Atlantic fish, cassava, and vegetables.
Mechoui (Méchoui): Whole slow-roasted lamb or goat seasoned with desert spices and cooked over open coals, melt-in-the-mouth tender.
Maffe (Mafé): Tender beef, lamb, or fish simmered in a rich, savory roasted peanut butter sauce served over steamed rice.
Couscous Mauritanien: Fine hand-rolled millet or wheat couscous topped with spiced camel meat, mutton, and vegetable stew.
Atay (Mauritanian Mint Tea): Served in three successive glass rounds—from strong and bitter to sweet—symbolizing life, love, and death.

20 Best Places to Eat in Mauritania

1. Restaurant La Palma

Cuisine: French, Mediterranean & Seafood
Location: Tevragh-Zeina, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Pan-seared Atlantic Sole with lemon butter and garlic herb potatoes
About the Place: A refined, long-standing dining destination in Nouakchott's diplomatic quarter, popular for seafood, steaks, and wood-fired pizzas.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

2. Le Prince

Cuisine: Lebanese & Middle Eastern Grill
Location: Tevragh-Zeina, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Mixed Charcoal Grill Platter with freshly baked pita and hummus
About the Place: Stylish venue celebrated for succulent shish tawook, lamb kebabs, falafel, and outdoor courtyard seating.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

3. Restaurant Sun House

Cuisine: Fresh Seafood & International
Location: Route de la Plage, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Grilled Atlantic Lobster and Capitaine fish fillets
About the Place: Upscale oceanway restaurant serving the day's freshest Atlantic catches in a modern air-conditioned setting.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

4. Chez Nicholas

Cuisine: French Bistro & Mauritanian Seafood
Location: Downtown Nouadhibou
Must-Try Dish: Sauteed Calamari in garlic parsley sauce and octopus salad
About the Place: Iconic coastal venue in Nouadhibou known for European bistro classics and ocean-fresh seafood specials.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

5. La Salami Restaurant

Cuisine: Italian & European Bistro
Location: Tevragh-Zeina, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Authentic thin-crust prosciutto pizza and seafood fettuccine
About the Place: Cozy Italian eatery serving handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and classic European desserts.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

6. Restaurant El Bahdja

Cuisine: Moroccan & North African
Location: Central Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Slow-cooked Lamb Tagine with prunes, almonds, and saffron couscous
About the Place: Authentic Moroccan restaurant adorned with traditional zellige tiles, serving slow-cooked tagines and mint tea.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

7. Port de Pêche Open-Air Fish Grills

Cuisine: Traditional Oceanfront Seafood Grill
Location: Port de Pêche Beach, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Whole charcoal-grilled sea bass served with spicy onion mustard sauce
About the Place: Casual open-air beach stalls where visitors select freshly landed Atlantic fish cooked over hot charcoal coals.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

8. Pizza Lina

Cuisine: Pizzeria, Burgers & Cafe
Location: Tevragh-Zeina, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Four Cheese Pizza and camel meat burger
About the Place: Popular casual spot frequented by young locals and expatriates for fast casual dining, pizzas, and fresh juices.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

9. Restaurant Terre Neuve

Cuisine: French-West African Fusion
Location: Tevragh-Zeina, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Tender grilled zebu steak with pepper sauce and fried plantains
About the Place: Elegant neighborhood bistro offering seasonal French cooking infused with West African ingredients.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

10. Patisserie Les Delices

Cuisine: French Bakery, Cafe & Breakfast
Location: Downtown Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Fresh butter croissants, fruit tarts, and French espresso
About the Place: Premier French pastry shop and coffee lounge serving daily baked bread, delicate cakes, and hot breakfast sets.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

11. Restaurant Al Khaima

Cuisine: Traditional Mauritanian Nomadic Fare
Location: Hotel Al Khaima, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Mechoui (roasted lamb) served inside traditional nomad tent setting
About the Place: Cultural restaurant setting where guests dine on carpet cushions inside traditional desert tents enjoying slow-roasted meats.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

12. Restaurant Oasis Atar

Cuisine: Traditional Saharan Household Cooking
Location: Atar Town Center
Must-Try Dish: Camel meat couscous with dates and vegetables
About the Place: Welcoming regional restaurant in Atar serving hearty Saharan stews and sweet mint tea to desert travelers.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

13. Cafe Snack Zaza

Cuisine: Fast Casual & Middle Eastern Snacks
Location: Downtown Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Chicken shawarma wrap with garlic sauce and fresh mango juice
About the Place: Fast-paced sandwich shop popular for late-night shawarmas, falafels, and freshly squeezed tropical fruit juices.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

14. Le Toulouse

Cuisine: French Gastronomy
Location: Tevragh-Zeina, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Duck breast with honey glaze and gratin dauphinois
About the Place: High-end French fine dining venue offering classic European gastronomy and professional service.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

15. Hotel Wissal Restaurant

Cuisine: International & Mauritanian
Location: Central Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Thieboudienne (Fish and spiced rice)
About the Place: Peaceful hotel restaurant with garden seating serving international lunch buffets and authentic local specialties.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

16. Restaurant Le Jet d'Eau

Cuisine: Moroccan & North African Grills
Location: Nouadhibou
Must-Try Dish: Grilled lamb chops with spiced couscous
About the Place: Charming coastal restaurant in Nouadhibou known for tagines, charcoal grills, and sea views.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

17. Chinguetti Desert Camp Dining Tent

Cuisine: Authentic Saharan Campfire Fare
Location: Chinguetti Dunes
Must-Try Dish: Desert tagine cooked over glowing embers under the stars
About the Place: Atmospheric desert camp dining experience where traditional meals are cooked beneath Saharan starry skies.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

18. Restaurant Kiffa Central

Cuisine: Regional Southern Mauritanian
Location: Kiffa City
Must-Try Dish: Maffe (Peanut butter mutton stew) with rice
About the Place: Popular roadside eatery along Route de l'Espoir serving generous portions of rich peanut stews and grilled meats.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

19. Cafe La Galette

Cuisine: Bakery, Crepes & Light Lunch
Location: Tevragh-Zeina, Nouakchott
Must-Try Dish: Savory buckwheat galettes and sweet caramel crepes
About the Place: Charming French-style creperie and cafe popular for light lunches, afternoon tea, and sweet crepes.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

20. Terjit Oasis Garden Restaurant

Cuisine: Traditional Oasis Picnic Fare
Location: Terjit Oasis, Adrar
Must-Try Dish: Fresh dates, sweet mint tea, and roasted goat with flatbread
About the Place: Shaded outdoor dining beneath palm trees inside Terjit Oasis, serving traditional tea and home-cooked regional meals.
Explore More: Places to Eat in Mauritania

Featured Image

Traditional Mauritanian Rice and Atlantic Fish Platter