The corniche is where Nador comes out to breathe. It is not grand, but it is useful: families stroll after sunset, cafes fill with men watching football, and the lagoon gives the city centre a sense of space it otherwise lacks.
Go in the early evening, when the heat drops and the waterfront becomes social. It is a good place to get your bearings before deciding whether to head into the souk, out toward Atalayoun, or on to Melilla the next morning.