Casablanca Travel Guide
Casablanca is the economic lung of
Morocco ; a bustling metropolis. Modern infrastructures are in the middle of charming districts.Whether it’s fabled
Marrakech two hours’ south, fortified
Fes to the north, or the enticing Sahara beyond the Atlas Mountains,
Morocco has become an enormously popular tourist destination. But
Casablanca is a city where visitors seem keen to move on from as soon as possible.This might seem a shame, but it’s wonderful to have a city with such an intriguing history to yourself. Casa’s old medina, the earliest part of the city, may lack the glamour of Marrakech’s ancient souks, but the latter can feel like a theme park rather than an authentic North African city.
Casablanca is the real deal.Beyond the medina lies the pleasant new town of cool arcades and palm-lined boulevards, built under the French protectorate a century ago. Its art deco architecture is amongst the finest found anywhere, especially around Place Mohammed V with its Grande Poste, iconic clock tower and the Palais de Justice.As Morocco’s commercial capital, its biggest city, with more than 7 million cosmopolitan inhabitants. People are drawn here from every corner of the country, adding their influences to the enduring European vibes.An air of French sophistication pervades Casablanca’s cafes and restaurants, but that’s just one aspect of the dining and nightlife circuit. As establishments aren’t catering to a transient audience, their flavours are built to last, and some of the finest Moroccan cooking can be found in Casablanca – not to mention the most liberal attitudes to drinking found anywhere in the country.A number of projects signal the city’s modernity. Commissioned by the King, the
Hassan II Mosque is the tallest religious building in the world, every inch of it covered in traditional craftsmanship. Norman Foster’s incredible Anfa Place shopping complex has been constructed, while the ambitious development of Casablanca Marina is underway.With such innovation, as well as pretty beaches and a lively cultural scene, tourists may soon be rushing to this city on the move.
Casablanca began life as a Berber settlement some 3,000 years ago, before the Romans took possession of the area shortly before the death of the first Emperor Augustus. They had already established the port of Anfa some time before, and would continue to operate around Casablanca until the 5th century.By the 8th century, the Berber kingdom of Barghawata had taken over Anfa, followed by the Amoravids in the 11th century. The town became important again under another Berber dynasty, the Merinids, who used it as a vital port.The Portuguese conquered and destroyed it in 1468 AD due to its links to piracy, then built a fortress there in the 16th century. The settlement that developed around it was known as Casabranca, but the Portuguese were under constant attack from local tribes and are thought to have abandoned the town after an earthquake in 1755.The medina was built up by Casablanca’s new ruler,
Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah, in 1770. The Spanish are said to have aided construction of the fortifications. In the 19th century, Casablanca grew through trade with Europe, until the French conquest at the start of the 20th century.Under the French protectorate, Casablanca mushroomed into a city of 100,000 by the 1920s. The vision of French governor Marshal Lyautey launched a massive half-century project that rebuilt the city and its facilities until they outshone those of Marseille, the port that had been the inspiration.As romanticised in the legendary eponymous film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, Casablanca was an important strategic port town in WWII. The famous Anfa Conference took place here in 1943, where Churchill and Roosevelt discussed the progress of the war.Morocco gained independence from France in 1956, but Casablanca maintained its colonial flair and is regarded as one of the country’s most European cities. It has grown into the financial centre of Morocco, where most business is conducted, and has recently worked to develop the tourist industry. This has, in part, led to massive renovation works on the medina.
Despite being set in Casablanca, none of the eponymous 1942 film was shot in Morocco.
Due to the period under French rule, Casablanca boasts some of the most extraordinary art deco architecture in the world.
Meanwhile, the Habous district was an attempt by the French to combine Moroccan style with French ideals, making for a beautiful faux-medina.
Built between 1986 and 1993, Hassan II Mosque is perhaps the finest contemporary example of Islamic architecture. It was in part conceived to provide employment for thousands of traditional artisans.
Casablanca enjoys a Mediterranean climate with many glorious warm and sunny days, making it a year-round holiday destination.
Spring (March to May) sees temperatures climb steadily to 18°C (64°F), making it a good time to visit Casablanca. As most museums and historical sites are less busy during this period, you can thoroughly enjoy the cultural side of the city.
Summer (June to August) is sunny and dry, perfect for a beach holiday. July also welcomes both the Festival de Casablanca and the Feast of the Throne.
Autumn (September to November) starts off warm and dry, but rain starts to fall by early November.
Winter (December to February) is cool, with temperatures hovering around 13°C (55°F). Expect a few rainy days too.
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Things to see in Casablanca
Attractions
With the ability to accommodate 25,000 worshippers inside and another 80,000 in its courtyard, Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque is a truly monumental complex right next to the sea. It covers a site of 9 hectares (22 acres), making it the world’s second largest religious building after the main Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca. Commenced in 1980 and opened in 1993, it has been the inspired work of French architect Michel Pineau and some 35,000 Moroccan craftsmen. The amazingly ornate minaret is the world’s tallest, standing 210m (656ft) high while two laser beams reach 30km (18.5 miles) towards Mecca. The vast prayer hall even has a sliding roof that can be opened to the heavens.
Address: Boulevard de la Corniche, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 5 2248 2886
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Website: www.fmh2.ma
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Cathédrale Sacré-Coeur (Sacred Heart Cathedral)
Set on the edge of the Parc de la Ligue Arable, Casablanca’s largest park, this is one of several fine Christian places of worship that have survived since the end of the days of the French protectorate in 1956. Though European in style, its ornate edifice employs many Moroccan motifs, but sadly its interior has been neglected as it is no longer used as a place of worship. It’s currently under heavy construction, but can viewed from the outside. Another Christian site worth visiting is the still-active Church of Notre Dame of Lourdes, with its outstanding stained glass, on Avenue Zerktouni, by the Ronde de L’Europe roundabout.
Address: Rue d’Alger et Blvd Rachdi, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 6 6136 5954
Opening times: Daily 09:00-16:00.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Musée du Judaïsme Marocain (Museum of Moroccan Judaism)
Set 5km (3 miles) from the city centre, in the suburb of Oasis, this truly unique attraction is the only known Jewish museum in a Muslim country. Set in this modern and well-maintained building is a collection of religious books, costumes and sacramental artefacts. In part, the museum is a celebration of the traditional mutual tolerance and acceptance between the Muslim and Jewish communities of Morocco, the latter having reduced substantially since the creation of the State of Israel, but still numbered in the thousands. When Islamic extremists killed 45 people in attacks on mostly Jewish properties and businesses in 2003, it sparked the country’s biggest ever protest demonstration, marching under the banner ‘Jews and Muslims; we are all citizens, we are all Moroccans’.
Address: Oasis-Casablanca, 81 Rue Chasseur Jules Gros.
Telephone: +212 5 2299 4940
Opening times: Mon-Fri 10:00-14:00.
Website: www.jewishmuseumcasa.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Laid out as the Place de France in 1920, then renamed as Place des Nations Allies after WWII, this imposing square has finally come to be known as Place Mohammed V. Undisputedly the heart of Casablanca, its arcades are lined with bustling cafés and souvenir shops while the impressive clock tower keeps time over the hustle and bustle. Running off the square, towards the busy port, is the well-known shop and restaurant-lined boulevard, Houphouët Boigny. This is where you’ll find a memorial to Sidi Belyout, Casablanca’s present patron saint.
Address: Place Mohammed V, Casablanca.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
One of the more unusual spots in Casablanca is the shrine of Sidi Abdel Rahman on the edge of the Corniche neighbourhood. Set on a tiny island (at which time pilgrims simply walk across the shallow waters), many Muslims come here to chase out evil jinn spirits. A few merchants and healers live on the island. the nearby beaches are a social meeting point, with families gathering to eat snails and looking for crabs, especially on weekends.
Address: Boulevard de l’Ocean Atlantique, Casablanca.
Opening times: Only accessible at low tide.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
A strident piece of contemporary architecture built by Spain’s Ricardo Bofill Levi and Elie Mouval in 1999, this twin-tower complex, soaring 115m (377ft) skywards, contains offices, a hotel, shopping malls and a state-of-the-art conference centre. It is seen as an evocation of Casablanca’s commercial vibrancy and is one of the pioneers in the city’s growing wave of stunning contemporary property.
Address: Boulevard Al Massira Al Khadra, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 7 6535 2433
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Website: www.officetourismemaroc.com
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Modelled on the original Casablanca medina, and sometimes known as the ‘new medina’, the Quartier Habous was constructed by the French during the 1930s. The Habous was supposed to bring French order while preserving Moroccan style, as though to demonstrate the harmonious triumph of occupied life (which came to an end in 1950s). The Moorish-style arches, little lanes and bazaars do a good job of replicating the medina feel. Though there’s no substitute for the real thing, it’s a good base from which to explore the Royal Palace, and to pick up clothes and traditional pastries.
Address: Habous, Boulevard Victor Hugo, Casablanca.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
The medina of Casablanca is the oldest part of the city, dating back to before the French protectorate. Two of the original gates of the old city walls still survive. Other attractions include an 18th-century fortress, a jewellery market, and the tomb of Sidi Allal el-Kairouani, who became the city’s patron saint in 1350. The medina has not always been the safest part of the city to walk around, but today its mix of Moorish and Portuguese architecture is compelling, as is the fragment of traditional life that survives here. You’ll pass children playing football, stalls piled high with fruit and vegetables, cafes serving mint tea, and little shops of every description. In some ways, this is the most Moroccan-feeling part of Casablanca.
Address: Boulevard des Almohades, Casablanca.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
For an authentic taste of Casablanca’s Franco-Moorish past, be sure to visit the Marché Central. An example of a colonial attempt to harmonise French and Moroccan cultures, the so-called Central Market is more an elegant food stop than a chaotic Arab bazaar. If that sounds offensively sanitised, don’t be fooled. This is a treasure of pretty white arches, with an impressive ancient gate-style entrance with intricate Arabesques, as well as mounds of spices, vegetables and fish inside. Fresh from the Atlantic, the daily catch arrives in the early morning, and is served grilled in a number of little lunchtime restaurants here.
Address: Boulevard Mohammed V, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 6 7447 3790
Opening times: Daily 08:00-18:00.
Website:
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Set in a gorgeous art deco building that dates back to 1934, Villa des Arts is Casablanca’s essential art stop. Run by the ONA Foundation, responsible for Morocco’s most important cultural projects, it is primarily a venue for contemporary art, but also promotes Moroccan traditions and historic artistic trends. There are many compelling paintings of local people and peasants to be seen here as well as more abstract works.
Address: Boulevard Brahim Roudani, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 5 2229 5094
Opening times: Tue-Sun 09:00-19:00.
Website: www.villadesarts.ma
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
- Morocco Travel sense-Tourist information center
Address: 113 Rue Allal Ben Abdellah, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 6 8108 1602
Opening times: Mon-Sat 08:00-11:30.
Website: www.curatedmoroccotours.com
There are a few tourist offices dotted around Casablanca, but Morocco Travel sense Casablanca is the official one with maps, advice and tour guide contacts.
Things to do in Casablanca
- Drink in the art at Villa Des Artes
This 1934 Art Deco building is one of Casablanca’s most distinctive structures, and home to the country’s most forward thinking art gallery. Part of the Saatchi group, the
Villa Des Artes
Telephone: +212 5 2229 5094
Website: www.villadesarts.ma aims to promote contemporary art, whilst keeping alive Moroccan culture and heritage.
If you’re more of a desert hound than city slicker, there’s a wealth of tours that will take you deep into the sand into the Atlas Mountains.
Morocco Travel Agency – Morocco Tours Company
Telephone: +212 6 6620 2866
Website: www.topmoroccotravel.com have a number available, including an epic eight day tour that will guide you to Marrakech via Fez and the land in between.
- Scrub up in a Moroccan hammam
Pampering is a practically a national pastime in Morocco, so schedule in a visit to a public hammam (public bath). One of the most authentic is
Spa Diva Casablanca
Telephone: +212 5 2012 8734
Website: www.spadivacasa.com
In a piping hot steam room, expect to be soaped up and scrubbed down before a full-body nap-inducing massage.
- Shake your hips in a Chaabi dance class
There aren’t many places to learn the classic Moroccan Chaabi dance, offers lessons. but
Studio De Danse Choreart
Address: 6 Rue Bougainville, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 5 2229 8628
The dance studio was set up in 1997 and has classes taught by ex-professionals. If you want something a little more modern, you can take a hip-hop lesson.
- Spend an afternoon in Rick’s Café
Casablanca is of course famous for the film of the same name, and in 2012 American Kathy Kriger created a bar that’s a replica of the infamous
Rick’s Cafe
Telephone: +212 5 2227 4207
Website: www.rickscafe.ma where Bogart, Bacall and pianist Sam had their most revered moments.
Casablanca tours and excursions
Casablanca tours
There are no official sightseeing tours in Casablanca. However, guided tours can be arranged via your hotel or tour operator, most of whom use the services of Morocco-based
Telephone: +212 6 2901 5906
Website: www.moroccotoursservices.com
Casablanca excursions
Set in scrubby desert some 240km (150 miles) south of Casablanca, the historic city of Marrakech, with its famed street markets and profusion of shops, is Morocco’s premier tourism destination. Attractions here include world-class golf and displays of Berber horsemanship. The road is direct but very busy – allow three hours for the journey by car. For tourism information, stop by
Visit Morocco Travel & Events
Address: Residence Ahlam, Rue Moulay Abdellah, Marrakech.
Telephone: +212 5 2442 0387
Website: www.visitmorocco.ma
Easily reached by train, bus or car, the partially walled Atlantic coast city of Rabat, 70km (43 miles) from Casablanca, is Morocco’s interest-filled political capital and the nation’s second largest metropolis (after Casablanca). It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012. The tiny blue and white kasbah facing the Atlantic is gorgeous, but only one of the sights.
La Tour Hassan, originally the minaret of a huge mosque, pivots in dominant fashion over the Bou Regreg River, while the beautiful enclosed Chellah is a peaceful complex of tombs and Roman ruins. Rabat’s pirate history is evident in its urban twin, Salé, which sits across the river at the mouth of the ocean.
Tour Morocco Rabat
Address: Avenue Abdelmoumen, Hassan, Rabat.
Telephone +212 6 6177 0090
Website: www.tourmorocco.co
Shopping in Casablanca
Morocco is famed for its dark, fragrant medinas overflowing with spices, handmade goods and traditional pastries. Casablanca’s old medina is a far cry from the ancient winding souks of Marrakech, but it’s still full of interesting stalls selling trinkets and fresh food, and far less touristy. Heralded as the commercial capital of Morocco, it’s also possible to do plenty of European-style, high street shopping in the colonial centre of Casablanca.
If endless bargaining in Casablanca’s markets proves too stressful, the Exposition Nationale d’Artisanat, 3 Avenue Hassan II, offers all the expected odds and ends at fixed prices. The Maarif area of the city is the home of international shopping, with the likes of Prada and Zara, and a few fashion boutiques. If you want an authentic shopping experience, head to the rough-and-ready Derb Ghraleef district for knock-off clothing and homeware.
Souks and street markets in Casablanca can be easily found at various locations across the city and suburbs. Prices are not marked on most items and buyers are expected to haggle, even when purchasing fruit and vegetables. Craft ware, superb carpets and leather goods are generally good quality and inexpensive but make sure you are buying the real thing and not some cheap imitation made in the sweat shops of the Far East.
Worthy mementoes include ornately decorated tagine cooking dishes, leather belts and jackets, handmade jewellery and attractively embroidered clothing but are generally dearer than elsewhere in Morocco. Be sure to visit the legendary Marché Central on Boulevard Mohammed V for seafood and Moroccan-style souvenirs, as well as some handicrafts.
Alpha 55, at 76 Avenue Mers Sultan, is pretty much the only department store in Casablanca where it’s possible to find anything the heart desires. It also has a few places selling traditional jewellery that’s made from Moroccan silver, usually at relatively low prices.
Typical opening hours for shops in Casablanca are Monday to Saturday 08:30-12:00 and 14:00-18:30. During Ramadan however, food stores open late in the morning and are closed for much of the day. They then reopen in the evening until very late. Hypermarkets open daily from 09:00-20:00.
To pick up authentic hookahs, lanterns and smaller items such as ornamental woodwork, head to the medina, on Boulevard Mohammed V, and get ready to haggle. You’ll also find several souvenir stalls in the Marché Central, also found along Boulevard Mohammed V.
Morocco applies value-added tax on goods and services at a rate of 19%.
Casablanca Food And Drink
Food In Casablanca
Tagine. Probably the single most famous dish in Morocco, tagine is a staple in every traditional Moroccan restaurant—and Casablanca is no exception. Tagines are prepared in cone-shaped clay pots (also called tagines) that help to retain moisture while the ingredients cook slowly over a low heat.
In Morocco the term “couscous” refers to a whole dish made usually of meat and vegetables cooked in a delicious broth served on a bed of steamed semolina granules (aka couscous!).
Maakouda batata are Moroccan potato cakes or fritters. They’re a popular street food in Morocco, where they might be eaten plain or used as a sandwich filler in wedges of Moroccan khobz. They can also be served as an appetizer or as a side. This version is well-seasoned with sautéed onions, garlic, cilantro, and cumin.
- Khli’ (dried meat- with eggs)
Khlea or khlii (Arabic: الخليع) is a preserved meat, usually made with beef or lamb, originating from Morocco and Algeria. Khlea is made by cutting meat into strips and letting it dry in the sun after marinating it in garlic, coriander and cumin. The meat is cooked in a mixture of water, oil and animal fat.
- Bocadillos (Moroccan sandwiches)
Bocadillos. While you might have savoured Bocadillos on a Spanish holiday, this street food has traversed south to the bustling street corners of Northern Morocco, particularly Tangiers. Bocadillos are sandwiches, comprising a simple yet satisfying combination of meat, vegetables, and sauce.
A sweet parfait-like treat — are available most everywhere in Morocco, but they are a staple in the mahlaba shops.
Fine semolina flour, known as “Smida” in Moroccan cuisine, adds a unique texture and more complex flavor to breads like Msemen. If you don’t have semolina flour on hand, you can substitute it with fine-grade corn flour (not as fine as masa harina though).
Drink In Casablanca
Mint tea. Morocco’s signature drink is more than refreshing. Mint tea is served with reverence, as a gesture of hospitality and welcome that warms both the mouth and the heart.
While traditional Moroccan tea is a blend of Gunpowder green tea and minty peppermint leaves, Casablanca Mint is made with Gunpowder, a luxurious Lemon Verbena and Spearmint for a natural sweetness and milder mint flavor, letting a little complexity of Gunpowder to come through.
Morocco has some beer and wine locally produced especially in the region of Meknes. While beer, whiskey, and cocktails are more commonly found in bars and restaurants, especially in urban regions and popular tourist locations, wine is the primary alcoholic beverage produced in Morocco.
Major cities like Marrakech, Casablanca, and Fes offer a relatively easy access to alcohol, with a variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants serving it. On the other hand, smaller towns and rural areas might not have any available options, reflecting the country’s diverse attitudes towards drinking.
In the Moroccan cafés, locals order two kinds of coffee: Coffee Noir or Nous Nous. Café Noir is a small cup of espresso. Nous Nous is made from half milk and half espresso. You will not find Nous Nous name on the menu, as it is an Arabic way to say “half-half”.
Thanks to the presence of almonds, Amlou is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, B vitamins, and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. These nutrients help to strengthen our immune system, maintain strong bones and promote optimal health.
Sharbat was traditionally made with cane juice, but in modern times it is commonly made at home with sugar and water. Lime is sometimes added to improve the texture and flavor of the sharbat. Honey is also commonly used as a sweetener.
Atay. The quintessential tea of Morocco, atay is made by the liberal addition of mint leaves and sugar to Chinese green tea. The result is a warming, wonderfully sweet tea with a potent mint flavor.
Orange juice is a liquid extract of the orange tree fruit, produced by squeezing or reaming oranges. It comes in several different varieties, including blood orange, navel oranges, valencia orange, clementine, and tangerine.
Restaurants in Casablanca
Morocco is famous throughout the Mediterranean for its flavourful tagines (traditionally served in ochre clay pots), varied pastries, and fragrant couscous dishes. When visiting Casablanca, it’s essential you dine on authentic Maghreb cuisine. However, as Casablanca is a relatively Westernised city, with plenty of fine-dining options, you’ll also find several decent Spanish, Indian, and even Chinese spots. French-inspired cuisine is particularly popular. The Casablanca restaurants below have been handpicked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over Dh 300)
Moderate (Dh 100 to Dh 300)
Cheap (under Dh 100)
These Casablanca restaurant prices are for a three-course meal per person without drinks. Leave an extra 10-15% on top of your bill if the service has been good.
Expensive
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Created in 1926, the cabin came to a new location without being placed in Casablanca and on the front lines. The Cabestan has a marqué of sprits during the graceful decorations of a traditional cook and an inegalable service. This sublime paysage from the ocean Atlantic and the casablancaise, fait du Cabestan Ocean View untemporel, mythical and incontournable. There is a rapid development of the location of artists, political companies, business associates, and other countries across the horizon.
Address: Phare d’El hank, Boulevard de la Corniche, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 391 190
Website: www.le-cabestan.com
Cuisine: Fish /French
Appropriately set on the coastal Corniche area, just west of Aïn Diab, this is the fiefdom of Frenchmaître cuisinier (master chef) André Halbert. The wondrous fish dishes of his native province of Bretagne dominate. It is rated by many as the best restaurant in all Africa, but is cheap by European standards. French gourmets are said to visit Casablanca simply to dine at this great chef’s table. Fruits de mer (seafood) takes on a whole new meaning here.
Address: Bd de l’Océan Atlantique, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 397 979
Cuisine: French
For a slice of Parisian culinary heaven in Morocco’s commercial capital, look no further. Not far from La Mer, La Relais is perhaps the finest restaurant in Casablanca. Their focus is high-quality, gourmet food. This French-style brasserie has a wealth of exquisite seafood including lobster, swordfish and salmon, but it also does a delicious duck confit, entrecôte(steak) and tartare. The views from the terrace are outstanding as well.
Address: Av. Habib Sinaceur, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 5 2236 8796
Moderate
Cuisine: Moroccan
Catch the sun in the delightful garden of this popular hotel in Casablanca, or relax inside, where you can enjoy classic Moroccan cuisine with aromatic tagines and perfectly prepared couscous. Note that there’s another restaurant using the Al Mounia name, located just a few steps from the hotel, so don’t get confused.
Address: 95 Rue du Prince Moulay Abdallah, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 222 669
Cuisine: Italian
If you find yourself craving Italian food, no need to fear—Boccaccio has been described as the best Italian restaurant in Casablanca. Offering pizzas, pastas, and a great selection of wines, this lovely trattoria presents food that looks just as artful as it tastes. Look forward to attentive service and beautiful décor.
Address: 6 Rue Ahmed El Mokri, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 398 445
Cuisine: Moroccan
Amongst the city’s old fortifications, with great iron cannons lined up facing the sea, this restaurant boasts Casablanca’s most extraordinary setting, including a breathtaking garden. A popular alfresco spot, especially for romantics drawn to the candle-lit terrace, the menu mixes dishes from different parts of Morocco, along with some European options. Try the chicken kofta briouates (savoury-stuffed donuts).
Address: Boulevard des Almohades, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 260 960
Website: www.sqala.ma
Cheap
Cuisine: Chinese
Golden China is one of the country’s main tourist attractions, but if you tire of tagines and pastillas, and if the French-style restaurants seem too pricey, there is always Golden China. The décor may seem a little cheesy, with its Buddhas and Chinese lanterns, but there’s a pleasant and calm atmosphere – perhaps thanks to the soft traditional music. The extensive menu is delicious, and includes dumplings, spring rolls, sweet and sour pork, Mongolian beef and lots of vegetarian options.
Address: 12 Rue el Oraibi Jilali, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 273 526
Cuisine: Moroccan
If you’re looking for authentic and delicious Moroccan cuisine, this is one of the best restaurants to choose from. The owner named the restaurant after her grandmother, who taught her everything she knows about Moroccan cuisine. If you come for lunch, you’ll find yourself seated among locals while musicians serenade you. Try the couscous and the tagines.
Address: 44 Rue Ibnou Khaldoun, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 542 596
Cuisine: Moroccan
This Casablanca restaurant has been a local institution for more than four decades. At affordable prices, it serves authentic and mouth-watering Maghreb cuisine, including mechoui (spit-roasted lamb) and pastille (tasty meat pastries) specialities. There are more than a dozen different tagine dishes to choose from. The interior alone makes it worth a visit for its traditional zellij tiling (terra cotta tile work), elegant Moroccan furniture, and wood-carved stucco.
Address: Rue Allah Ben Abdellah, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 527 018 625
Casablanca Nightlife
Though it would be wrong to suggest that no one drinks, alcohol is generally frowned upon in Morocco, so there isn’t much of a boozing culture. Casablanca might be the exception. With a more European feel to the rest of the country, perhaps due to its French colonial past, Casablanca is awash with sophisticated bars, lively restaurants and a few nightclubs. The Corniche area has the trendiest spots, where people congregate in the streets and crowd the beach clubs during seemingly endless summers. There are a few places to watch traditional dances and music, too.
Bars in Casablanca
From the 28th floor of the Kenzi Tower Hotel, Sky 28 allows visitors to pair Casablanca’s best wine list with some of the best views in the city. The cocktails are excellent, if pricey, the tapas delicious, and the atmosphere decidedly chic. A jazz band usually gets the night rolling, before a DJ playing the latest jams takes over until the early hours.
Address: Kenzi Tower Hotel, Bd Mohamed Zerktouni, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 978 000
Website: www.kenzi-hotels.com
La Bodéga is a hip and trendy tapas bar, located just north of the central market. With live music on most nights, from Arabic and Spanish beats to rock and reggae music, this is a favourite choice among Casablanca’s well-heeled set. There are also Brazilian samba classes on Tuesday nights. You will notice a fondness for sports flags here, mainly pinned to the ceiling, because La Bodéga is the renowned for showing all the big football fixtures too.
Address: 129 Rue Allal Ben Abdallah, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 541 842
The bar is characterized by a high touch of elegance and wonderful decor, and it is sure to feature a variety of high-quality drinks, and those wishing to enjoy the atmosphere of music and dancing will hope that it is a great place for a romantic drink in the city.
Address: Rue du Soldat Maurice Benhammou, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 422 820
Website: www.artpalacehotel.com
Clubs in Casablanca
This trendy and relaxed lounge-style club offers a range of good music—including EDM, Deep House, and rap—in a stylish setting. Although it hosts dinner parties, service can occasionally be slow. Come here if you’re in the mood to get good drinks and dance the night away.
Address: 5 Rue De La Mer Adriatique, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 698 999 442
Website: www.mizogoo.fr
This Manhattanclub offers a range of good music—including EDM, Deep House, and rap—in a stylish setting. it presents dinner parties, Come here to get good drinks and dance the night away.
Address: Rue De La Mer Noire, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 669 585 576
Website: www.manhattancasablanca.com
Live music in Casablanca
Live music bar cause there aren’t a huge number of live music venues in Casablanca, Latino fans can get their fix at LA CAPSULE, which has a band playing each night. To a backdrop of Moorish-looking stone walls and fuelled by the tasty Spanish dishes served up here, music lovers can wiggle out to salsa, meringue and other spicy Latin American dances.
Address: ANGLE RUE DE LA MER JAUNE, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 797 630
Romantic eatery inspired by the cafe in the 1942 film “Casablanca,” with cocktails & a piano. Sam really does play it again in the piano bar at Rick’s Café. While the classic Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman film, Casablanca, was actually shot in Hollywood, most fans won’t mind that this Rick’s Café is actually an affectionate recreation. Most come and sip (some of the city’s most expensive) drinks in the bar which true to the film has exquisite furniture and décor, superb service and even a piano. Rick’s Cafe is a fine way to spend an evening.
Address: Place du Jardin Public, Boulevard Sour Jdid, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 522 274 207
Website: www.rickscafe.ma
Theatres in Casablanca
One of the best art deco treasures in the city, this recently restored cinema dates back to 1930s. Architecturally stunning, there’s only one screen inside beaming a variety of films, including some Moroccan classics, which has an impressive cinematic canon. When you step inside, try to picture how Edith Piaf and Josephine Barker once performed here.
Address: Quartier Horloge, 35 Rue Mohammed El Quorri, Casablanca.
Telephone: +212 634 750 983
