Bar entertainment in Morocco
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Tanger Inn
Tangier was once a gay destination, but that scene has long since departed for Marrakesh, leaving no establishments behind. Concierges report that the Tanger Inn and some of the bars along the beach attract gay clientele, particularly late on weekends.
reviewed
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Bar Oum-Rabiá
While it’s easy to find kif in Chefchaouen, it’s hard to find a beer. One freestanding, and very masculine, option is Bar Oum-Rabiá.
reviewed
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Soukara
To kill time in style while waiting for a performance at the nearby Théâtre Royal - or train or Supratour bus around the corner - enjoy mint tea on the patio or a little something stiffer on the terrace. The combination of trendy Moroccan Zen décor and better prices than most Nouvelle Ville bars lures in the young Marrakshi set, who slyly check each other out at afternoon meetings of thinly disguised 'study groups' and make their moves over happy hour.
reviewed
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Lawrence Bar
One of two bars in the sprawling 350-room Sofitel, this advertises 'exclusive drinks' - meaning, what, your cocktail may be refused entry to your gullet if it's not properly attired? In reality this place is a freeloader's paradise, with access to a decent tapas buffet with a drink, and free bubbly if you cosy up to that diplomat splashing out the Dom Perignon rosé and don't mind the Cuban cigar smoke.
reviewed
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Aïn Diab
The beachfront suburb of Aïn Diab is the place to go for late night drinking and dancing in Casa. However, hanging out with Casablanca's beautiful people for a night on the town doesn't come cheap. Expect to pay at least around DH100 to get in and as much again for drinks. Heavy-set bouncers guard the doors and practise tough crowd control - if you don't look the part you won't be getting in.
reviewed
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Bar du Soleil
Wild raves for the Mamounia's gardens are a credit to its legions of gardeners but also the bartender at Bar du Soleil, who pours drinks extra strong on the patio at sunset to set that idyllic Mamounia mood. This occasion calls for a cognac or a top-shelf Mamounia cocktail of Grand Marnier, rum, juice and champagne, which, at around DH240, gives a double meaning to the term stiff drink.
reviewed
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La Petite Roche
With stunning views across to the Hassan II Mosque, this is another favourite Casa hangout. Littered with pillows thrown across low-level seating and lit by an army of candles, this place has a laid-back but exotic atmosphere. The clientele is not quite as self-consciously cool, or as unruly, as at La Bodéga and the restaurant downstairs serves good tapas, paella and seafood.
reviewed
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La Casa
Where else will you witness restaurant patrons deliver such a heart-rending, quasi-English rendition of an Usher R&B ballad, followed by double-jointed hip shaking to Jamaican dancehall and Egyptopop? Two-for-one specials on Red Bull and vodka from 19:00 to 22:00 get the dancing started before dinner ends, and give the neon Berber glyphs on the wall a hallucinatory glow.
reviewed
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Nejjarine Museum Café
On the roof terrace of the museum, this café serves drinks only (everything around DH10) and is a great place for gazing out over the rooftops of the nearby Kairaouine and Moulay Idriss Zawiya. Sit outside, or in an air-conditioned room. Not cheap with the museum entrance fee as well, but it's worth it for the friendly service and clean toilets.
reviewed
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Caid’s Bar
Welcome to Rick’s Café, or at least the real model for the bar in Casablanca. Long the establishment’s drinking hole of choice, this el-Minzah landmark is a classy relic of the grand days of international Tangier, and photos of the famous and infamous adorn the walls. Women are more than welcome, and the adjacent wine bar is equally good.
reviewed
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Le Patio
For something more sultry, the hip bar and restaurant Le Patio is a candlelit den with blood-red furnishings and a black mirror ball. You’ll need to buy some tapas (Dh35) to just sit and drink or you might even be tempted by the whiff of grilled fish coming from the canopied restaurant (mains Dh85 to Dh150).
reviewed
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Dean's Bar
Hardly a Westerner of any repute has failed to prop up this bar at some time. Founded in 1937, it's a bit dowdy now, though ceiling fans and B&W photos retain the colonial air. Now firmly a locals' drinking hole, it's worth investigating for its historical links, but don't expect heads to go unturned when you walk in.
reviewed
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La Bodéga
Hip, happening and loved by a mixed-aged group of Casablanca’s finest, La Bodega is essentially a tapas bar where the music (every-thing from Salsa to Arabic pop) is loud and the Rioja (Spanish wine) flows freely. It’s a fun place with a lively atmosphere and a packed dance floor after 10pm.
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Pasarela
This Canadian-owned seaside venue is a large complex with several bars, an attractive garden, an outdoor swimming pool and a comfortable vibe. Music is mostly Western and fairly up-to-the-minute, with live music, although the coloured lights on the dance floor are screaming for an upgrade.
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L'alcazar
The owner-architect designed the new courtyard with plasterwork copied from the Alhambra. This bar, at Riad Fes , faces a decorative pool and it's all very modern, with a Moroccan twist. Wine is available by the glass in this relaxing environment, as well as other tipples.
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Petit Poucet
A die-hard relic of 1920s France, this strictly male-only bar was where Saint-Exupéry, the French author and aviator, used to spend time between mail flights across the Sahara. Today, the bar is low-key but is an authentic slice of old-time Casa life.
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Le Puzzle
A happening bar-restaurant in Agdal, favoured by suburban sophisticates. It has a strange mix of traditional style and modern design but pulls in the punters with half-price beer and daily live gigs (except for Wednesday and Sunday karaoke nights).
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Bar de L’Alsace
If you’re in search of an old-time local haunt rather than a squeaky-clean trendsetter, try Bar de L’Alsace, a staunch male-only preserve where the smoke is thick and the alcohol neat. It is open all day but closes by about 10pm.
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Henry’s Bar
If you’re in search of an old-time local haunt rather than a squeaky-clean trendsetter, try Henry’s Bar, a staunch male-only preserve where the smoke is thick and the alcohol neat. It is open all day but closes by about 10pm.
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Le Purple
Slick, contemporary style, designer furniture and bright, sultry colours make this hip bar one of the hottest spots in the centre of town. It's a hang-out for the young and the beautiful and hosts a lively karaoke night on Sundays.
reviewed
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Bars
Meknès certainly isn't lacking in bars, all in the ville nouvelle and largely grouped around Blvd Allal ben Abdallah. Many are pretty seedy affairs, designed for serious drinking and smoking, with women not at all welcomed.
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El Galeón
With its long wooden bar and brass fixtures, the classy bar inside the Melilla Puerto follows the hotel's nautical theme. Don't dress too scruffily here, but apart from that it's a relaxed place to enjoy tapas and a few drinks.
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Negresco
With more of a European air than most Tangier bars, this pub draws a mixed local and foreign crowd. The adjacent restaurant means a good bar menu for food, with draught beer and spirits satisfying more essential needs.
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Bars along Rue 10 Mai
Be warned that Tetuouan's drinking establishments, as is the Moroccan norm, are firmly in the male sphere. These various bars tend to be dark and smoky but will give you access to a drop of the hard stuff.
reviewed
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La Prensa
This no-frills dive is the most popular of several small bars spilling out onto this pedestrian street. La Prensa packs in the locals till the wee hours.
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