Restaurants in Casablanca
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Rick’s Cafe
‘Here’s looking at you kid!’ Cashing in on the Hollywood hit Casablanca, this beautiful bar, lounge and restaurant is run by a former American diplomat, with furniture and fittings inspired by the film, and serving a taste of home for the nostalgic masses. Lamb chops, chilli, hamburgers and American breakfasts as well as a few excellent French and Moroccan specialities are all on the menu. There’s also an in-house pianist, a Sunday jazz session, wi-fi access and, inevitably, souvenir T-shirts. It’s a stunning setting and a good place for late-night drinks. You can watch the film again and again on the 1st floor.
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Café Maure
Nestled in the ochre walls of the sqala, an 18th-century fortified bastion, this lovely restaurant is a tranquil escape from the city. Choose to sit in the rustic interior or the lovely garden surrounded by flower-draped trellises and enjoy the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and friendly service. The menu favours seafood and salads, although meat dishes are also available, and the exotic fruit juices are simply sublime.
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La Fibule
Subtle lighting, warm colours and an elegant decor give La Fibule an inviting atmosphere. The food is a mixture of well-prepared Moroccan and Lebanese, served at low tables overlooking the ocean through large windows.
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Snack Amine
Tucked between the chicken rotisseries by the Marché Central, Snack Amine serves up big plates of simple but tasty fried fish, and platters of the freshest seafood.
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Sqala Restaurant
Nestled in the ochre walls of the sqala, an 18th-century fortified bastion, this lovely restaurant is a tranquil escape from the city. The café has a rustic interior and a delightful garden surrounded by flower-draped trellises. No alcohol is served, but there’s a good selection of teas and fresh juices. It’s a lovely spot for a Moroccan breakfast (Dh70) or a selection of salads for lunch (Dh68). Tajines are a speciality (the goat tajine with argan oil being particularly good), but the menu features plenty of fish, as well as a selection of meat brochettes.
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La Brasserie la Bavaroise
Locals and expats like to hang out in this upmarket brasserie behind the Marché Central, partly for the French cuisine, partly to see and be seen. It offers a good selection of fish as well as French classics such as veal, steak and pheasant cooked to perfection. Meat is grilled on a wood fire. It has a pleasant atmosphere and a friendly welcome. Every month the menu features specialities from a different region of France. The same owners also run La Bodega next door, a great tapas bar.
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Restaurant du Port de Pêche
This authentic and rustic seafood restaurant in the middle of the fishing harbour is packed to the gills at lunch and dinner as happy diners tuck into fish freshly whipped from the sea and cooked to perfection. The fish and tangy paella are some of the best in town. The decor is very 1970s with red-and-white gingham tablecloths. Service is professional and swift. Book ahead as this place is very popular with Casablancais from all walks of life.
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Le Mystic Garden
Giant glass walls swathe this sleek, two-storey restaurant-cum-bar in light. Downstairs leads onto a garden; upstairs overlooks the ocean. It’s an ultra-cool hang-out for Casa’s well-heeled youth but the Mediterranean menu is well worth sampling. Dinner is accompanied by low-key sounds that morph into a full-on disco beat later in the evening, and for once on this strip the beer isn’t astronomically priced.
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La Maison du Gourmet
This upmarket gourmet restaurant serves an inventive menu of the finest of French and Moroccan cuisine, run by a couple, he French, she Moroccan, both trained by Paul Bocuse. Specialities include a heavenly pastilla with confit of duck and foie gras. The elegant surroundings, excellent service and exceptional food make this the perfect address for a special occasion. Book ahead.
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Paul
The French chain of bakery and patisserie has arrived in Casa, in the gorgeous art-deco Villa Zevaco. There is a constant flow of people here, coming as much for the food and decor as for the pleasure of being seen in this trendy hang-out. Excellent breakfast is served, and there is also a menu of salads, snacks and other Mediterranean delights.
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Le Rouget de l’Isle
Sleek, stylish and charming, renowned for its simple but delicious and light French food, Le Rouget is one of Casa’s top eateries. Set in a renovated 1930s villa, it is an elegant place filled with period furniture and contemporary artwork. The impeccable food is reasonably priced though, and there’s a beautiful garden. Book in advance.
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Taverne du Dauphin
A Casablanca institution, this traditional Provençal restaurant and bar has been serving up fruits de mer (seafood) since it opened in 1958. This is an old-fashioned family-run place, and one taste of the succulent grilled fish, fried calamari and crevettes royales (king prawns) will leave you smitten.
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A Ma Bretagne
Locally promoted as the best restaurant in Africa, this self-consciously cool establishment is all modern lines and superb food. Although seafood tops the bill here, you can opt for some other French delicacies, cooked by the maître cuisinier (master chef) André Halbert. It’s 5km out of town.
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Patisserie Bennis Habous
One of the city’s most famous and traditional patisseries, this place in the Quartier Habous is Casa’s best spot for traditional Moroccan treats, including some of the best cornes de gazelle (gazelle horns, almond paste) pastries in town, as well as made-to-order pastillas.
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Marché Central
If you’re planning a picnic on the beach, head for the Marché Central, located between Blvd Mohammed V and Rue Allah ben Abdellah. It’s a fascinating place to just stroll and has a great selection of fresh produce and a couple of good delis.
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Café Alba
High ceilings, swish, modern furniture, subtle lighting and a hint of elegant colonial times mark this café out from the more traditional smoky joints around town. It’s hassle-free downtime for women and a great place for watching Casa’s up-and-coming.
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Thai Gardens
Slightly out of the centre in the affluent suburb of Anfa, but worth seeking out for its excellent Thai cuisine, this place is another top-notch option. The vast menu of Thai classics is refreshingly inventive and makes a good choice for vegetarians.
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Palais des Glaces
Famous across the city for its excellent ice cream, this is one of the city’s oldest sweet-tooth stops, serving up delicious ice creams and sorbets for 125 years. Set across from the beach in Aïn Diab, it makes a glorious retreat on a fine day.
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La Mer
Right next door to La Fibule, and under the same management, this seafood restaurant is a refined place with white linen and bone china replacing the ethnic vibe. The menu and service is very French, bordering on stuffy, but the food is divine.
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Epsom
Almost always crowded and spilling customers onto the streetside seating, this friendly café serves a choice of grills and brochettes at bargain prices. It’s a relaxed place with a mixed clientele and offers hassle-free eating for women.
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Le Luigi
One of the most popular Italian restaurants, Le Luigi makes for a welcome break from tajine if you’ve been in Morocco for some time. The decor is nothing special but the pizzas are worth the journey. Book ahead.
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Pâtisserie de l'Opéra
Drop in for breakfast and try getting by the counter at this bakery/café without giving in to one of the incredible cakes. It's a wonderfully relaxed place with a hidden seating area out the back.
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La Petite Perle
Popular with young professionals and women travelling alone, this spotless, modern café serves up a range of sandwiches, crêpes, pastas and pizzas as well as a great choice of breakfasts.
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Golden China
Casa's top Chinese restaurant is a welcome break from tajine if you've been in Morocco for some time. It's an excellent choice for vegetarians with plenty of meat-free options on offer.
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Hediard
Slick, new and popular with the young and beautiful, this café in Aïn Diab serves a range of sumptuous cakes as well as light meals and deli-style sandwiches (Dh30 to Dh50).
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