Casablanca city guide: Where to stay, eat, drink and shop in Morocco’s screen-star city

Frequently written off as a business hub or merely a gateway to the rest of the country, Casablanca feels like Morocco’s forgotten tourist city. People flood to Marrakesh for the souks, Fes for the Medina, Agadir for the surf – but many ignore the nation’s largest city.

Yet Casablanca has its own market, medina, surf and more – not to mention the best international food scene in Morocco, high-rise cocktail bars, mesmerising architecture both old and new. And of course – of all the gin joints in all the world – it has Rick’s Café.

What to do

Explore Africa’s second largest mosque

Built partly on reclaimed land over the ocean (“Because God’s throne was on water”) the Hassan II Mosque dominates Casablanca’s waterfront. It took six years and 12,000 workers to build, and the scale catches you as you stand dwarfed by one of the immense doors, staring up at the 210-metre tall minaret (tower). There’s space outside for 80,000 worshippers, and inside, under a retractable roof, room for 25,000 more. It was usurped as Africa’s largest in 2019 by the Djamaa El Djazair in Algiers. A visit costs 130 dirhams (£11) for non-Muslims, including a guided tour – catch them daily at 9am, 10am, 11am (except Friday), 2pm and 3pm.

Wander the markets and souks

Whether it’s the Central Market, the souks of Quartier Habous or the stalls of the Old Medina, Casablanca is crammed with places to either pick up a bargain or pay massively over the odds – depending upon your confidence and resolve. Drool at glistening pastries, eye up fresh oysters to be shucked and eaten on the go, or consider fitting your spare room as a mini Aladdin’s cave. Once you’ve seen something you like, do your best to pretend you’re not in the least bit interested and enjoy the thrill of a haggle.

We’ll always have Rick’s Café

If you love the film, there’s no better experience in Casablanca than drinking a gin cocktail at at Rick’s Café, the bar inspired by the movie. Sip yours at the roulette table (“Have you tried 22 tonight?”) – you’ll find them in one of the side lounges, or listen to a jazz quartet play As Time Goes By downstairs. Open 12-3pm and 6.30pm-1am daily.

Catch some waves

Zip up a wetsuit, grab a board and hit the beginner-friendly breakers of the Atlantic at one of Casablanca Surf Coaching’s small group half-day sessions, on the flat sand beach to the south of the Corniche. Lessons cost from €25 (£21) for a…