24 Hours in Casablanca
Marrakech and Fez captivate travelers with their ancient customs, while Tangier and Essaouira enchant with their exotic counter-culture. But Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, is an Atlantic port cosmopolitan city, a charming blend of tradition and progress. With Roman roots, French urban planning, and a Portuguese name (later changed to Spanish) dating back to the 16th century, the city retains mid-century elegance with modern touches, including a stylish tram system running through its center. In the oldest part of the city, travelers can buy strawberries and eggs from wheelbarrows, eat fried sandwiches outside the mosque, and chat with locals who always seem ready to share their stories and geography. A short taxi ride away, visitors can indulge in luxury shopping at Galeries Lafayette, watch a 3D movie, or visit a three-story aquarium.
Saturday
Art Break | Noon
A short walk to the park and Villa des Arts, housed in an Art Deco building from 1934 – in white, of course. Black and white marble stairs and wrought-iron decor have displayed exhibitions of contemporary paintings and sculptures from Morocco and abroad in bright rooms. Admission is free, and the museum regularly organizes concerts and readings. For a less institutional setting, there is also a cutting-edge art scene, with occasional exhibitions in an old slaughterhouse in a run-down part of the city – Casablanca’s version of Bushwick, with equally daring works.
Lunch (or Brunch) | 1:30 PM
With its sleek look – silver stools, hanging lights – Mood Café, in the trendy Gauthier district, could easily be in Miami or Los Angeles. Hip young Casablancans gather with their laptops at white tables and glowing chairs, enjoying free Wi-Fi and light meals – sandwiches and fresh fruit juices – on the menu. The house salad is a Moroccan chef’s salad, with ham, brie, corn, olives, and nuts in a creamy dressing; somehow, it works. The restaurant also offers a special brunch with a smoothie menu instead of a mimosa as in the U.S. Expect to spend around 200 dirhams for lunch or brunch for two.
Shopping and Tasting | 4:00 PM
The Gauthier district is a high-end shopping street, with designer furniture stores, galleries, salons, and international stores like Hugo Boss lined along Rue Jean Jaurès. Window shop or spend a few dirhams with the well-heeled crowd here; keep an eye out for discounts on hip denim lines made in Casablanca. Then flaunt your latest pieces at Chester, a new hotspot popular with locals and French expatriates. It’s a favorite for happy hour or later, more laid-back hangouts. Under neon green-lit walls adorned with images of Mick Jagger and Stevie Wonder, and with the Jackson 5 and Amy Winehouse on the soundtrack, patrons smoke and flirt over cheeseburgers.
Dinner and Show (Free) | 8:00 PM
Opened in 1958, Al-Mounia is a Casablanca institution; Jimmy Carter dined here. The harira soup comes with a big slice of lemon and a plate of figs; the pastilla is dusted with cinnamon and sugar; the bubbling couscous with carrots and squash and a pot of fragrant broth. Enjoy it under the pepper tree in the courtyard while the waiters entertain you.
Dance and Jamming | 10:30 PM
The strip of clubs and lounges on La Corniche, the seafront boulevard, lends itself to bar hopping (especially since they serve alcohol). Start at La Calèche, an unpretentious basement bar tucked away in a side street of Hotel Azur. Posters and Bob Marley guitars hang from the ceiling, and the friendly owner, Albert Cohen, joins in jam sessions for a multinational audience; itinerant musicians often perform here, playing American rock and funk, as well as Middle Eastern music, for a laid-back, college-like vibe. For a brighter night, head to Cabestan, which could be a restaurant on the French Riviera, and its downstairs neighbor, the Rose Bar, overlooking the ocean.
Sunday
Traditional Tour | Noon
Unlike the labyrinthine markets of Fez and other Moroccan cities, the central market in Casablanca is small and manageable. Stalls with white walls and clay tile roofs dotted with greenery make for all the Instagrammable spots you could ever need. Vendors sell products, nuts, and dates, and at one stand, argan oil, the traditional Moroccan elixir. Stick around long enough, and you’ll see the vendors gather for the call to prayer, then join in for a quick lunch of tagine served at outdoor tables.
Quick Juice | 3:00 PM
Cafes are traditionally the domain of Moroccan men, who linger over mint tea and strong coffee. The brightly colored juice bar, Espace El Frutero, near the market, is a favorite meeting place for young women, friends, and students. Fruits and nuts hang from the ceiling in bags, and you can order a mixed fruit cocktail made to order (about 20 dirhams, roughly $2.35 to $8.55 per dollar).
Visit a Mosque | 5:00 PM
Completed in 1993 after many years of construction, the Hassan II Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Africa, with one of the tallest minarets in the world. Thanks to its location on the seafront and the laser at the top of the minaret shining towards Mecca, it’s one of the most remarkable buildings in Morocco. It’s also one of the few mosques that allows non-Muslim visitors to enter its halls. Take a taxi at sunset to observe local couples strolling along the shore, nibbling on salted chickpeas or fresh chips sold in paper cones from street carts (12 dirhams). The airy square in front of the mosque will be filled with families, with children treating it like a playground, riding their scooters. The mosque is an imposing sight but also welcoming; guided tours are available daily in several languages.
Good Vibes | 9:00 PM
Of course, Rick’s Café is a tourist destination, a pastiche that has nothing to do with the 1942 cinematic classic, which was filmed on a soundstage in California. But it’s a charming pastiche, opened by a former American diplomat, with flawless traditional architecture – arched doors and mosaic-tiled floors – and Moroccan pianist Issam Chabaa playing medleys of the familiar “As Time Goes By” and Sinatra’s “My Way.” The lighting is sensual, and the whole kitsch is easily forgotten when you find yourself stuck at the bar sipping a well-mixed Negroni (about 115 dirhams).
If you’re looking to rent a car to make your journey easier, our car rental agency Ho Rent Car ensures you can find your car at the airport or in the city, with or without a driver. Additionally, we offer several other benefits.