Dining at Rick’s Cafe, Casablanca

Updated June 24, 2020.

Spolier alert: the first Rick’s Cafe was made up for the movie! The actual restaurant where you can have a meal and listen to some piano playing in Casablanca opened in 2004 and was inspired by everyone’s favorite Bogart and Bergman film, Casablanca. And you better believe that this Casablanca fan was not going to visit Morocco’s largest city without dining at the legendary Rick’s Cafe. Here’s the experience, complete with photos!

The Restaurant

You’ll find Rick’s Cafe at the corner of Boulevard Sour Jedid and Boulevard des Al Mohades, across from the Marina Shopping Centre. It’s white with Black trim, and it looks like it came right out of the 1940s. Hours are Monday-Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm and 6:30pm-1:00am; Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm and 6:30pm-1:00am.

Rick’s Cafe, Casablanca

Inside it’s set up like a traditional Moroccan house with two levels situated around a sunken courtyard. There’s a bar, of course, and a piano. We went at lunch time, so no one was playing, but I do believe they have a player at night. I didn’t see a casino in the back, but you never know!

Bar at the back, piano to the right.

The Ambience

As soon as we walked into the restaurant, I could feel the 1940s, old movies vibe! It was like walking into my dreams! The art deco look and Moroccan touches are definitely reminiscent of the movie, complete with fringe lamps and black and white accents.

The look!

There was old music playing to help patrons get into the right mood and mindset, the tile work was on point, and the authentic Moroccan architecture and accent pieces were perfectly complementary to the American influences.

Custom Plates for Rick’s Cafe

The Service

Y’all, this is a place for the nostalgic, the corny, and the tourists, and the people who work here know it! The staff discretely hid themselves from view when they noticed patrons taking photos (like me!), our server made sure we knew we could keep our menus, and when I timidly asked if I could go up stairs to get some more photos, I was given an enthusiastic, “Yes, of course!”

The courtyard in the center of the restaurant.

The Meal

The food at Rick’s Cafe features a good mix of American favorites and traditional Moroccan fare, with a touch of French influence for good measure. We tried a little of each!

Appetizers

Whole Grain Roll, Poppyseed Roll, Butter
Goat Cheese Croquettes with Honey, Lavender, and Almonds

Entrees

Spaghetti with Dried Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Fresh Basil;
Vegetables of the Day on the Side to Share
Lamb Shank, Sesame-caramelized Prunes, and Saffron Rice

Dessert

Along with the desserts on the menu, specialty ice creams were also available. This girl does not skip dessert!

Cafe Liegeois: Sweetened Espresso, Coffee Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Coffee Syrup Topping, and a Tuile Cookie!

For the full menu, take a look!

The Lunch Menu

What would you order?! Comment below to tell me!

What else is there to do in Casablanca? Don’t miss Visiting the Hassan II Mosque!

Want more? Check out my World Foods and Morocco Pages!

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Published by quickwhittravel

Welcome to the blog! We do things a little differently around here: no ads, no negativity, and no checked luggage, y'all. My name is Whitney, and Quick Whit Travel Blog is your one-stop shop for all the best travel tips, packing advice, and destination information. Click around or message me on social media @quickwhittravel for more!

4 thoughts on “Dining at Rick’s Cafe, Casablanca

    1. I was totally onboard for the Moroccan Touches, too! This was definitely a highlight of the whole trip!

    1. Dirhams when we visited! If you don’t have it already, download the XE app for currency conversions to make it easy for yourself!

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