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.
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!
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.
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.
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 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
Entrees
Vegetables of the Day on the Side to Share
Dessert
Along with the desserts on the menu, specialty ice creams were also available. This girl does not skip dessert!
For the full menu, take a look!
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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It looks so lovely and the menu sounds great too. I would go for Moroccan touch dishes. 🙂
I was totally onboard for the Moroccan Touches, too! This was definitely a highlight of the whole trip!
menu pricing, is it US$ or Dirhams?
Dirhams when we visited! If you don’t have it already, download the XE app for currency conversions to make it easy for yourself!