Things to do · Casablanca
Rick's Café is one of Casablanca's best-known restaurants and bars — a candlelit, 1940s-style dining room set in a restored traditional courtyard mansion near the old medina and the port. It was created to evoke 'Rick's Café Américain', the fictional bar from the classic 1942 film 'Casablanca' with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, complete with arches, a piano and live music. One honest point matters before you go: the 1942 film was shot in Hollywood studios, not in Casablanca, so this is a loving homage and themed dining experience inspired by the movie rather than a genuine historic film location. Here is what it is and how to enjoy an evening there.
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Rick's Café is a restaurant and bar in central Casablanca, opened in 2004 and designed to evoke the bar from the 1942 film 'Casablanca'. It serves international and Moroccan-French dishes in an atmospheric period setting, and has become one of the city's signature dining experiences for visitors who know the film.
The whole concept is a tribute to 'Rick's Café Américain', the fictional gin joint run by Humphrey Bogart's character in the classic 1942 movie 'Casablanca' alongside Ingrid Bergman. Fans will recognise the mood the room is going for, from the arches and lighting to the piano in the corner.
It is worth knowing, and the venue itself is open about this: the 1942 film was made on Hollywood studio sets, not in Casablanca, and the on-screen bar never existed as a real place. Rick's Café is a faithful recreation and homage built decades later, not a surviving film location — so enjoy it as a themed experience rather than a piece of cinema history.
The restaurant occupies a restored traditional Moroccan house arranged around a central courtyard, in the riad style. Arches, balconies, brass detailing and warm interiors recreate a 1940s atmosphere, and the building itself is a large part of the appeal — it feels a world away from the street outside.
A piano sits at the heart of the room, and live piano music is part of the experience in the evenings — fittingly, 'As Time Goes By', the film's signature song, is among the pieces you may hear. The music and candlelight are central to the 1940s mood the place is known for.
Low lighting, candles, dark wood and vintage touches give the rooms an intimate, old-world feel after dark. It is designed as an evening venue where the atmosphere is as much the draw as the food, so it suits a slower, lingering dinner rather than a quick meal.
The kitchen serves a mix of international and Moroccan-French dishes in a sit-down dining format. Menus and prices change over time, so check the current offering rather than relying on any fixed list; the experience and setting are typically as much the reason to come as any single dish.
Because it is popular with visitors and has limited covers, it tends to be busy, especially in the evenings and high season. Reserving a table ahead is generally a good idea rather than turning up on spec; confirm current booking arrangements and opening times directly when you plan.
The venue leans towards a smarter, more polished evening than a casual café. There is no need for anything formal, but dressing up a little suits the period atmosphere and the occasion-style setting — many guests treat a meal here as a special evening rather than a drop-in.
It is an easy recommendation for fans of the film, for couples or groups wanting a memorable dinner with atmosphere, and for travellers looking to mark a special evening in Casablanca. If you have never seen the 1942 movie, the theming will mean less, though the setting and music still stand on their own.
Rick's Café sits at the edge of Casablanca's old medina, towards the Sqala and port end of the city. That makes it easy to pair with a daytime walk through the old medina or along the waterfront, ending the day with dinner in the period dining room.
The Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca's grandest landmark, is a short distance away on the coast, so the two combine well in one outing — the mosque by day and Rick's Café in the evening. Together with the old medina they make a natural Casablanca day for first-time visitors.
Rick's Café is a restaurant and bar in central Casablanca, near the old medina and port, opened in 2004 and designed to evoke the bar from the classic 1942 film 'Casablanca'. Set in a restored courtyard mansion with arches, a piano and live music, it serves international and Moroccan-French food in a candlelit 1940s atmosphere.
No. The 1942 film was shot on Hollywood studio sets, not in Casablanca, and the on-screen bar was fictional and never existed as a real place. Rick's Café is a loving homage and recreation built decades later, in 2004 — a themed dining experience inspired by the film rather than a genuine historic film location.
It is popular with visitors and tends to be busy, particularly in the evenings and high season, so reserving a table ahead is generally a good idea. Booking arrangements and opening times can change, so it is best to confirm current details directly when you plan your visit.
It suits fans of the 1942 film, couples and groups wanting an atmospheric dinner, and travellers marking a special evening in Casablanca. The piano music, candlelight and period setting are the main draw. It sits near the old medina and port and pairs naturally with the Hassan II Mosque for a full Casablanca day.
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