We’ve all heard about the classic Hollywood movie Casablanca and its famous nightclub, the Ricks’s cafe. That’s what Casablanca was to me before coming to Morocco. Exploring the city on foot made me realise that it is more than just fancy bars and commercial buildings. The French quarters hold up most of Casablanca’s nightlife. However, if you want to experience the real side of the city, here’s what we did that you can do too!
Started our day by visiting the Hasan II mosque
Bordering the Atlantic Ocean resides the world’s third-largest mosque, The Hasan II mosque. It comprises of world’s second-largest minaret. Moreover, the light coming out of this minaret directs towards Mecca. This mosque is named after one of the Moroccan king Hassan II. The architecture is a blend of Islamic and Moroccan elements, carved on every stone and pillar of the mosque. The roof is retractable which makes it unique. Since the mosque has been built partially over land and the ocean. You get a spectacular view of the underwater from the floor of the prayer hall.
The mosque is one of the iconic buildings in the country and attracts thousands of visitors daily. You can visit the outer parts of the mosque complex for free. However, you need to buy a ticket to visit the inside of the mosque. Moreover, the mosque remains closed for tourists during the prayers hours.
Took a walk by the Oceanside
After witnessing the stunning architecture of the Hassan II mosque. We headed to the Ocean Walkway next to the mosque complex. On one side of the walkway, is the roaring Atlantic Ocean waves splashing the boundary walls of the mosque. On the other hand is a wall full murals depicting the culture of the city. We sat here for a while ogling at the beauty of this place, before heading to our next destination.
My first Moroccan meal
It was almost lunch when we decided to leave the walkway. My friend took me to one of Casablanca’s famous restaurant Zayna. This is a traditional Moroccan restaurant where I had my first Moroccan meal. We ordered a Moroccan salad for starters and Chicken Tajine for the main course. Bread is the staple food of Morocco and is served with every meal along with the mint tea. The restaurant had a cute pet kitten who accompanied us while we enjoyed our food. The restaurant also had two local artists who played traditional Moroccan music.
Explored the local market near the Royal Palace
On a full stomach, we headed to our next destination, the central market next to the Royal Palace. The market had several mini-markets within the compound. The olive market was one of them that had all kinds of olives. Both plain ones or in the form of pickle. We also explored many other markets that sold amazing handicraft, rugs and clothes.
Watched sunset by the beach
After a long day of walking around the city, we then headed to the glamorous district of Casablanca. La Corniche is a place popular among the surfers and sunbathers. This place is also known for its high-end beach facing clubs. We entered the La Corniche beach where the wind made it impossible for us to dip our feet. Instead, we sat by the beachside sipping mint tea while watching the flaming orange sky turn dark.
Homemade meal for dinner
My day ended with a scrumptious meal at my friend’s house. We had Moroccan roasted vegetable soup, Chichen patties and Tuna Pizza. It felt like a home away from home!
We had our early morning ride to Rabat the next day. Therefore, we decided to skip the pub crawl at night. However, if you have time then head to the French quarters (Marché Central) to witness the amazing nightlife of Casablanca.
To know more about my day in Casablanca check out this video
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