Rick's Café - Casablanca

For being a touristy place, we had low expectations for food, so we were so pleasantly surprised to have really incredible meals. Wine list is not extensive, but there are some great choices for good value (compared to other restaurants we went to). Service and atmosphere was just awesome. We even met some very kind people at the next table and shared a couple of bottles with them!

If you are looking for a nostalgic and beautiful place to eat and drink while in Casablanca, Morocco, then look no farther than Rick’s Café. It is, as the name implies, inspired by the classic black and white film “Casablanca”, filmed in 1942 with the leading actors Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, plus Peter Lorre and others. This exceptional restaurant and bar is located a short distance from Casa Port train station, but it is advisable to take a small petit taxi rather than walk. I decided to have an early lunch (Rick’s Café opens at 12:00 noon) before a 2 o’clock appointment. Various reviews have ranked this restaurant as one of the best in the city. I didn’t want a huge lunch, and after glancing at the menu I decided to order a pasta dish: Tagliatelle Alfredo with thin slices of duck in a cream sauce, with a bowl of freshly grated Parmesan cheese on the side. I sat on the lower level facing the piano under the octagonal glass domed ceiling three stories above me, from which nine lanterns are hung. The room had three Moroccan arches on each side, and the main green marble topped bar is off to one side. The soaring ceiling reminded me of the Tiffin Room inside Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Within 10 minutes, the efficient and polite English-speaking waiter brought my food to my table which was beautifully set up with a pepper mill, salt shaker and a black cotton tablecloth. The waiter also brought a separate bowl of absolutely delicious mixed vegetables: thinly-sliced carrots, perfect green beans and zucchini, all sautéed in garlic and with bits of parsley, and slightly al dente. One clear indicator of a superior restaurant is that the freshly baked bread is warm, and it was placed on a separate bread plate with a gleaming butter knife. There was a small round bowl of butter at room temperature. I only ordered a half bottle of mineral water, but the attentive waiter discreetly poured it into my glass and refilled it several times. I was delighted to have chosen Rick’s Café and you can be sure that I’ll be back every time I’m in Casablanca. The interiors of Rick 's Café were rendered by the late famed interior designer and architect Bill Willis, and they are reminiscent of scenes from the film Casablanca . Willis was born in Memphis, Tennessee but before age 20 he moved to Rome, then Paris and the south of France, until he settled in Morocco, first in Tangier in 1961. Willis eventually moved to Marrakech where he lived and worked for 40 years until his death in 2009, designing interiors for the fabulous homes of Yves Saint Laurent, John Paul Getty, Jr. and Alain Delon, among others. All of the staff of uniformed waiters and bartenders at Rick 's Café are efficient and polite and they provide immaculate service. The food is generous, fresh and attractively presented, and there is a good variety on the menu to choose from, with daily specials and a Sunday Brunch. There is an extensive wine selection and beers and cocktails. You will always find something that you can easily afford. Reservations are not required and credit cards are accepted. A 10% tip is automatically added to your bill, but since I was very pleased with everything, I left an extra generous tip for good service. Before leaving, the bartender asked if I would write some message in a special red leather guest book at the end of the marble bar. I had mentioned to him how I had known the restaurant 's late founder, Kathy Kriger. We had several friends in common, including Joe McPhillips III and the talented designer of Rick’s Café, Bill Willis. Kathy was also an admirer of the expatriate writer and composer Paul Bowles, a friend and neighbor of mine in Tangier. Rick 's Café does have a dress code: no shorts, T-shirts or backpacks here. The air-conditioned restaurant and bar is upscale and elegant. While tourists do eat here, Rick 's Café is most definitely not a tourist trap , but rather one of the most attractive and best restaurants in Casablanca and in all Morocco. You will have fond memories after your fine dining experience at Rick’s Café.

Never been to the place. But, I’ve seen the movie “Casablanca” dozens of times. In the US it is sometimes rated the best movie ever made. I posted a picture of the piano, Rick and Sam. Someone should get credit. I don’t know who.

Definitely take the time to check out Rick's Cafe, even if you are just in Casablanca for a flight layover. You won't be disappointed. I'm so happy we had dinner here. It's a beautifully designed restaurant and the food and customer service is great.

Rick’s Café, the legendary “Gin Joint” of Casablanca. The place was designed to recreate the bar made famous by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the movie classic Casablanca. The restaurant – piano bar is filled with architectural and decorative details reminiscent of the film Casablanca. There is also an authentic 1930s Pleyel piano and As Time Goes By is a common request to the in-house pianist. This is definitely a landmark not to be missed when visiting Casablanca.