LOCALSEAFOODSEAFOODLOCALFRENCHdiplomat, with furniture and fittings inspired by the film. The menu features excellent French and
Moroccan specialities, concentrating on fresh fish. At lunchtime, the Obama family’s chilli con
carne is on offer. The pianist, Issam, will play As time goes by , and there’s a Sunday jam
session, wi-fi access and, inevitably, souvenir T-shirts. You can watch the film again and again
on the 1st floor. The upstairs bar, The Blue Parrot ( Click here ) – of course! – is a good place
for late-night drinks. Here’s looking at you kid!
Sqala Restaurant €€
( 0522 26 09 60; Blvd des Almohades; mains Dh90-160; lunch & dinner Tue-Sun, daily
summer) Nestled in the ochre walls of the sqala, an 18th-century fortified bastion north of the
centre, this lovely restaurant is a tranquil escape from the city. The cafe has a rustic interior
and a delightful garden surrounded by flower-draped trellises. No alcohol is served, but there’s
a good selection of teas and fresh juices. It’s a lovely spot for a Moroccan breakfast or a
selection of salads for lunch. Tajines are a speciality and the menu features plenty of fish, as
well as a selection of meat brochettes.
Taverne du Dauphin €€
Offline map Google map ( 0522 22 12 00; 115 Blvd Houphouët Boigny; mains Dh140; lunch& dinner Mon-Sat) A Casablanca institution, this traditional Provençal restaurant and bar has
been serving up local fruits de mer (seafood) since it opened in 1958. This is an old-fashioned,
family-run place, and one taste of the succulent grilled fish, fried calamari and crevettes royales
(king prawns) will leave you smitten.
Ostréa €€
( 0522 44 13 90; Le Port de Pêche; mains Dh150; lunch & dinner) Across the road from
Restaurant du Port de Pêche inside the port is this more upmarket seafood restaurant
specialising in Oualidia oysters and fresh lobster.
Restaurant al-Mounia €€
Offline map Google map ( 0522 22 26 69; 95 Rue Prince Moulay Abdallah; mains Dh150; dinner) Eat the best Moroccan food in the centre of Casablanca at this delightful traditional
restaurant where you can choose to sit in the Moroccan salon elegantly decorated with zellij
(tilework) and sculpted wood, or under the pepper tree in the cool, leafy garden. There’s a
selection of salads worthy of any vegetarian restaurant and an array of exotic delicacies such
as pigeon pastilla (rich, savoury pie) and sweet tomato tajine.
La Brasserie la Bavaroise €€€
Offline map Google map ( 0522 31 17 60; 129 Rue Allah ben Abdellah; mains Dh150-200; dinner) Locals and expats like to hang out in this upmarket brasserie behind the Marché
Central, partly for the French cuisine, partly to see and be seen. It offers a good selection of
fish as well as French classics such as veal, steak and pheasant cooked to perfection. Meat is
grilled on a wood fire. It has a pleasant atmosphere and a friendly welcome. Every month the
menu features specialities from a different region of France. The same owners also run La
Bodéga (Click here ) next door, a great tapas bar.