Travel & Hotspots
CASABLANCA
by Marion Pauw
“Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.”
– uit ‘Casablanca’, the movie
I recently spent three and a half days in Casablanca trying on my wedding dress. So the question that clearly arises is: would I recommend people to spend a weekend in Casablanca? The answer to that question is: yes and no.
Yay!
Climate
Casablanca is located by the sea so the climate is fantastic. Opposed to a place like Marrakech where you boil from the heat, Casablanca has a pleasant sea climate all year round. Even in the winter. And when you stay at the Four Seasons (like I did), then you can spend your days enjoying the hotel pool and homemade raspberry ice-cream and stroll to the beach. If you live in Europe and you’re dealing with dreary weather, then it’s easy to find cheap flights to Casa.
Shopping
Casablanca doesn’t only have a beautiful old medina called El Habous, but they also have the biggest mall in all of Africa called the Morocco Mall (which has 350 stores). So make sure to bring a big empty suitcase with you for all those Moroccan carpets, kaftans, leather seats and crazy Moroccan slippers. The great thing about shopping in Casa is that it isn’t really focused on tourists (because you hardly find them here) but it’s focused on the wealthier Moroccans (which you can find plenty of here).
Old buildings
Yes, plenty of those too. Although you won’t find them all in one spot but spread out throughout the city. The most important attraction and definitely worth a visit is the Hassan II mosque. A stunning building right by the sea. Another pearl is the Art Deco district but the Mohammed V square. Imagine a bit of Miami Beach before the neighborhood had been refurbished. Faded glory at its best.
Food and nightlife
You’ll find a couple of impeccable restaurants in Casablanca. Take La Sqala in the old Portugese fort or Rick’s Café, names after the café int he movie ‘Casablanca’ (which by the way was shot is Burbanks, California). But if you really want to be impressed then you should drop by Le Petit Roche, a restaurants where the rich & famous can be found dancing and drinking cocktails. Make sure to put on your prettiest cocktail dress though.
Surfing
It’s easy to rent a board in Casablanca, but be warned that the beaches are swamped and it’s a real hassle. The real surfer boys and girls drive about half an hour to the south, to Dar Bouazza, for a more relaxed vibe and better waves. The water is reasonably cold, so make sure to bring a wetsuit or to rent one.
Said Mahrouf
This wonderful designer has a studio here. Incase you’re on the hunt for a beautiful gown for a special occasion, make an appointment with him. (Saidmahrouf.nl)
Nay!
Bikini’s and burkini’s
Casablanca is the most cosmopolitan city of Morocco, but keep in mind that it is still and Islamic country. Nobody gave me weird looks when I was walking around in my bikini by the hotel pool, but there was still a woman next to me lying around in her burkini and that still makes you feel a little less at ease. I wouldn’t really consider lying out at the beach because there are predominately men and hardly any women, and the women you do come across are all covered almost head to toe. I doubt you’d feel comfortable there in an eenie meenie bikini.
Big
Casablanca just happens to be very very big. I’m talking 3,3 million inhabitants. And a huge chunk of the city is pretty ugly. Yes, there are a lot of stunning areas to see, but they do require taking a taxi. One advantage though: taxi’s are insanely cheap!
