Where to Eat in Casablanca

Casablanca's dining culture represents a sophisticated fusion of traditional Moroccan cuisine with French colonial influences and modern cosmopolitan flair, making it Morocco's most diverse culinary destination. The city's food scene centers on iconic Moroccan dishes like pastilla (a sweet-savory pigeon pie with almonds and cinnamon), fresh Atlantic seafood grilled with chermoula marinade, and slow-cooked tagines featuring lamb with prunes or chicken with preserved lemons. The prevalence of French-style bistros, Spanish seafood restaurants, and elegant Art Deco dining rooms reflects Casablanca's unique position as Morocco's economic capital, where business lunches in the Maarif district coexist with traditional family-run eateries serving harira soup in the Old Medina. Contemporary Casablanca has embraced a vibrant café culture along the Corniche waterfront, where locals gather for mint tea and Moroccan pastries while watching the Atlantic waves.

• Premier Dining Districts: The Maarif neighborhood serves as Casablanca's gastronomic heart with upscale restaurants and trendy cafés along Boulevard Zerktouni, while the Ain Diab Corniche offers seafood restaurants with ocean views stretching for kilometers. The Ancienne Médina (Old Medina) near the port provides authentic street food experiences with grilled sardine stands and traditional Moroccan eateries, and the Gauthier district showcases Art Deco architecture housing French-Moroccan fusion restaurants in restored 1930s buildings.
• Essential Local Specialties: Casablanca's coastal location makes it the premier destination for fresh seafood dishes like friture (fried small fish), grilled sea bass with Moroccan spices, and the local specialty of sardines stuffed with chermoula. The city is famous for its couscous served on Fridays (the traditional day for this dish), bissara (a creamy fava bean soup topped with olive oil), and msemen (flaky square pancakes) served with honey at breakfast. Street vendors throughout the city sell bocadillos (Moroccan sandwiches) filled with kefta meatballs, merguez sausage, or fried fish for immediate consumption.
• Price Expectations: Street food and casual eateries charge 20-50 Moroccan dirhams ($2-5 USD) for sandwiches and snacks, while traditional Moroccan restaurants in the Medina serve complete tagine meals for 60-120 dirhams ($6-12 USD). Mid-range restaurants in Maarif and downtown areas typically cost 150-300 dirhams ($15-30 USD) per person for a full meal with drinks, and upscale dining establishments along the Corniche or in luxury hotels range from 400-800 dirhams ($40-80 USD) per person. A pot of traditional mint tea costs 10-15 dirhams at most cafés, while fresh orange juice from street vendors sells for 5-8 dirhams per glass.
• Seasonal Dining Patterns: Summer months (June-September) bring peak activity to the Corniche restaurants where Casablancans escape the city heat with evening seafood dinners and late-night café sessions lasting until 2 AM. Ramadan transforms the dining scene completely, with restaurants closed during daylight hours and special ftour (breaking fast)