Evening in Casablanca often begins with a slow dinner and stretches late. Around the Gauthier and Maârif quarters, terraces fill as the light drops, and the city's Atlantic air keeps the night mild for much of the year.
Nightlife here has mixed reviews. The quality of venues varies considerably, and many bars and clubs draw mostly male crowds, which some women may find uncomfortable. If you look around, though, you can find good spots to drink, dance and people-watch. The safest and most relaxed bets tend to be European-style restaurants and hotel bars; asking locals or your hotel for recommendations is worthwhile.
Where to go out in Casablanca
1. European-style restaurants
These are among the best places to drink in the city, usually with a decent selection and a setting that suits a long, unhurried meal. They work well for a mixed group or a quiet dinner that turns into drinks.
Ask your hotel or a local for a current recommendation, since the quality of venues varies considerably.
2. Hotel bars
Hotel bars are described as inevitably safer and more relaxed than many standalone venues. They suit an easy first drink, a nightcap, or an evening when you want a calm room rather than a crowd.
If you are unsure where to start, this is the low-risk option before deciding whether to go further afield.
3. Maârif
Many western-style nightclubs are found in the Maârif neighborhood. It suits a night built around dancing and late hours.
Note that crowds in many bars and nightclubs are mostly male, and the quality of venues varies, so it helps to have a specific place in mind before you arrive.
4. Gironde
Gironde is the other neighborhood named for western-style nightclubs. Like Maârif, it suits people who want a club night rather than a quiet drink.
The same caution applies: ask locally for a recommendation rather than choosing on the spot.
5. Pubs
Pubs are a straightforward option for a drink, with happy hours from 19:00 to 23:00 that cost roughly half the usual price. Expect around 100 dirham per head outside those hours.
Named pubs include Tiger House and La Notte. Le Kazbar, on Rue Najib Mahfoud in Gauthier, is a dark and atmospheric place for a drink or dinner where any kind of attire works, though it is also a chance to dress up. La Bodega, a Spanish tapas bar on Rue Allal Ben Abdellah near the old downtown and Medina, is original but expensive and mainly frequented by tourists, with a possible wait for the basement bar. Petit Poucet on Boulevard Mohamed V is a long-standing bar, somewhat worn-down.
6. Buying your own drinks
If you would rather drink in your hotel room, supermarkets such as Acima and Marjane carry a wide variety of liquor and wine, though the beer selection is fairly limited.
This suits a low-key night in rather than a night on the town.
How a night out unfolds
Happy hours run from 19:00 to 23:00, which suggests many people start drinking in the early evening. Beyond that, the sources do not specify when people typically eat or how late venues stay open, so it is best to confirm timings with your hotel or a local on the day.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Unity Day — 31 October
- Anniversary of the Green March — 6 November
- Independence Day — 18 November
- New Year's Day — 1 January
- Anniversary of the Independence Manifesto — 11 January
- Amazigh New Year — 14 January
- Ramadan Start (tentative) — 8 February
- Eid al-Fitr (tentative) — 10 March, with a holiday on 11 March
- Labour Day/May Day — 1 May
- Eid al-Adha (tentative) — 17 May, with a holiday on 18 May
Frequently asked questions
Is Casablanca good for nightlife?
Reviews are mixed. There are excellent spots to drink, dance and people-watch, but the quality of venues varies considerably, so local recommendations matter.
Is it comfortable for women to go out at night?
Women may feel uncomfortable with the mostly male crowds in many bars and nightclubs. Hotel bars are described as safer and more relaxed, and looking around will turn up better spots.
How much does a night out cost?
Pubs cost around 100 dirham per head, and about half that during happy hours from 19:00 to 23:00. La Bodega is described as pretty expensive.
Can you buy alcohol to drink at home?
Yes. Supermarkets such as Acima and Marjane carry a wide variety of liquor and wine, though the beer selection is fairly limited.
Decide whether you want a relaxed hotel bar or a late club night, ask locally for a current recommendation, and plan your evening around the 19:00 to 23:00 happy hours.