La Sqala Bastion

La Sqala is a restored 18th-century bastion on Boulevard des Almohades, at the Old Medina ramparts beside the port in Casablanca, Morocco. Built in 1769 as a coastal fortification with cannons to defend the town against attack from the sea, it was later restored and opened to the public as a garden and cafe-restaurant. Visitors enter through a gate in the thick walls and find a quiet courtyard garden with orange trees, fountains, tiled paths and shaded seating, which feels far removed from the traffic outside. The ramparts still hold old cannons and can be walked for views over the port, the Atlantic and the Old Medina rooftops. The cafe-restaurant serves Moroccan dishes such as tagines, salads and mint tea, and it is a popular lunch stop; it operates from the morning. A visit typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, longer with a meal. The best vantage point is the rampart walkway, where the port cranes and the sea are visible, and the best photographs are the garden framed by the stone walls. Late afternoon offers the warmest light, while midday can be busy with lunch groups and weekend evenings with local families. Entry to the garden and ramparts is free, and spending at the restaurant is extra. The bastion is a ten-minute walk from Casa Port station and next to the Old Medina and Rick's Café, so it fits naturally into a half-day walking route. Prices at the restaurant are moderate by Casablanca standards.