Rick's Café is a film-themed restaurant and piano bar in Casablanca, Morocco, set in a recreated courtyard house at 248 Boulevard Sour Jdid beside the Place du Jardin Public, on the edge of the old medina. The venue takes its inspiration from the fictional nightclub in the 1942 film Casablanca, and the dining room is dressed accordingly, with arched doorways, a long bar, a mezzanine, tiled floors and a grand piano at the centre of the room. The restaurant is one of the best-known evening addresses in the city for visitors and is often included on itineraries that also take in the nearby Hassan II Mosque and the Sqala bastion.
The kitchen serves Moroccan, French and international dishes, and the menu leans towards seafood, tagines and grilled meats. Seafood is a natural choice given the Atlantic port a few minutes away, and the tagines give diners a way to sample local cooking within a menu that also carries more familiar European plates. Prices sit in the upper-middle range for Casablanca, at roughly MAD 250-450 per person (about $27-48) for a main course with a drink, with a full three-course dinner and wine pushing the bill towards the top of that range.
The atmosphere changes through the day. At lunch the courtyard is calm and well suited to a slow meal, while in the evening the lighting drops, the piano is played and the bar fills with a mix of tourists, business travellers and local diners. Dress is smart-casual, and noise stays moderate enough for conversation except at the busiest weekend hours. As a licensed venue, it offers a drinks list that includes wine, cocktails and spirits, which is not the case at every restaurant in the city.
Reservations are recommended for dinner, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings and in the spring and autumn peak seasons, and the restaurant takes bookings through its website, ricks-cafe.com. Booking a day or two ahead is usually enough outside peak periods, while a table close to the piano or on the upper level should be requested when reserving. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily, though hours should be checked before visiting.
| Price | MAD 250-450 per person (~$27-48) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily lunch and dinner; verify hours before visiting |
| Reservations | Reservation recommended for dinner through the restaurant's website, ricks-cafe.com |
| Address | 248 Boulevard Sour Jdid, Place du Jardin Public, Casablanca 20250 |
Signature dishes
- Seafood, tagine, grilled meats
Good to know
- Known for
- Film-themed courtyard restaurant and piano bar
Location
248 Boulevard Sour Jdid, Place du Jardin Public, Casablanca 20250
33.6063, -7.6142 View on map
Highlights
- Recreated 1940s-style courtyard dining room inspired by the film Casablanca
- Live piano music in the evening at the heart of the room
- Menu of Moroccan tagines, seafood and grilled meats alongside French dishes
- Full bar with wine and cocktails, uncommon among traditional Moroccan restaurants
- Central location beside the Jardin Public and a short walk from the old medina
Tips for visiting
- Reserve for dinner through ricks-cafe.com, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Ask for a table near the piano or on the upper level when booking.
- Lunch is quieter and often cheaper than dinner, which suits a relaxed tagine or seafood meal.
- Budget MAD 250-450 per person; wine and cocktails raise the final bill noticeably.
- Dress smart-casual for the evening service.
When to visit
Evening from about 8pm, when the piano is played and the room is at its most atmospheric; lunch is the calmer option.
Accessibility
The venue is built around a courtyard with a mezzanine, so the upper level involves stairs. Visitors who use a wheelchair or have limited mobility should ask the restaurant about ground-floor seating when booking.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Is Rick's Café connected to the film Casablanca?
The restaurant is themed on the fictional bar in the 1942 film and recreates its look and mood, but the film was shot in Hollywood studios rather than in Morocco.
Does Rick's Café serve alcohol?
Yes, the restaurant has a bar with wine, cocktails and spirits, which is a draw for visitors who want a drink with dinner.
Do I need to reserve a table?
Reservations are recommended for dinner and essential on weekends. They can be made through the restaurant's website, ricks-cafe.com.
How much does a meal cost?
Expect roughly MAD 250-450 per person (about $27-48) for a main course and a drink, with more for a multi-course dinner with wine.