Cafe Hafa

Cafe Hafa is a long-established cliffside cafe in the Marshan district of Tangier, Morocco, on Avenue Hadj Mohamed Tazi. It is known for its tiered terraces that step down the rocky slope toward the Atlantic and the Strait of Gibraltar, where visitors sit at simple tables and drink mint tea while looking out at the water and, on clear days, the coast of Spain. The cafe has a reputation as a gathering place for writers, artists and musicians who passed through Tangier, and it keeps an unpretentious, faded atmosphere rather than a polished one. Visitors see whitewashed and blue-trimmed terraces, plastic or wooden chairs, shaded corners and waiters carrying trays of tea and pastries. Prices are low: mint tea costs about 10 to 20 MAD, and there is no entry fee. A typical stay lasts one to two hours, enough to finish a drink and absorb the view. The best vantage points are the lower terraces closest to the cliff edge, which have the widest sea views and the best sunset light; late afternoon is the favoured time. Crowds build in the late afternoon and evening, especially on weekends, when finding a good table can take patience, while mornings are calmer. The cafe is about 10 minutes by petit taxi from the Grand Socco, with a metered fare of roughly 15 to 25 MAD. The terraces involve steps, so comfortable shoes are useful. Visitors should expect simple service and cash payment. Photography of the view is common, though discretion is polite when photographing other guests.