Gran Cafe de Paris

Gran Cafe de Paris is a historic cafe on Place de France in central Tangier, northern Morocco, opened in 1920. For a century it has served as a meeting point for writers, diplomats and journalists, and it retains the character of the city's international era, when Tangier was administered as an international zone and attracted exiles, spies and artists. The cafe is on the edge of the Ville Nouvelle, a short walk from the medina entrance and the Grand Socco, which makes it a convenient first or last stop on a day of sightseeing. The menu is cafe food rather than a restaurant card, with typical spending of about 30-90 MAD (roughly $3-10) per person. Mint tea and coffee are the staples, usually paired with pastries, and breakfast plates are a popular morning order. The room has the feel of an old-fashioned European cafe, with a terrace facing the square for people-watching and an interior that suits quiet conversation. The atmosphere is relaxed and a little nostalgic, with a mix of local regulars, older Tangerines reading the papers and visitors tracing the city's literary history. There is no dress code, noise is moderate, and visitors can sit for as long as they like over a single drink. Reservations are not accepted, and tables are first-come; the terrace fills in the late afternoon and on pleasant evenings. The cafe is open daily from morning until late evening. Visitors interested in the city's history often combine a visit with a walk to the nearby American Legation Museum or the old kasbah. A drink or breakfast here is an inexpensive way to experience a landmark of twentieth-century Tangier, and the terrace gives a good vantage on the daily life of the square.