Rick's Cafe

Frommer's Review

Bogey and Bergman may have never set foot in Casablanca, but the spirit of the movie is alive and well in downtown Casa. Rick's Café is the fruition of a 2-year tourism project by Kathy Kriger, or Madam Rick, an American woman who has lived in Morocco since 1998. Kathy opened the doors of Rick's in 2004, and has been greeting every customer since. The interior of the multilevel former medina residence has been restored to resemble the era depicted in the movie, and is dominated by the central courtyard with its authentic 1930s Pleyel piano, where local pianist Issam Chabaa recreates the '40s and '50s Tuesday to Sunday night; the Sunday night jam session regularly hosts international jazz musicians. If you've never seen the movie, it's screened nightly in an upstairs dining room that's decked out in movie memorabilia.

The menu has Moroccan standards such as a lamb tagine, but also offers such diverse dishes as giant shrimp with papaya and avocado, a good old-fashioned hamburger, and even fish and chips. The American breakfast (on the lunch menu) is a respectable splurge at 80dh ($10/£5). Saturday night is oyster night, which sees the oyster supplier's son, resplendent in nautical attire, shucking out the fleshy meat for each guest. The bar is easy-going and satisfies every thirst, from the local Casablanca beer to French champagne. There's also a recently opened Bar'n'Barbeque on the roof terrace.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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