The Indian: Spanish Tapas in Maarif

Yes we know, weird choice of a name for a place that is 100% spanish ambiance and tapas in the heart of Maarif in Casablanca. Dont let that put you down and give it a chance; the owners are the old managers of famous La Cocina, and they created something very special in this reduced space that reminds us very much of any place in Barcelona in which you hear spanish, you eat spanish and you act spanish (meaning you are loud), but of course you smoke american and you pay in dirhams :) . It is perfect for an easy afterwork or for a secret love-date, since it is still quite unknown. The lighting is good, the music does not disturb you and the prices are fair. We tried the tortilla de patatas and it was truly genuine, just like my grandma does it, not like the spanish omelette that they try to do in Morocco or France adding some species for no purpose at all that only kill the original flavour. We also loved the chicken croquetas, and specially the patatas bravas... very very good. For pig lovers there's all you need, spanish ham and also deep fried Morcilla (boudin noir/pig's blood) mmmm delicious. We arrived a bit early but the place really came to life around 20h, and when we left at 22 there was no place for a needle.

Price: from 50 dhs to 200 dhs (how much can you eat/drink?)
The Indian
tel: 0522.774.156

135, Abou Ishak Al Marouni , 20000 - Casablanca
theindianafterwork@gmail.com

 

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Brunch alert: Rick's Cafe

So you're looking for the best Sunday brunch in Casablanca, but at the same time you think that Rick's cafe its too obvious a choice, and on top of everything you think that the whole thing must be fake since the film was not shot in Morocco...Open your mind. Ricks cafè is already and institution here in Casablanca, in fact they just celebrated its 10th anniversary not long ago; the deco its superb, the waiters are spot on and about the best you can find in Morocco, and the food is always fresh and -to Casablanca standarts- not expensive. So when my american friend rang me to propose me Sunday brunch I was like: eehh...ok...let's play the tourist. How wrong I was, the place is spectacular and super chill-out, some moroccan couples, some foreigners, everyone casual chic (there is actually a dress code to follow); none of those over-excited people with camera... actually I was the only one taking photos.
The brunch is reserved for the first floor, that is way cooler than the lower floor. On the brunch menu there's pretty much everything you are dreaming of right now: eggs benedict, omelettes with whatever ingredients you may like, ham, cheeses (parmesano, roqueford, gouda, etc), grilled potatoes with some kind of beef strogonoff, tagliatelle with seafood sauce...shall I continue? and then of course you've got the fresh orange juice 'a volonte', milk with cacao, cafe, tea, cereals, homemade yogurt, strawberry cake, pain au chocolat, french toast with maple syrup...well let`s say that the choice is larger than your appetite, whatever your weight may be. And all that at 160 dirhams, yes there's no mistake, 160 dhs for a king's brunch, so I guess...I'll see u there next Sunday.

Ricks Cafe
248, Bd Sour Jdid. Place du jardin public.
Ancienne médina. Casablanca. Morocco.
tel. 0522 27 42 07
0522 27 42 08
info@rickscafe.ma

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Easy Bar in Casablanca: Bar du Titan

If you're looking for the best plans in Casablanca you just found our favorite one. We've been going for a while to the Bar du Titan since we discovered, and it just gets better and better. "Decontracté", easygoing, cheap, so uncool that is cool, mixed people going there, from the usual alcoholic to pretty french girls, Bar du Titat belongs to everyone. Located in a street very close to Le Marché Central, Le Bar du Titan is the place where you should go with your real friends, just to sit down, enjoy some wine (bottle of Cuvee President 110 dhs, unbeatable!), and very very good tapas. No Chanel bags contest here. They've got probably the best patatas bravas in town...and at 18 dhs are quite a grab, quiche with real pork, marinated chicken, curry samosas, tortilla de patatas, moules al pil-pil, marinated anchovies, even the caesar salad is good. The place is quite small, about 10 little tables, and gets quite crowded from 20h00, but the good news is that you can book a table. Its the perfect place for an afterwork without bling-bling. It may sound superflous, but even the toilets are spotless, and that for some strange reason make us think that the kitchen is safe. So basically a winning place where you can have a good time without breaking your bank account. Since its very close to La Bodega, about 2 minutes walking, makes it a perfect choice to have drinks before the real fiesta loca, and because Le Bar du Titan closes at 23h00, everything fits perfectly.

26 avenue Hassan Seghir, 20000 Casablanca, Morocco

Tel.+212 5 22 31 33 15 +212 6 77 53 60 70 +212 6 68 11 92 07

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Fine dining @Le 25 Casablanca

One of the best things to do in Casablanca is meet up with your friends and have a drink after a day of hard work and crazy driving. For one thing, that means that you survived one more day crossing the street in this great megalopolis. So a few days ago the team of Casamood and a bunch of our best friends went to try the new place in town, Le 25 Casablanca. The space used to host the old Maison Blanche, but we've been told that after a long legal battle to keep the name they decided to change the whole concept and review everything from the menu to the lighting. They've been listening carefully to what the customers had to say, so...did they improve? The bar is as cozy as ever, with the dim light that makes easy conversation for a couple of lovers or for a group of old friends. The black Mojito was excellent and came with a huge free selection of snacks, including mini burgers, around me there were gin and tonics, normal mojitos, selection of beers and lots of people who seemed to be as satisfied as myself. In fact the night was going so well we stayed for dinner. As an appetizer we asked for some jamon de jabugo (the best kind of Spanish raw ham) OMG it was delicious and melted in the mouth. At a price. But not even in Spain is easy to find good Jabugo in restaurants. I had the tuna tartar as starter and was beautifully served and in a generous portion, but the wine keep flooding and we like excess so I ordered a Filet de boeuf with foie-gras: it was a killer, so tender and perfectly (un) cooked. The burrata was also spectacular, and I saw a couple of steak tartar around me that looked good too. My friend ordered tagliatelle ai frutti di mare (seafood) and have to say I was greatly surprised with the quality of ingredients and the pasta served aldente, a rare thing is Morocco. I didn't want to see any dessert but one night is one night, and we had some ones that although were good, I find it hardly to describe them. So I guess I'll have to come back.

Direction: Rue Mohammed abdou، الدار البيضاء 20000, Marruecos

Telephone:+212 5222-76476

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New Favourite Terrace...Hotel Bellerive

Casamood keeps unfolding the secrets of Casablanca so you can enjoy the best places without the disappointment of the bad ones. This time we where searching for the perfect place to have a coffee in the sun, maybe even a light bite, and the same propositions arose: Paul Villa Zevaco, Cafe Blanca, Le Cabestan...and that's about it. So posh places, expensive prices, judgmental stares..Not what we were in the mood for. The terrace of Mc Donald's are really good, you even get a seaview but the kids and the smell of chemical food don't really go with our lifestyle. Along the Corniche there are a few, including Venezia Ice, Luigi and Gossip, but you cant really tan and we like all the vitamins the sun can give us, so we decided to try the terrace of the Hotel Bellerive, an outdated Hotel from light years ago that I'm sure could be the perfect place to rent rooms for hours with your lover if this was something admitted in Morocco. Because the decoration of the Hotel is so harmful for your eyes we entered the café by the alley on the side and what we got there...what a surprise, clean old school tables with comfy chairs and a great little view on the sea and a manicured grass like I've never seen one in Morocco. The terrace is big and airy and you can choose if you prefer to stay on the sun or under a sunshade. Not many clients even if it was a Saturday around 13h30, a few ex-pats, one Moroccan family, us and a couple of very kind and smiley waiters that probably saw the foundations of the place. There is not even a menu, just the usual: café, orange juice, mint tea...and alcohol. Alcohol? Yes alcohol on a terrace looking at the sea: beer at 40dh, bottle of wine starting at 110dhs, and God knows what else, probably even a Bacardi Cola if you ask. They also have a grill that serves very good brochettes and not bad pizzas (not really Italian, but tasty). The conclusion? We stayed for almost the rest of the day until it became cold... and we came back the next day. And if you ask me, I'm sure I will come back tomorrow with my book. A total 10 for popular chic. Please Hotel Bellerive, stay as you are, wrinkles are beautiful.

38, Boulevard de la Corniche, 20180 Casablanca, Morocco

+212 5 22 79 75 04 

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The fun and noisy Hotel Villa Blanca

The Villa Blanca Urban Hotel is an amazing complex in one of the most exclusive areas of Casablanca. Surrounded by green palm trees and vegetation, one would hardly believe that we are still in town, but indeed we are, just were the rich and famous live. The district of Val D'Anfa feels a lot more like Beverly Hills than Morocco, and at the edge of it, overlooking the sea stands Villa Blanca Urban Hotel.

The Villa Blanca feels a lot like Disneyland for adults with two restaurants: Le Relais de Paris and Loubnane (Lebanese), Skybar to have a drink with the Skybar Terrace opened the warmer months, Le Carre nightclub to dance the night away, Cafe Bianca for a lounge tea, and a Spa/hammam to relax, the place, once you get in, is very difficult to leave. In fact the Hotel is just an excuse for all the fun you can have in here. Unfortunately sleeping is almost impossible since the music is on full volume until 3 am everyday, but the good news is that you may not be alone since there are always a lot of pretty girls around. So basically the place is not recommended for families with kids or serious businessmen, but rather to cool travelers and funky professionals that can handle not sleeping before that important meeting you came for.

The prices are fair and you can always find deals on the Internet 1200 dirhams double room would be a classic price, sometimes you can get it cheaper. The decoration is up to date and the rooms are really comfortable, even the smallest ones, with perfect bathrooms and a real nice luxury feeling on the whole.

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Shopping night in Trica Casablanca

Our friends from Le Trica are organising one fun shopping night next Monday 16th of December called "Vide dressing des copines", something like "empty the closet between friends". Its the 3rd edition so apparently it does work and you can either exchange, buy or sell any clothes or accessories you want. Not sure if its also for men, or men should be there only to pay ;) 

From 18h00 to 21h00.

Le Trica

5 rue al moutanabi, gauthier, Casablanca, Morocco

tel. 0522220706

 

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Soft Opening at Le 25 Casablanca..starting tonight!

Hot potatoes change hands quickly; a whole new team of enthusiastic young professionals has taken what it used to be our dear Maison Blanche to give a new life to both the bar and the restaurant. From now on the name will be Le 25 Casablanca, and we think they will do very well. The menu has changed, the prices have been revisited and to prove the whole experience has improved even further they are holding this "Soft Opening" for a whole week starting night tonight Monday 9th of December from 18h00 until 21h00, offering a first cocktail for free, a DJ that came straight from Paris and some surprises. The Soft Opening will continue until December 14th...all we can say is: thank you Le 25!! You can be sure that Casamood will be there!

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Picasso bar and muchies..not half bad

Picasso lost something of its charm when decided to upgrade the tired red-and-yellow Spanish decoration for something more in tune with 2058...all white with ultra-violet neons, so now instead of feeling you are in a Plaza de Toros you somehow get the feeling you're stepping into a spaceship. But it does feel cleaner, and the prices are still hard to beat. Split in two levels, it a attracts a crowd of normal people, expats and Moroccans alike, that like to gather in Picasso for an after-work drink and some snacks, maybe even flirt a bit, since there are usually a reasonable amount of girls for Morocco. For flirting downstairs is better, whereas the first floor is more 'intimate' for groups of friends wanting to sit down and chat. Picasso also runs the longest happy hour in Casablanca, from 17'30 to 21'30, which is obviously a good thing for our pockets. Due to its central location its always worth it to go and have a look, if you don't like it you can move to the Irish Pub just meters away or the more fancy La Suite. 

www.picassocasablanca.com
35, Hassan Souktani, Casablanca, Morocco
tel. 0665322664

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Le Trica Restaurant...a true goldie oldie

Le Trica is the typical place where you can go even if you're not hungry, just for the sake of it, to share some tapas and have a beer; as a matter of fact you are never get excited about going to Trica, but you keep going because the food is actually really good, the atmosphere is laid back and on the whole it feels just like home. Even if the place is not recommended for a romantic dinner, is perfect for a casual one without trying to impress her/him. Loud and cheerful, its gets a bit too loud and cheerful on the soccer nights -which they show in big screens- so unless you're a football nut dont bother on those nights. The service is friendly and attentive, the menu is extense and their prices are more than fair. They mostly have Italian dishes and pastas, but the salads are huge and very tasty and from time to time they organize a mussels night (moules et frites) that get a lot of attention. They also keep the place alive by organizing different parties in other venues, and those are also very popular amongst ex-pats specially. If I had to point something bad, besides the size of their bathrooms, is the strict times for lunch, kitchen closes early, like at 15h, so don't pretend to eat on Spanish times or you'll be forced to go to the closest Mc Donald's.

Prices for a glass of wine plus some spaghetti pesto plus tarte tatín: approx 180 dhs

5, rue al Moutanabi, Casablanca, Morocco

tel.0522220706 

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La Bodega de Casablanca...Fiesta Loca

La bodega de Casablanca is loud, untidy, haram, antichic and incredibly fun. Split in two levels, at the groundfloor you find a tipical “taverna” style restaurant, with wood tables, low lighting, some candles and some couples holding hands that come for the nice vibe and the more than edible food at reasonable prices. Very close to the Marché central, they don't have any excuse not to be getting the best ingredients, but let's face it, no one comes here for the food. La bodega is one of those places that is always packed and always fun, everyone in their 20's has come at least once to celebrate someone's birthday and has fueled a memorable hangover here. Then there is the basement, that they call something like the bar Latino. This is the interesting place to be, you can also get the tables and the same food and the ambiance, but all doubled in intensity. Girls are often drunk and end up dancing on top of the tables, romantic exchanges are common and widely accepted and even drinks are generous in proportion and very well done specially by one barman I forgot his name but that has a beard. It is advisable to come here for dinner around 10 never later since it gets very crowded and the security man limits the entrance unless you're Gatsby. You can come only for a drink but as I said, never come after 23h or entrance will be complicated unless you have boobs. Age is not really important, everyone mixes here from 18 until 40 you're on the safe, if you're older..shouldn't you be married and at home?

Of course it works as a nice hub for soccer fans during the rest of the week, showing all the matches and is generaly a good place to take someone visiting the city that wants to know how local people have fun in Morocco.

129, rue Allal Ben Abdellah, 20.000 Casablanca, Morocco

tel. 05225-41842

 

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