Morocco offers a variety of modern entertainment from bars, discos, restaurants and nightclubs to more traditional entertainment like belly dancing and classical Moroccan music. Although alcohol is forbidden in Islam, it is widely available in most Moroccan cities. Strict laws govern the sale of alcohol, but many hotels and restaurants in the tourist areas serve alcohol.
Both law and etiquette require that you do not consume alcohol within view of a mosque or outside in general. In addition, many restaurants do not allow alcohol consumption on the patio, so if you want to enjoy a drink, it is best to ask for a table inside. Drinking alcohol is extremely frowned upon during Ramadan, the holy days during which adherents of the Muslim faith fast from sunrise to sunset. Many restaurants that typically serve alcohol will refrain from doing so during Ramadan, and, out of respect, tourists should not be seen drinking alcohol in public during these holy days.
While still adhering to the local customs, the cities of Marrakech and Tangiers still manage to have excellent nightlife reputations. Tangiers’ proximity to Europe certainly plays a role in its evolving club scene. Expect the nightlife to pick up in the summer months when Europeans arrive in droves on the ferries. Nightlife offerings are influenced by both African and European cultures just like the city itself, so you can find everything from high-end disco clubs and wildly extravagant nightclubs with indoor swimming pools to more traditional pubs featuring Lebanese and Moroccan musicians.
In Marrakech, the nightlife options are more varied. Several of the hotels have rooftop cafes that overlook the medina and offer music and dancing. For happening bars and nightclubs, head to the Guéliz and Hivernage neighborhoods. For traditional entertainment, head to Jemaa el Fna where the streets are bustling at all hours of the day with plenty of cafes, food stalls and street entertainers like snake charmers, fire-eaters, dancers and roving musicians. The Theatre Royal features cultural events and opera in its 1,200-seat open-air theatre.
The nightlife in more conservative towns like Fes and Meknes are lacking, especially for women. These cities have quite a few bars, but they are typically for men only and can often be described as seedy. Stick to the hotel bars in these cities or opt for cultural events like live music and plays.
Film buffs will almost certainly find themselves in Casablanca, where you can enjoy a martini and hear Sam at the piano at Rick’s Cafe. The new Rick’s Cafe evokes much of the same ambiance as the Hollywood original. Ironically, the classic 1940s film, Casablanca, was filmed completely outside of Morocco, and it wasn’t until 2004 that Casablanca had a real Rick’s Cafe.
Written by Amiee Maxwell.
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