"Casablanca's Bogart fantasy made real: Kathy Kriger's restored 1930s mansion recreates the film's Cafe Americain, piano, gin and all."
About Rick's
Rick's Cafe opened on 1 March 2004, the work of Kathy Kriger, a former US Foreign Commercial Service diplomat who built it as a faithful recreation of the Cafe Americain from the 1942 film Casablanca. It occupies a restored 1930s mansion on Boulevard Sour Jdid, at the edge of the Ancienne Medina, the city's oldest quarter. Kriger died in 2018; the restaurant she created carries on.
An arched courtyard, balconies, brass lamps and a curving staircase recreate the film set, and a pianist holds the room together in the evenings. It is a stage as much as a restaurant.
The Kitchen
The menu is continental with Atlantic seafood at its centre rather than a Moroccan tagine house: sole meuniere, John Dory crusted with black pepper, oysters, prawn salads, steaks and lamb, with a pastilla among the few Moroccan touches. Starters run 140 to 190 dirhams and main courses 190 to 290 dirhams.
This is reliable, classic cooking rather than cutting-edge, and the setting does much of the work. For Moroccan cooking proper and the wider field, see the Casablanca dining guide and other seafood tables.
The Room
The room is the reason to come: a recreated 1930s riad over two floors, with the bar upstairs and a pianist, local musician Issam among them, taking requests, As Time Goes By included on a good night. Tables ring the courtyard below. It is theatrical and busy, and the photograph everyone wants is of the staircase and the arches rather than the plate.
What to Order
Order from the Atlantic seafood, the sole meuniere or the peppered John Dory, take a martini at the upstairs bar, and ask the pianist for the obvious song. Book a courtyard table for the full effect. For a more contemporary meal, see the city's fine-dining options.
Best for a First Date or Anniversary
Rick's Cafe suits a first date or an anniversary where the setting does the talking: the piano, the recreated film bar and the courtyard make an evening feel like a scene. See more anniversary tables and the Casablanca dining guide.
Not for
Not for a diner hunting authentic Moroccan tagine and couscous, or anyone after cutting-edge cooking, Rick's is a theme institution where the 1930s film setting, the piano and the bar are the main event and the kitchen is solid rather than spectacular.
Frequently Asked
Is Rick's Cafe in Casablanca worth it?
Yes, if you come for the experience as much as the food. Rick's Cafe opened in 2004 as a faithful recreation of the Cafe Americain from the film Casablanca, built by former US diplomat Kathy Kriger in a 1930s mansion. The draw is the setting, the live piano and the bar; the kitchen leans on Atlantic seafood, with mains from 190 to 290 dirhams. Treat it as a night out, not a gastronomic pilgrimage.
Where is Rick's Cafe in Casablanca?
Rick's Cafe is on Boulevard Sour Jdid, at the edge of the Ancienne Medina, Casablanca's oldest quarter, in a restored 1930s mansion just outside the medina walls. It is a short walk from the Hassan II Mosque and the port. Book ahead and arrive in the evening, when the pianist plays and the recreated film set is at its most atmospheric.
What is on the menu at Rick's Cafe?
The menu is continental with Atlantic seafood at its heart rather than traditional Moroccan: sole meuniere, John Dory crusted with black pepper, oysters, prawn salads, steaks and lamb, with a pastilla among a few Moroccan touches. Starters run 140 to 190 dirhams and mains 190 to 290 dirhams. Desserts are classic and retro. The cooking is dependable; the setting is the headline.
Does Rick's Cafe have live piano and As Time Goes By?
Yes. Live piano and jazz are part of most evenings, with local musician Issam performing regularly, and As Time Goes By is a common request, though whether it is played on any given night varies. The upstairs bar recreates the film's gin joint. For the full effect, reserve a courtyard table in the evening rather than at lunch.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Rick's Cafe
Via rickscafe.ma · Ancienne Medina
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Practical Information
AddressBoulevard Sour Jdid, Ancienne Medina
CuisineContinental / Atlantic seafood
SignaturePeppered John Dory
PriceMains 190 to 290 dirhams
FounderKathy Kriger (opened 2004)
MusicLive piano nightly
RecognitionCasablanca film landmark
