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Breakfast Guide
10 Best Breakfast Spots in Casablanca
The best places for breakfast in Morocco's commercial capital — Art Deco café terraces, harbour seafood, Habous patisseries, and cosmopolitan brunch spots.
Casablanca Breakfast Essentials
Best atmosphere: Art Deco café terraces on Boulevard Mohammed V
Best traditional: Habous Quarter patisseries — finest in Morocco
Most unique: Seafood breakfast at the port — sardines at 8am
Best coffee: Maarif specialty shops — single-origin, properly extracted
1
Art Deco Café Terraces
Café25–50 MAD 7am–10pm Boulevard Mohammed V, Place Mohammed V, downtown
Casablanca's Art Deco downtown — centred on Boulevard Mohammed V and Place Mohammed V — has some of the grandest café terraces in North Africa. These cafés, set in elegant 1920s–30s buildings with ornate facades, tiled floors, and high ceilings, offer a European-style breakfast experience: espresso or café au lait, fresh croissants and pain au chocolat, fresh orange juice, and the morning newspaper. The atmosphere is distinctly Casablancan — businesspeople in suits, the bustle of the commercial capital, Art Deco architecture above, and mint tea alongside espresso. The best terraces are on Boulevard Mohammed V (people-watching as the city comes to life), Place Mohammed V (overlooking the colonial-era administrative buildings), and Rue du Prince Moulay Abdallah. A full café breakfast: croissant (5–8 MAD), espresso (10–15 MAD), juice (10–15 MAD) — total 25–40 MAD. The morning rush (7–9am) is when the terraces are most atmospheric — Casablanca's energy is palpable.
Insider tip: The terraces on Boulevard Mohammed V between Place Mohammed V and the Central Market are the most atmospheric — the morning light on the Art Deco facades and the city energy make for a quintessentially Casablancan breakfast
2
Habous Quarter Patisseries
Patisserie15–40 MAD 8am–8pm Habous Quarter (Nouvelle Médina)
The Habous Quarter (Nouvelle Médina) — a planned medina built in the 1930s with a mix of Moroccan and Art Deco architecture — is home to the finest traditional Moroccan patisseries in Casablanca and arguably in all of Morocco. The patisseries here specialize in kaab el-ghazal (gazelle horns filled with almond paste — 5–8 MAD each), briouats (crispy parcels with almond or cheese filling), chebakia (sesame-honey pastries), ghriba (shortbread cookies), and fekkas (biscotti-like cookies). The quality is exceptional — Habous patisseries supply the royal court and diplomatic receptions. A breakfast here: select 3–4 pastries (15–25 MAD total), pair with mint tea (5–8 MAD) from an adjacent café. The quarter is small, walkable, and has a calm, elegant atmosphere very different from the tourist medinas. The streets are clean, the architecture is beautiful, and the pace is unhurried. The best patisseries are on the main covered arcade of the Habous.
Insider tip: Buy kaab el-ghazal (gazelle horns) from the most crowded patisserie — the one with the longest queue of locals has the freshest pastries — and eat them with mint tea at the café next door
3
La Sqala
Restaurant50–80 MAD 8am–11pm Bastion de la Sqala, near old medina and port
La Sqala — set in a restored 18th-century Portuguese fortification near the old medina — is Casablanca's most charming breakfast spot. The restaurant has a beautiful garden courtyard with bougainvillea, lemon trees, and tiled tables sheltered by ancient defensive walls. The breakfast menu: traditional Moroccan breakfast (msemen, baghrir, honey, fresh cheese, eggs, mint tea — 50–60 MAD), French-style continental breakfast (croissants, pastries, café au lait — 40–50 MAD), and à la carte options including excellent omelettes and crêpes. The food quality is high — La Sqala is consistently rated among Casablanca's best restaurants — and the garden setting is genuinely beautiful and peaceful. In the morning, before the lunch crowds, the garden is serene: birdsong, the scent of flowers, dappled light through the trees. The building itself is historically interesting — the bastion walls, the cannons, the restored fortifications. A morning here feels like a different world from the busy streets outside.
Insider tip: Book a garden table for the morning — the courtyard is magical before 10am with the morning light filtering through the bougainvillea and lemon trees
4
Port de Casablanca Seafood Breakfast
Seafood30–60 MAD 7am–3pm Port area, near the fish market
Casablanca is the only major Moroccan city where you can have a quality seafood breakfast. The port area — near the fish market — has small restaurants that serve fresh catches from that morning's boats. A seafood breakfast (unusual but delicious): grilled sardines with khobz (round bread) and harissa (20–30 MAD), fried calamari (25–35 MAD), shrimp fritters (15–25 MAD), or a seafood soup (25–35 MAD). The fish is hours-fresh — the boats dock early morning and the restaurants buy directly from the market. This is a local experience — few tourists know about it — and the atmosphere is working-class, authentic, and lively. The restaurants are simple: plastic chairs, communal tables, no menus — the waiter tells you what's fresh. The quality of the seafood is exceptional. Pair with fresh orange juice from the adjacent juice stalls and bread from the bakery. A unique breakfast experience you won't find in Marrakech, Fes, or any inland city.
Insider tip: Arrive by 8am when the catch is freshest — point at the fish you want and they'll grill it while you wait — the sardines with fresh bread and harissa are incredible
5
Maarif Specialty Coffee
Café30–60 MAD 8am–9pm Maarif district, between Blvd Zerktouni and Rue Ibnou Hayane
The Maarif district — Casablanca's most cosmopolitan neighbourhood — has Morocco's best specialty coffee scene. The area between Boulevard Zerktouni and Rue Ibnou Hayane is dense with coffee shops that serve properly extracted single-origin espresso, flat whites, pour-overs, and cold brews that rival the best in European cities. The best spots: Baromètre (widely considered the best specialty coffee in Morocco — single-origin beans roasted in-house, precise espresso, knowledgeable baristas); Café Kitsune (Japanese-French aesthetic, excellent matcha lattes and pastries); and the independent roasters on the side streets. A specialty coffee breakfast: flat white or espresso (20–30 MAD), avocado toast or pastry (25–40 MAD), fresh juice or smoothie (20–30 MAD). The spaces are modern, clean, and designed for comfort — good Wi-Fi, pleasant music, and a young professional crowd. If you care about coffee quality, Maarif is the only place in Morocco where you'll find specialty-grade coffee consistently.
Insider tip: Baromètre is the must-visit — their single-origin pour-over is the best cup of coffee in Morocco, and the baristas can explain each origin with genuine expertise
6
Rick's Café Breakfast
Restaurant80–120 MAD 8am–12:30am Near the old medina, Place du Jardin Public
Rick's Café — the Casablanca restaurant inspired by the 1942 film — offers a breakfast experience that's part dining, part nostalgia. The restaurant, set in a restored riad near the old medina, is decorated to evoke the film's American bar: arched doorways, a curving staircase, a piano, Art Deco furniture, and atmospheric black-and-white photographs. The breakfast is upscale: American-style breakfast with eggs, bacon, and pancakes; Moroccan breakfast platters with msemen and fresh juice; French-style pastries and espresso; and cocktail-style fresh juices and smoothies. The food is good (solid, not spectacular), but the atmosphere is the draw — eating breakfast in a beautifully designed space that references one of cinema's most famous films. The prices are higher than anywhere else on this list (80–120 MAD for breakfast), reflecting the tourist-destination status. The morning is actually the best time to visit — quieter than the evening, better natural light, and you can appreciate the interior design. Staff are professional and accustomed to international visitors.
Insider tip: Visit for breakfast rather than dinner — the morning light through the riad windows, the quiet atmosphere, and the chance to photograph the interior without crowds make it a much better experience
7
Corniche Beachfront Cafés
Café35–70 MAD 7am–11pm Corniche, from Hassan II Mosque westward to Ain Diab
The Corniche — Casablanca's coastal promenade stretching from the Hassan II Mosque westward — has beachfront cafés and restaurants with Atlantic Ocean views. A Corniche breakfast means ocean views, sea breeze, and the sound of waves alongside your coffee and pastries. The best Corniche breakfast options: the cafés near Ain Diab beach (outdoor terraces with direct beach views, moderate prices); the upscale café-restaurants in the Anfa area (higher quality, higher prices); and the simple café-terraces along the promenade (cheapest, best people-watching). A typical Corniche breakfast: espresso or café au lait (15–20 MAD), croissants or brioche (10–20 MAD), fresh orange juice (10–15 MAD), and the ocean view (free). The Corniche is popular with Casablancans for morning walks and runs — the energy is healthy and positive. On weekends, local families stroll the promenade, and the beachfront cafés fill with a relaxed, sociable crowd. The morning light on the ocean is beautiful.
Insider tip: The cafés near Ain Diab are the best value — full Atlantic views, decent coffee and pastries, and prices half what the upscale Corniche restaurants charge
8
Central Market Morning
Market10–30 MAD 6am–2pm Boulevard Mohammed V, downtown
The Central Market (Marché Central) — Casablanca's historic food market on Boulevard Mohammed V — is the best place for a DIY breakfast. The Art Deco market building houses vendors selling fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread, olives, honey, and dried fruits. For breakfast, buy: fresh-squeezed orange juice from the juice stalls at the entrance (5–10 MAD for a large glass — some of the best in Casablanca); seasonal fruit (strawberries, figs, pomegranates, depending on season); fresh bread from the adjacent bakeries; and Moroccan cheese and olives from the deli stalls. The market is atmospheric in the morning — vendors setting up, the colours of the produce, the Art Deco architecture above. The juice stalls alone are worth the visit — they squeeze oranges to order, and the quality is consistently excellent. The market is busiest (and freshest) between 7–9am. Pair your market purchases with coffee from one of the nearby Boulevard Mohammed V café terraces for a complete breakfast.
Insider tip: Start with fresh orange juice at the market entrance (the vendors compete on quality — try two), then buy olives, bread, and cheese for a picnic breakfast on the Boulevard terrace
9
Riad Breakfast in the Old Medina
RiadIncluded in room rate 7am–10am Old Medina, near Hassan II Mosque area
Casablanca's old medina — smaller and less touristed than Marrakech or Fes — has a handful of restored riads that serve beautiful breakfasts. The medina riads offer the traditional Moroccan courtyard breakfast: a spread of msemen (folded buttery flatbread), baghrir (thousand-hole semolina pancakes), fresh bread, honey, jams, butter, olive oil, soft cheese, hard-boiled eggs, fresh orange juice, and mint tea — served around the courtyard fountain or on the rooftop terrace. Casablanca riads are often excellent value — the city is primarily a business destination, so riad prices are lower than Marrakech (500–800 MAD/night for quality). The breakfast quality in Casablanca riads can be surprisingly high — they compete on food quality since the city has fewer tourists. Some riads have rooftop views toward the Hassan II Mosque or the port. The morning atmosphere in the old medina is calm — it's a residential neighbourhood, not a tourist attraction, so the morning routine is authentic.
Insider tip: Request rooftop breakfast — several medina riads have views of the Hassan II Mosque minaret from their terraces, and eating msemen with honey while the call to prayer echoes is a uniquely Casablancan moment
10
Weekend Brunch Scene
Brunch70–150 MAD 9am–3pm (weekends) Maarif, Corniche, and hotel restaurants
Casablanca has Morocco's most developed weekend brunch culture, driven by the city's young professional and international community. The best brunch spots: Blend Gourmet Burger (generous brunch platters with eggs, avocado, pancakes, and excellent coffee — 80–120 MAD); Le Petit Rocher (beachfront brunch on the Corniche with ocean views and a Mediterranean-influenced menu); and the hotel brunches at Four Seasons (the most lavish, with a full international buffet — 350–500 MAD, worth it for a special occasion). Weekend brunch in Casablanca is a social event — groups of friends, families, and couples fill the restaurants from 10am. The quality is high — Casablanca restaurants compete for a demanding local clientele that travels internationally and expects good food. The brunch menus blend Moroccan and international: msemen alongside avocado toast, mint tea alongside flat whites, Moroccan omelettes alongside eggs Benedict. If you're spending a weekend in Casablanca, brunch is a local institution worth experiencing.
Insider tip: Book ahead for weekend brunch — popular spots like Blend and Le Petit Rocher fill up by 10:30am on Saturdays — and arrive hungry because the portions are generous
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Casablanca breakfast different from other Moroccan cities?
Casablanca is Morocco's most cosmopolitan city, and its breakfast culture reflects this. Where Marrakech and Fes lean traditional (msemen, mint tea, bakeries), Casablanca has a sophisticated café and brunch scene with specialty coffee shops, international-style brunch menus, and patisseries that rival the best in Paris. The city's French colonial heritage is strong — Avenue Hassan II and Boulevard Mohammed V are lined with Art Deco café terraces where espresso culture thrives. At the same time, the traditional Moroccan breakfast is available everywhere — the Habous Quarter has the finest traditional patisseries in the country. Casablanca is also the only major Moroccan city where you can have a quality seafood breakfast at the port. The mix of traditional and modern makes it the most diverse breakfast city in Morocco.
Where is the best area for breakfast in Casablanca?
Four areas stand out. The Maarif district (central Casablanca) has the best modern cafés and brunch spots — the neighbourhood between Boulevard Zerktouni and Rue Ibnou Hayane is dense with quality options. The Art Deco downtown (around Boulevard Mohammed V and Place Mohammed V) has grand café terraces in historic buildings with old-world atmosphere. The Habous Quarter (also called Nouvelle Médina) has the finest traditional Moroccan patisseries and bakeries in the city. And the Corniche (coastal road) has beachfront cafés and restaurants with ocean views. Each area offers a distinct breakfast experience — cosmopolitan, historic, traditional, or seaside.
What time do cafés and bakeries open in Casablanca?
Casablanca is a business city and runs earlier than tourist cities. The bakeries open at 6am (some even 5:30am). The downtown café terraces open at 7am for the morning commute. Specialty coffee shops in Maarif open at 8am. The Habous Quarter patisseries open at 8am. Weekend brunch spots typically open at 9am on Saturdays and Sundays. The port restaurants open for breakfast at 7–8am. Casablanca's café culture is strong from early morning — the city runs on espresso and croissants in a way that other Moroccan cities don't. If you want the freshest bakery goods, arrive before 7am when the first batches come out of the oven.