What to Drink in Morocco: The Alcohol Guide

Morocco has three main domestic lagers: Flag Spéciale, Casablanca, and Stork. All three are pale lagers brewed at around 5% ABV and are made by the Société des Brasseries du Maroc, which has operated in Casablanca since 1919. Flag is the most widely distributed and the one you're most likely to be handed automatically when you ask for "une bière locale." Imported beers (Heineken, Kronenbourg) are also on many menus but cost more — typically 10–15 MAD extra per bottle (indicative).

Yes — particularly the reds and rosés from the Meknes region. Moroccan wine suffered a reputation dip in the 1970s after the state took control of vineyards, but a wave of private investment since the 1990s has transformed quality. The cool-night Meknes plateau suits Syrah and Grenache. Look for labels like Ouled Thaleb, Domaine de la Zouina, and Les Coteaux de l'Atlas. The Gris de Boulaouane rosé is one of Africa's best-known wines — light, slightly mineral, and very drinkable with seafood.

Flag Spéciale is the nation's best-seller by a wide margin. It is the default "local beer" at most bars and is so embedded in everyday drinking culture that locals often just ask for "un Flag." Casablanca beer holds its own in tourist-facing bars and beachside spots in Agadir and Essaouira, where its slightly crisper finish plays well on a hot afternoon. Both cost roughly 30–50 MAD per 33 cl bottle in a bar (indicative), though hotel prices run higher.

Yes, but availability is more restricted than beer or wine. Spirits are sold at licensed off-licences (look for a sign reading "vins et spiritueux"), at hotel bars, and in some larger supermarkets in cities like Casablanca, Marrakech, and Agadir. Moroccan-produced mahia — a fig eau-de-vie historically made by the Jewish community — is rarer but still found in speciality bottle shops in Casablanca and Fes. Imported Scotch, gin, and vodka are common in hotel bars; a measure typically runs 50–100 MAD (indicative). Duty-free from the airport is the cheapest route.

A 33 cl local beer (Flag or Casablanca) runs roughly 30–50 MAD (~$3–$5) in a city bar or local café-licence, rising to 60–90 MAD (~$6–$9) in a hotel bar or rooftop venue in Marrakech or Casablanca. In tourist-heavy areas like the Agadir beach strip, expect 50–70 MAD. Supermarket off-licence prices are closer to 15–22 MAD per can or bottle. All prices are indicative and vary by establishment.

Most licensed hotel bars and rooftop cocktail venues serve international classics (Mojito, Negroni, Aperol Spritz) alongside Morocco-inspired twists. Common signatures include orange-blossom gimlets, saffron-infused gin sours, and argan-washed old fashioneds. A few Marrakech rooftop bars have developed full cocktail menus that use preserved lemon, harissa honey, and ras el hanout-infused syrups. Expect to pay 80–150 MAD (~$8–$15) per cocktail at a decent bar (indicative). Non-alcoholic "cocktails" using fresh juices, rose water, and orange blossom are usually available alongside and are worth trying in their own right.

Licensed off-licences (often marked "vins et spiritueux" or "épicerie fine") operate in most Moroccan cities, though they can be hard to spot as they rarely advertise on their shopfront. Larger supermarkets in Casablanca (Marjane, Carrefour), Agadir, and Marrakech (in the Gueliz neighbourhood) carry beer, wine, and some spirits in a separated section. Hotel bars are the easiest option for a casual drink. In medina areas, alcohol retail can be completely absent — you may need to walk to the Ville Nouvelle. During Ramadan, off-licences are typically closed or have sharply reduced hours.