Casablanca Nightlife

Casablanca is not renowned for the sophistication of its nightlife, and you really need on the spot advice from a local to get the best out of what is there. Downtown, there is tacky cabaret and a handful of discos while bars, like the cluster along rue Allal Ben Abdallah, tend to be male-only. For ladies, hotel bars like the Bogart/Bergman-themed Casablanca Bar at the Hyatt Regency (see Hotels) are more welcoming.

While bars close fairly early, nightclubs open at 2300 and don't close until 0300, though the less successful ones are depressingly empty.

Bars: Tour Hassan, 136 avenue des FAR; Au Petit Poucet, 86 boulevard Mohammed V; Churchill Club Aïn Diab, 1 rue Méditerranée, Aïn Diab.

Clubs: Black House, at Hyatt Regency Hotel, place des Nations Unies; La Arizona, rue el Amraoui Brahim; Club 84, boulevard el Mouahadine; La Notte, 31 boulevard de la Corniche, Aïn Diab; and Don Quixhote, 6 boulevard Félix Houphouët Boigny.

Live Music: There's a dearth of live music venues in Casablanca but Latino fans can get their vibes at Papagayo, 25 rue Zaïd Ibnou Rifâa, Mâarif, which has a band playing nightly. Sam really does play it again in the piano bar at Rick's Café, 248 boulevard Sour Jdid, Place du Jardin Public (tel: (022) 221 200), which evokes the ambience of the classic Casablanca movie. Stay long enough, drink enough shots, and Bogie might just amble in!