Budget
La Cigale
Blvd brahim roudani just south of the rampwan de l'unite africaine. this bar is an unassuming spot close to the park of the arab league, with a restaurant in front that serves only the most basic food sausage or kefta sandwiches, salads, and the like. the bar in the back is more crowded and has live music most nights. beer is served with a plate of olives or popcorn, and it's one of the few moroccan-style bars where women can drink in peace. wine and liquor are available, but only when eating in the restaurant. a few phrases in arabic to aisha, the barkeeper, will win her heart and ensure a constant supply of olives.
Benis Patisserie
Quartier habous. this place is famed for having some of the best pastries in morocco. try one of their famous hornes des gazelles. you should also try the bastilla one of the most luxurious and prestigious dish in the moroco's gastronomy, and benny's is undoubtedly the best one. choose the pigeon or farm chicken version. you must book it in advance (05 22 30 30 25.
Midrange
La Corrida
59 rue el araar, â +212 0 22 27 81 55. from the outside, it's easy to miss this restaurant, but look for the little sign ringed in blinking lights. it has a nice outdoor courtyard, but the inside is the main attraction. it's decorated like with memorabilia from spanish bull fighting tournaments and has a dark, candle-lit vibe that's perfect for dates. the sangria is tasty, as is the tapas menu which changes daily. seafood is the specialty, and the steamed mussels should not be missed.
Al Mounia
95 rue prince moulay abdullah, â +212 0 22 22 26 69. this restaurant has an excellent courtyard with a hundred year-old tree. the main drawback is that since this restaurant is listed in most guidebooks, it fills up with tourists at an early hour. the cooking is mostly traditional moroccan foods, with some of the best couscous in the country. there is also an extensive wine list.
Taverne du Dauphin
115 blvd felix houphouet, â +212 0 22 22 12 00. a little seafood place within walking distance of the old medina, the port, and the park of the arabic league, this place can get crowded at meal times. an excellent selection of seafood and one of the widest beer selections in all of morocco though that's only 5 or 6 different brews makes this a very popular lunch spot. the fish is fresh from the fishermen at the port, and the shellfish oysters, mussels and so on are delicious. when paying, however, keep an eye on the waiters: they'll "help you count the money," which can turn into an elaborate shell game where they'll slip some of the cash into their own pocket.
La Sqala
Blvd. des almohades, â +212 0 22 26 09 60. built in the remains of an old fortress, this place is worth as much as a cultural attraction as it is a restaurant. on the outskirts of the old medina, it has cannons, walls, defensive positions, and portcullises as well as a nice, clean eating environment. the atmosphere tends to be a little on the touristy side, but the food is a good modern look at traditional moroccan foods. some dishes are vegetarian and vegan. they also have the obligatory moroccan pastries and teas if you're just in the mood for a snack. great photo opportunity.
Le Kobe D'Or
9 rue abou salt el andaloussi just off of brahim roudani, â +212 0 22 98 07 25. an asian restaurant that is hard to miss, as it has an enormous red neon sign. the inside is nicely decorated in dark red, with lots of mirrors and asian details. the food is ho-hum; the soups are great but the chicken tends to be overcooked. still, a nice place for a quick snack close to the maarif, a good shopping area.
Top end
Rick's Cafe
248 rue sour jdid, â +212 0 22 27 42 07. this restaurant claims to have recreated the eponymous cafe from the movie casablanca. excellent location, within a 20 minute walk of the hassan ii mosque and in the walls of the old medina bordering the ocean. the food is excellent, though expensive. eat at one of the tables on the second floor for an excellent view of the seats below and the niveau-moroccan decorations or eat on the ground floor to be nearer the piano player who plays, of course, as time goes by every night. excellent selection of wine and liquor and, for morocco, a thorough beer selection 5 different brands. the waitstaff, in tuxedos and fezes, are superb. the only drawback to this place is the cost with dinner for 2 costing up to 800 dh.
YoSushi
12 rue mohammed abdou, â +212 0 22 98 11 90. sushi is catching on in a big way in morocco. this little place, on a side street near the prefectural police headquarters, is one of the best. new, clean, and trendy, you're unlikely to find anyone in it before 10pm. they serve all the sushi classics- nigiri, sashimi, hosomaki, maki, futomakis, and assorted other fish items. though tasty, it can get expensive if your aim is to fill yourself up. not very many options for vegan diners.
Restaurants in Morocco are like restaurants in Spain - they don't open until around 7pm at the earliest, and most people don't eat until much later. Be sure to call first and make sure your restaurant of choice is actually open.