One night in Casablanca

On my way to Dakhla I stayed for one night in Casablanca and I had to take a tour to Rick's Café, which was just 5 minutes away from my hotel.

The creation of this restaurant-piano bar was based on a dream of an American Kathy Kriger. Inspired by the Casablanca movie from 1942 and the mythical bar of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) Kathy built this beautiful Moroccan courtyard style mansion. The interior is stunning with the balconies overlooking the courtyard, the white stone walls and curved arches, heavy wooden doors, the central spiral staircase and the old piano in the middle of the restaurant. Moroccan lamps fill the rooms with soft and exotic light.  

Music was the main reason I came here. Soulful live jazz, mix of 40's and 50's songs were played by the house pianist Issam Chabaa, whom I had a chance to meet and have a nice conversation. Issam was born in Casablanca and plays here since the beginning of the bar’s creation. His music is the soul of the place, inseparable energy that transports you to old times and passions.  

Rick’s Café was celebrating 9 years anniversary and while listening to Isaam’s music I sipped my Cosmopolitans and once again wondered, how strange it is to change the surrounding within one day.  I left Switzerland in the afternoon and found myself in the evening in this exotic, cosmopolitan city, in a softly lit jazz bar in Casablanca. Feels wonderful to have this kind of physical freedom.