Caid's Bar is the piano bar of the El Minzah Hotel on Rue de la Liberté in Tangier, a hotel founded in 1930 by John Crichton-Stuart. It keeps a deliberately retro room, with a pianist playing through service and a menu built around wine and cocktails. Travel writers often name it as the possible model for Rick's Café in the film Casablanca, and it remains the old guard drinking room of the ville nouvelle. It opens daily from 10:00 to 23:00.
Warum hingehen
Caid's Bar in Tangier is the piano bar of the El Minzah Hotel on Rue de la Liberte, a hotel founded in 1930 by John Crichton-Stuart.
Travel writers regularly cite it as the likely model for Rick's Cafe in the film Casablanca, which is why it turns up on almost every Tangier list.
The room has been kept deliberately old fashioned, so it reads as a period piece rather than a redesign.
It is one of the few bars in the ville nouvelle where a pianist plays through service rather than a DJ.
Musik & Stimmung
Live piano through service, not a club sound system
Retro room with an old fashioned, unhurried feel
A mixed crowd of hotel guests, Tangier regulars and visitors
Quiet enough for conversation rather than dancing
Öffnungszeiten
Open daily from 10:00 to 23:00
The piano runs during evening service
Einlass
Walk in through the El Minzah Hotel on Rue de la Liberte, no separate street entrance
No door policy or guest list, but the room is small so evenings fill up
Smart casual is the right register for the hotel
Gut zu wissen
The bar serves wine, cocktails and international food
It is one of six other dining rooms at El Minzah, including El Korsan for Moroccan food and a separate Wine Bar
The Grand Socco, the Mendoubia Gardens and the Kasbah are all within a short walk
Caid's Bar is inside the El Minzah Hotel on Rue de la Liberte in central Tangier, between the medina and the ville nouvelle, a few minutes on foot from the Grand Socco.
Caid's Bar at the El Minzah Hotel is open daily from 10:00 to 23:00, with a pianist playing through evening service.
Travel guides including Fodor's describe Caid's Bar at the El Minzah Hotel in Tangier as the likely inspiration for Rick's Cafe in the 1942 film Casablanca. It is a widely repeated claim rather than a documented fact, and the bar has never traded on it with a themed makeover.
Yes. Caid's Bar is run as a piano bar, with a pianist playing during service. It is a room for conversation and a drink rather than a club with a dance floor.
No. Caid's Bar is open to anyone walking in through the El Minzah Hotel on Rue de la Liberte, not only hotel guests. There is no door policy, though the room is small and fills up on busy evenings.