Why visit
- Habous is the medina experience for people who don't want a crowded medina. The arcades, the uniform height of the buildings, and the small squares give it a gentler rhythm than most historic quarters in Morocco.
Habous Quarter
CasablancaCULTURE
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- Free to visit
- Great for souvenirs
- Quietest in late morning
Built in the 1920s as a planned traditional quarter, the Habous (or New Medina) of Casablanca blends low Moorish arcades with small squares, bookstores, bakeries, and artisan stalls. It's easier to navigate than the Old Medina and the best place in the city for pastries, olives, leather goods, and handcrafted souvenirs.
What to expect
- Low, arched streets lined with specialist shops — pastries on one block, brass and leather on the next, bookshops tucked into corners, olive merchants with barrels out front. It feels lived-in rather than touristy.
Best time
- Late morning or early afternoon, when the pastry shops are fully stocked and the artisans are open. Fridays can be quieter around midday prayer.
How to combine
- A natural second stop after the Hassan II Mosque, or a standalone hour if you're near the Royal Palace area. Many visitors pair it with a lunch stop at a nearby traditional restaurant.
Location
Casablanca
FAQs
Habous was planned in the 1920s under the French protectorate. It's cleaner, quieter, and easier to navigate — a softer introduction to medina shopping.
Olives, pastries (cornes de gazelle, chebakia), leather goods, and books. Several bookstores carry rare Moroccan titles in Arabic and French.
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