One of the all-time great films is Casablanca; it’s certainly one of my favorites. It’s one of those movies that should never be remade because I can’t see how they could improve it. A focal point in the film is Rick’s Cafe, a gin, nightclub and gambling joint located in Casablanca. It’s owned by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), whose performance with costar Ingrid Bergman makes the film memorable. Most people wouldn’t know that none of the movie was filmed in Morocco — it’s entirely a creation of Hollywood, as was Rick’s Cafe in the movie.
There is, however, a real Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca — a restaurant and bar which opened in 2004. The Cafe was a created thanks to the determination of an American who lived in Casablanca, Kathy Kriger. She was a former diplomat and commercial attaché who loved Morocco and wanted to create something unique and “American” there.
(Tourists like to have their photo taken with the security guard outside the door of Rick’s Cafe)
Rick’s Cafe is located in a 1930s mansion built against the walls of Casablanca’s Medina, overlooking the city’s harbor. The mansion was completely restored and extensively renovated to create Rick’s Cafe. It’s become a tourist destination as people show up to get a glimpse of it and snap a photo. If you’ve planned ahead and have a reservation, you can enter for a drink or a meal.
I just visited the outside of Rick’s Cafe, where these photos were taken. If you would like to see some interior photos of Rick’s Cafe, please click on this link. The interior is elegant, and includes a piano where someone can “Play it again, Sam.” Except the pianist here is not Sam but Issam (from Rabat), who plays classics from the 1940s and 1950s most nights.
I can think of no better way to end this post than to watch clips from the great film:
