casablanca |
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BEST OF THE REST: MOROCCAN SOUVENIRS |
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Carpets Rugs have been woven in Morocco for millennia, from flat-weave kilims to fine hand-knotted Rabati carpets and shaggy Berber rugs. They’ re sold everywhere, from city souks to high-end boutiques and rural cooperatives. |
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images: awl images; shutterstock |
SHOPPING
While Casablanca doesn’ t have Marrakech’ s profusion of shopping options, there’ s no shortage of things to buy in the souks of Quartier Habous. This is where you’ ll find everything from silver jewellery and shaggy rugs to beaten brass, carved wood and handcrafted ceramics. The olive market is the place to stock up on olives of every size and hue, as well as olive oil, spices, saffron, argan oil and honey.
Casablanca’ s main shopping area is in Maarif, just south of Boulevard Mohammed Zerktouni. The food market is popular with locals for its fruit and vegetables, spices and olives, as well as fresh flowers and argan products. And there’ s all manner of small stores devoted to everything from artisan chocolate to handcrafted ceramics.
Search out more independent boutiques to the west of here in the suburb of Anfa,
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where stylish concept store Maison H goes local with statement homewares and handcrafted candles, perfumes and beauty products. Or Zyne, which stocks eco-conscious rattan and velvet shoes handmade by women’ s cooperatives. Take a coffee break at the branch of Paul on Boulevard d’ Anfa, set in the striking Villa Suissa, built in the 1940s by French- Moroccan architect Jean-François Zevaco.
For one-stop shopping, Anfa Place Mall on the Boulevard de la Corniche has a selection of international and Moroccan fashion brands, and stores selling books and beauty products, as well as a Carrefour supermarket where you can pick up Moroccan wine. Farther south along the coast, the expansive Morocco Mall— the largest in all of Africa— is home to around 350 stores, including luxe brands such as Dior, Givenchy and Louis Vuitton.
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Textiles Weaving is a centuries-old local art form. Shop for scarves, shawls, throws and hammam towels, as well as hand-embroidered table linens and kaftans. Moroccan designers are putting contemporary spins on age-old techniques and, with enough time, you can even commission a unique handwoven fabric.
Leather goods Fine Moroccan leather is sought after worldwide, and you can buy it in the form of bags, belts and embroidered pouffes. And babouches( traditional slippers) come in myriad colours and make perfect souvenirs. Leather and jackets can be made to order.
Spices In the souks, cupboard-sized stores overflow with pyramids of colourful, aromatic spices. To create a tasty tajine back home, ask for ras el hanout, a bespoke blend of classic spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and turmeric.
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summer 2026 • 83 |