Inspiración Iberia Plus
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Shopping in Casablanca

Casablanca’s inspiring architecture, fascinating history and bohemian aura make it one of the most fascinating destinations in North Africa. But if there is something that really makes this cosmopolitan city stand out, it’s the shopping scene. Along with traditional venues, such as the Medina, with its Central Market – perfect for buying spices – or the Quartier Habous, a mecca for crafts and antiques, there are spaces devoted to luxury, such as AnfaPlace (designed by Norman Foster), and innovation, such as the Morocco Mall, Africa’s largest shopping centre.

  1. 1 Spices and culinary products

    Casablanca offers gastronomy lovers vibrant markets where they will find an incomparable selection of spices and local produce. The Central Market, on Mohammed V Boulevard, is an unmissable stop. Here, the stalls are full of saffron, black pepper, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, ras el hanout and other spices that are an essential part of Moroccan cuisine. You can also buy olives, nuts, aromatic teas, honey and argan or borage oil. Shop as chefs do and always ask for unground spices as they will remain fresher and their flavours more intense. For lunch, many people go for oysters, caught fresh daily and which can be eaten directly at the seafood stand, or a squid sandwich, also typical of Casablanca.

    The picture shows a spice stall in the Central Market, with different types of products in piles in sky-blue containers or in glass pyramid dispensers.

  2. 2 Ceramics

    Apart from clothing and textiles such as carpets and tablecloths of the highest quality, at Habous you can also find ceramic pieces decorated with traditional Moroccan geometric patterns, as well as antiques and confectionaries. Plates, tagines and mosaics are handmade here. One of the most interesting ceramic projects is Maison Poterie Serghini. This company – with almost 200 years of history – uses the artisan traditions of several generations to produce pieces ranging from classical style to utterly contemporary, including conceptual works. It has a showroom in Casablanca where you can buy or order tableware and pieces for interior and exterior decoration. Visitors, including children, who are interested in decorating their own pieces can spend the afternoon painting unique designs at Céramicafé Rivoli.

  3. 3 Traditional fashion

    Casablanca is an exceptional destination for anyone looking for textiles and garments with identity. At the Quartier Habous you can find caftans, djellaba and fabrics in very different price ranges, as well as leather goods and other accessories. Visitors seeking high-quality caftans or djellabas will find that the Maarif district offers renowned boutiques and specialist workshops. At the Finezine haute couture caftan boutique, shoppers can commission custom designs. Another great stop for visitors after haute couture is Chaba Couture by Albert Oiknine, an iconic designer and favourite of the Royal House of Morocco who makes unique, hand-embroidered items (n 2023, models paraded his creations at the 77th edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid). In addition, the designer Bouchra Filali Lahlou, well known in North Africa and the Middle East, has two showrooms in Casablanca, where it is possible to admire her caftans adorned with Swarovski crystals. For those who prefer to choose their own fabric and tailor-made garments, there are options such as Ayat Tissus, a business located in the district of Bourgogne and one of the best options for acquiring luxury fabrics, from silks to fine cottons.

    In the picture, three models pose in luxury kaftans by designer Bouchra Filali Lahlou, in red and green with gold embroidery, or in white with pleated trim

  4. 4 Luxury and design

    Casablanca also has a sophisticated side that is reflected in its exclusive shopping areas. The Morocco Mall, with its impressive aquarium in the centre, is the biggest shopping centre in Africa. Home to 350 stores, here shoppers will find sports labels such as Adidas and Nike and well-known brands such as Zara and Stradivarius. However, what is most interesting is the Miraj, a section dedicated to luxury that’s been architecturally designed to recall a jewellery box. There are boutiques by Givenchy, Bottega Veneta and Dior, as well as local jewellers such as Shahnaz and Mounier & Bouvard. The Morocco Mall has opened its own souk, where crafts, fabrics and other products such as oils and essences for the home are sold. Alternatively, AnfaPlace, designed by Norman Foster, offers a more relaxed and youthful atmosphere, with restaurants overlooking the sea.

  5. 5 Perfumes

    Arabian perfumery – probably the most coveted in the world – has gone viral on social media as a luxury product. Brands such as Swiss Arabian – which has its own perfume dedicated to Casablanca – have contributed to this. This firm also has a boutique in the Morocco Mall, as does Maa Al Thahaab, a name that’s highly coveted in Europe and the USA due to the Middle Eastern perfumery tradition featured in its fragrances. Back in the Maarif district – specifically on Al Massira Al Khadra Boulevard – a hidden gem of Moroccan perfumery awaits: at Parfums Madini, you can make your own scent from a catalogue of more than 100 fragrances and essences.

    View of the Hassan II Mosque, to close the article

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