Marché Central Casablanca is a covered market in the city centre, framed by Boulevard Mohamed V and Rue Allal Ben Abdallah.
You can browse its food and flower stalls, then continue toward the Old Medina ramparts and La Sqala, a café-restaurant set in a historic bastion. This pairing also works as part of a broader one-day Casablanca route from the city centre to the coast.
- Location: Centre-ville, between Boulevard Mohamed V and Rue Allal Ben Abdallah.
- From the hotel: Marché Central is about 0.8 km from a four-star city-centre hotel.
- Getting there: Marché Central is a stop on Casablanca Tramway Line 1, with step-free access.
- La Sqala: Behind the Old Medina ramparts, with a café-restaurant open daily.
Finding Marché Central
Marché Central stands in Casablanca’s centre, between Boulevard Mohamed V and Rue Allal Ben Abdallah. From the four-star hotel in the city centre, the market is about 0.8 km away.
Casablanca Tramway places the market on Line 1, between Place des Nations-Unies and Mohammed Diouri stations. The station has step-free access, making the tram a practical option if you want to avoid walking through the centre.
The market’s arcades and covered walkways combine functional design with Moorish features. Architect Pierre Bousquet designed the market between 1918 and 1919, according to the city tourism board. The municipal guide calls it a historic hall dating to 1917.
What to expect at the market
Marché Central brings together food stalls and decorative details under one roof. You’ll find flowers, fruit, vegetables, fish and handicrafts, alongside zellige fountains and cement mashrabiyas.
The market’s role in the city’s history is also part of its story: it was the site of a 1953 attack by resistance fighter Zerktouni. The city tourism board gives its address as Bd Mohammed V, Casablanca 20250.
After looking around the arcades, take time to browse the stalls selling fish, produce, spices and flowers.
Walking into the Old Medina
Casablanca’s Old Medina is a natural next stop after Marché Central, with the walk linking the central market area to historic lanes and the ramparts.
Keep the market and the medina as separate parts of your visit: first browse the covered hall, then head toward the Old Medina’s lanes and shopfronts. For a different souk setting in the city, Quartier Habous has its own distinctive quarter and souks to explore.
La Sqala and nearby historic streets
La Sqala sits behind the Old Medina ramparts in a fortified bastion dating to the 17th century. The café-restaurant was founded in 2002 and is on Boulevard des Almohades, Casablanca 20250.
La Sqala combines dining with an Andalusian garden, and its official site says the venue hosts oriental music recitals. The garden makes it a distinct stop to fold into a walk around the ramparts and historic streets.
Its café-restaurant opens daily from 08:00 to 23:00. Breakfast is served from 08:00 to noon, tea time runs from 16:00 to 19:00, and lunch and dinner are served from 12:00 to 23:00. Check the official site before you go, as opening details can change.
Practical timing and respectful visits
For a straightforward sequence, visit Marché Central first, then continue on foot toward the Old Medina and La Sqala. The tram is another way to reach the market: Casablanca Tramway says Line 1 runs daily, with first and last departures at 05:30 and 22:30.
Visit Casablanca and Casablanca’s municipal guide give conflicting market hours, ranging from 07:00 to 16:30.
At the market and in the Old Medina, be considerate around working stalls and narrow lanes. Ask before photographing people or their goods, and give shoppers and vendors room to pass.
FAQs
What can you see at Marché Central Casablanca?
The covered market has stalls for flowers, fruit, vegetables, fish and handicrafts, plus arcades, covered walkways, zellige fountains and cement mashrabiyas.
How do you get to Marché Central by tram?
Take Line 1 to Marché Central station, between Place des Nations-Unies and Mohammed Diouri. The station has step-free access.
Is La Sqala inside the Old Medina?
La Sqala is behind the Old Medina ramparts, in a fortified bastion dating to the 17th century. Its café-restaurant includes an Andalusian garden.