Our last evening in Morocco was spent in Casablanca at Rick’s Cafe, the mythical saloon from the movie classic “Casablanca” staring Ingrid Bergman and Humphey Bogart.

---

Rick’s Cafe is set in an old courtyard mansion built against the walls of the Old Medina.

We arrived about 8:30 in the evening so the lighting and shadows on the front balcony, the entrace through heavy wooden and glass doors with palms on each side, and the greeting of the tuxedoed doorman made us feel we were in for a memorable evening.

---

Inside the piano bar and restaurant the legend of Rick’s Cafe in Casablance lives on.

This year is the 10th year anniversary of the 2004 opening of Rick’s Cafe.

---

Rick’s Cafe, the mythical saloon from the 1942 film “Casablanca” has finally been transformed from a Hollywood set captured on celluloid film to a real Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca thanks to the imagination and determination of an former American diplomat to Morocco, Kathy Kriger.

Kathy fills the role of Rick.  She is present and oversees the nightly hustle and bustle in the restauant and piano bar.

---

We were fortunate to meet her.  Kathy is a gracious hostess and spent time telling us how she recreated Rick’s Cafe.

She also gave us permission to use the professional photos.  They are courtesy of The Usual Suspects S.A./Rick’s Cafe.

Please enjoy the photo journey that gives you the feeling as though you are in the film.

---

Kathy worked with an architect and designer to recreate Rick’s.  It took two years to construct her dream.

The Grand Opening was February 29, 2004 to coincide with the Academy Awards 61 years after Casablanca won Best Picture.

It is s filled with architectural and decorative details reminiscent of the film: curved arches, a sculpted bar, balconies, balustrades as well as dramatic beaded and stenciled brass lighting and plants that cast luminous shadows on white walls.

Once you walk in you feel as though you are in the film.

---

Great attention to detail was taken to recreate the new Rick’s.  Even the inlaid floor matches.

---

The glass beaded lamps cast ambient light on the carved plaster walls, Moroccan arched doorways, and windows.

---

The centerpoint of piano bar in the downstairs courtyard is this carved palm tree bar.

---

There is an authenic 1930’s Pleyel piano.

As you might suspect “As Time Goes By” is a frequest request to the in house pianist Issam Chabaa.

As in the movie, the music is a major part of any evening at Rick’s.

---

Upstairs there is even a roulette wheel which was a featured set for several gambling scenes.

---

There is an extra touch of nostalgia with the continuous playing of the original Casablanca in black and white.

We had good timing as we saw a scene of Ilsa and Sam at the Pleyel piano in the bar at Rick’s Cafe.

 

---

 

There is a good view of the piano bar from the upstairs balcony.

---

Upstairs at Rick’s is where the restaurant is located and most full meals are served.

It has the same design and feel as the piano bar below with Moroccan columns, archways, and carved wooden screens.

---

Since we were on our way to the airport for our flight home, we did not have time for full dinner.

Instead we headed straight to that famous bar to order an appetizer and a drink.

Downstairs in the piano bar area the light are turned down low in the evening.

With beaded lamps, brass stenciled Moroccan chandiers, and palms the shadows on the walls are just incredible.

All of these details give you the ambience the drama as the film.

You begin to think, ‘Gee, maybe this was really here in 1942.’

 

To learn and see more of how the Legend Lives On, click Rick’s Cafe.