Mouassine.
The elegant quarter. Where the Medina meets curation. Riads, galleries, rooftops, and the best shopping in the old city.
Highlights
Mouassine Fountain
16th-century Saadian fountain. One of the most ornate in the Medina. Look up at the carved cedar lintel.
Best photographed in the morning light.
Dar El Bacha — Musée des Confluences
A stunning palace turned museum. The courtyard is worth the entrance fee alone. Rotating exhibitions on Moroccan culture.
Go early to avoid tour groups. The cafe inside serves excellent coffee.
Rooftop terraces
Mouassine has the best rooftops. Nomad, Atay, Le Jardin — sunset views over the Medina rooftops and the Atlas Mountains.
Arrive before 5pm for a table at sunset. Don't eat — just drink. The food is tourist-priced.
Boutique shopping
The most curated shops in the Medina. Leather, ceramics, textiles — higher quality and higher prices than the souks, but no bargaining required.
33 Rue Majorelle (despite the name, it's in Mouassine) has the best leather bags.
Mouassine Mosque
12th-century mosque, one of the largest in the Medina. Non-Muslims can't enter, but the exterior architecture is worth seeing.
Use it as a navigation landmark — it's visible from many rooftops.
Do & don’t
Get lost in the derbs north of the fountain. Quiet, photogenic, authentic.
Follow signs that say 'tanneries this way'. They lead to a carpet shop.
Visit Dar El Bacha early morning. You'll have the courtyard to yourself.
Eat at the rooftop restaurants. Drink, yes. Eat at a local place instead.
Buy leather and ceramics here. Quality is better than the souks.
Assume prices are final. Boutiques mark up less, but there's still margin.