Central Market

The Central Market, or Marché Central, is both a working food market and one of the earliest landmarks of the modern city. Designed by the architect Pierre Bousquet and built at the end of the 1910s on the site of the 1915 Casablanca fair, it occupies a block framed by Boulevard Mohammed V and Rue Allal Ben Abdallah. Its arcades and covered walkways combine practical market design with Moorish decoration, and inside you find zellige fountains and cement mashrabiya screens that help keep the interior cool.

Florists greet you at the main entrance with buckets of cut flowers and decorated bouquets, a cheerful start to any visit. Beyond them, the stalls sell fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices, meat and, above all, fish and seafood from the Atlantic, including oysters. There are also handicraft stalls with woven baskets, and the Mon Grenier boutique displays a collector's mix of art and antiques, old photographs and posters. The market has played its part in the city's political history too: in 1953 it was the scene of an attack by the resistance fighter Zerktouni.

The market houses several small restaurants and is a popular lunch spot with both locals and visitors, who come for simply prepared fresh fish and seafood in an informal setting. Check prices before you order, as they are not always displayed. If you are cooking for yourself in a rented flat, it is also a convenient place in the centre to buy produce.

The regional tourism council lists opening from 08:30, and the market is liveliest in the morning, when the fish is freshest and the stalls are fully stocked. It suits food lovers, photographers and anyone who wants a slice of everyday Casablanca life; children usually enjoy the fish displays. Allow 30 minutes for a look around, or an hour or more if you stay for lunch. Floors can be wet near the fish stalls, so wear sensible shoes, and keep an eye on bags in the busier aisles.

The market stands on Boulevard Mohammed V, the city's great Art Deco avenue, opposite the Marché Central tram stop. It is a short walk from Mohammed V Square and a little further from the old medina and the port, so it fits easily into a day exploring the centre on foot.