Pâtisserie Bennis Habous

Pâtisserie Bennis is the place in Casablanca to buy traditional Moroccan pastries, and a stop here is almost compulsory on a visit to the Habous quarter. The family-run bakery dates back to the 1930s and has built its reputation on doing a small number of things very well. Each morning the pastries are made fresh and laid out in neat rows on trays, and the sight of the counter alone is reason enough to step inside.

The specialities are the classics of the Moroccan pastry repertoire. Cornes de gazelle, the crescent-shaped gazelle horns filled with almond paste, are the best known. Chebakia, the flower-shaped sesame pastries soaked in honey that are especially associated with Ramadan, are another favourite, as are briouates, small fried parcels filled with almonds. There are other biscuits and sweets to choose from, so a mixed selection is the best way to compare them.

This is primarily a pastry shop rather than a sit-down café, so think of it as a place to buy treats to enjoy later, to take back to your hotel or to carry home as gifts. Boxed up, they make one of the best edible souvenirs of Casablanca, though they are at their best eaten fresh. If you want to sit down, pair your purchase with mint tea at one of the small cafés of the Habous.

The shop opens daily, with a break in the middle of the day: according to a city guide it is open from 09:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 20:30. Arrive in the morning for the widest choice, especially before weekends and religious holidays, when demand from local families is high. The bakery suits anyone with a sweet tooth, families and travellers looking for authentic gifts.

Pâtisserie Bennis is on Rue Fkih El Gabbas in the Habous quarter, the planned new medina south-east of the city centre. Combine it with a walk through the Habous arcades and souks, a look at the Mahkama du Pacha and lunch at maQam on the mosque square. Taxis can drop you at the edge of the quarter, which is easy to explore on foot.