Where can I find good nightlife in Morocco?

Let me set honest expectations first: Morocco is a Muslim country and alcohol and late-night partying are not part of everyday public life the way they are in, say, Spain. Many smaller towns and the medinas wind down early. But the big cities and resort areas have a real, sometimes surprisingly glamorous, nightlife — you just need to know it is concentrated in specific districts rather than spread everywhere.

Marrakech is the undisputed nightlife capital. The Hivernage and Gueliz new-town districts have rooftop cocktail bars, glossy lounges and full-on nightclubs — Theatro is the legendary one, and there are international names and dinner-cabaret venues where the party runs till dawn. In the medina, the famous restaurant-spectacles and rooftop bars give you a more atmospheric evening with belly dancing, live Gnaoua and tagines under the stars. It can be glitzy and pricey, but if you want a big night out, Marrakech delivers.

Casablanca is, to many residents, the more authentic night city — less of a tourist show, more of a genuine cosmopolitan scene. The Corniche along the coast, the Maarif district and areas near the port have proper bars, live-music venues and clubs where young Moroccans actually go out. Rabat is quieter but has a cultured café-and-bar scene. On the coast, Agadir is a purpose-built resort with a beachfront strip of bars and clubs aimed at holidaymakers, and Tangier has an artsy, historic bar culture descended from its old international days.

My practical tips: dress smartly for the upscale Marrakech and Casablanca venues, expect entry fees and steep drink prices at the big clubs, and always agree a taxi fare or use a ride app for getting home late. If a lively atmosphere matters more to you than alcohol, do not miss Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech at night — the food stalls, musicians and crowds are the most electric “nightlife” in the country, and it costs almost nothing.