5 Best Shopping in Rabat, Rabat and Casablanca

This shop carries beautiful carved-wood furnishings, leather-covered chests, iron-framed mirrors, painted screens, and countless other decorative items. There are new pieces as well as some older treasures to be found. Prices may be a bit higher than in the souks, but you'll get less hassle from the shopkeepers.

Near the River Bou Regreg there is a series of small workshops where you can watch artisans create Morocco's various handicrafts. You'll find everything from traditional mosaic tile work, embroidery, leatherwork, and painted wood to brass, pottery, and carpets. Items can be purchased hassle-free at fixed prices, which are a little higher than the well-negotiated ones in nearby Rue des Consuls.

If you're looking for a more familiar type of retail therapy, Rabat's Mega Mall will do the trick. Following the design of a typical American mall, it contains dozens of mid- to high-end stores, plus a food court, bowling alley, and ice-skating rink.

The medina's Rue des Consuls is the place to shop for handicrafts and souvenirs in Rabat: it's pedestrian-only, has a pleasant atmosphere, and imposes no real pressure to buy, aside from the typical encouragements. Among the treasures here are Imazighen jewelry, leather goods, wooden items, brass work, traditional clothing, and slippers. You can also peruse red and orange Zemmour carpets from Khémisset, near Meknès; deep-pile Rabati carpets, in predominantly blue-and-white designs; and orange, black, and white Glaoui rugs. Some of the larger shops take credit cards.

Try to visit on a Monday or Thursday morning when the entire street turns into a carpet market.