Café Baba — Restaurant in arrondissement de Tanger-Medina طنجة المدينة

Go to Café Baba in the upper Médina for the nostalgia of the days of Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton's annual soirees at nearby Sidi Hosni. Café Baba is where The Rolling Stones hung out smoking kif amongst the natives. It was also a popular late-1960s and early-1970s Tangier hangout for the "hippies". It is located up some steep steps off Rue Amrah. Be careful when walking up the steps since there is no handrail.

Do not expect luxury, as the place really is on the dumpy side, which is part of its expected seedy charm. Many young people and tourists come here for a mint tea, or to smoke or play dominoes while looking out at the partial beach and city views down below in the distance.

Nowadays, Barbara Woolworth Hutton's historic palace Sidi Hosni is still there, but it is privately owned; unfortunately, her Tangier home is now overwhelmed by a looming and pretentious towering house constructed directly next door that is way too large and grand for the area.

Try Café Baba at least once if you feel like slumming. Be sure to look at the many photos on the walls of various celebrities who have visited this place. Café Baba has reliable WiFi. If you like the Jamaican reggae music of Bob Marley, it is continuously played here on one of the...

Cafe Baba in Tangier, Morocco, is more than just a café—it’s a legendary institution with an atmosphere that feels like stepping into history. The hospitality and service here are absolutely unparalleled, with Baba, his son, and his grandsons embodying the essence of Moroccan warmth and generosity. They are some of the coolest and nicest hosts you’ll ever meet, making every visitor feel like part of the family.

This place has an almost mystical aura, with decades of stories woven into its walls. The photos lining the café tell their own tale, showcasing the famous faces that have made the pilgrimage to this iconic spot—Anthony Bourdain, Mick Jagger, and so many others. It’s not just a café; it’s a living piece of Tangier’s cultural heritage.

The tea? Simply the best. There’s nothing quite like sitting in this historic space, sipping on a perfect glass of Moroccan mint tea while soaking in the timeless energy of Tangier. The location itself is unbeatable, offering a view and vibe that transports you to another era. If you want a deeper dive into the magic of Cafe Baba, check out the No Reservations episode on Tangier, where Bourdain captures the essence of this...

I'm rather ambivalent about this place. I visited the cafe twice, both times I was in Tangier. The whole place has an incredibly strong atmosphere that can't quite be captured in words, and it's not just because Only Lovers Left Alive was filmed here. So where does my dissatisfaction stem from? You won't find menus or price tags throughout the place, and I can't shake the impression that locals are charged different prices than tourists. I infer this from the fact that a large portion of the customers are young guys from the neighborhood and I doubt they would be willing to pay the prices that are charged to tourists. The prices are not crazy, but I would say they are about 50% more expensive than similar places in Tangier. However, if you don't mind that you will probably be ripped off a bit, I can recommend a visit to Café Baba. You'll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the sea and the old town mixed with the oh-so-typical smell of cigarette smoke, hash and mint tea, and you'll be blown by the fresh sea breeze blowing through the old windows and the pleasant sound of indie music blasting...