Walking through Mers Sultan feels like stepping into a living story. This neighborhood in Casablanca has something special that makes locals smile with pride when you mention its name. After spending many afternoons exploring its streets, I understand why Time Out magazine called it the second coolest neighborhood in the world in 2024.
A Neighborhood Born from Dreams
Mers Sultan began taking shape in the early 1900s during the French protectorate period. Back then, Casablanca was growing fast, and this area became a meeting point where French colonial architecture mixed with Moroccan traditions. The builders here created something beautiful – wide boulevards like Boulevard Mers Sultan and Boulevard Roudani that still buzz with life today.
Where Old Meets New Every Day
What makes Mers Sultan special is how it balances everything. You can grab coffee at a modern café, then walk two minutes to visit a traditional hammam that has been serving families for decades. The old schools still teach children, while art galleries showcase work from young Moroccan artists.
During my walks here, I often see three generations of the same family shopping together at the local market. Grandparents who built their lives in this neighborhood now watch their grandchildren discover the same streets they once played in.
The Perfect Location
Geography helps explain why people love Mers Sultan so much. It sits right between Derb Ghallef, Oasis, Maârif, and the city center. This means you can reach anywhere in Casablanca easily. The tram stops right in the neighborhood, taxis are always available, and many residents simply walk to work in the city center.
Last week, I met a young photographer who moved here from Rabat. She told me, "In the morning, I can have breakfast at a traditional café. In the evening, I can attend an art exhibition. And I never need to travel far from home."
A Creative Community Growing
The Time Out recognition brought attention to something locals already knew – Mers Sultan attracts creative people. Artists rent affordable studios in old buildings. Writers find quiet corners in cafés to work. Musicians gather in small venues to share their music.
This creative energy mixes with the neighborhood's working families and longtime residents. It creates a community where a retired teacher might live next door to a graphic designer, and both feel at home.
Why You Should Visit
If you want to see real Casablanca life, spend a morning in Mers Sultan. Start with coffee and pastries at a local café. Walk along Boulevard Mers Sultan and notice how the architecture tells the neighborhood's history. Visit the small shops where artisans still work with their hands.
The best part? Everything happens naturally here. You don't need a tour guide or special plan. Just walk, observe, and let the neighborhood show you its personality.
Mers Sultan proves that the best places to live are often the ones that honor their past while welcoming their future. This neighborhood does exactly that, one street at a time.