Cinematheque de Tanger

The Cinema Rif has stood on the Place du 9 Avril 1947, the square better known as the Grand Socco, since it opened in 1938. In 2005 a collective of artists took over the building, and after two years of consultation and renovation it reopened as the Cinematheque de Tanger. It now works as a cinema, a film library and archive and a meeting place, with a main hall that seats up to 300 people and a smaller room for up to 50. The cafe attached to the venue has become part of the legend, a place where film fans, writers and locals sit over coffee or tea before and after screenings. It is a different kind of Tangier sight from the Kasbah and the caves, and it suits film lovers, travellers interested in the city's cultural scene and anyone who wants a break from the medina in a space with real character.

The location could hardly be easier. The cinema sits on the Grand Socco, so it is a few steps from the medina entrance, near the American Legation Museum and within walking distance of many hotels. The building covers around 9,000 square feet, and a visit can be as short as a coffee in the cafe or as long as an evening film.

Because the programme varies from week to week, check the programme on the venue's website before you plan a visit, and ask whether a film you want to see will have English or French subtitles.

Tangier's creative reputation is easy to read about and harder to find, and this is one of the places where it feels alive. The city has drawn writers, painters and musicians for a century, and the Cinematheque keeps that conversation going with its screenings and gatherings. The cafe is a good place to spend the late afternoon, and it pairs naturally with a visit to the American Legation Museum and its Paul Bowles wing.

If you like a film, a ticket is usually modest, though prices and timings should be confirmed on the day. Hours, ticket prices and programmes change, so treat this as a venue to check rather than to assume.

A few practical notes will help. Arrive a little early for a popular screening, since seating can fill, and dress comfortably, as the hall is a cinema rather than a formal theatre. Women and men alike are welcome, and the audience is a mix of locals, students and visitors. Keep valuables close in the crowded Grand Socco area outside, as you would in any busy square.

It is a particularly good choice on a wet or very hot afternoon, when a dark, cool room is a welcome change from the street, and it makes a thoughtful pairing with the Grand Socco and Petit Socco walk.