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Follow the footsteps of Paul Bowles, Beat poets, and the Rolling Stones in historic cafés.
About this experience
Tangier has a rich literary tradition that few cities can match. From the 1940s through the 1960s, the city's International Zone status and anything-goes atmosphere attracted a remarkable concentration of writers, poets, artists, and musicians. The American writer Paul Bowles settled here in 1947 and remained until his death in 1999, writing many of his works including 'The Sheltering Sky' (later a film) from his Tangier apartment. He also recorded and preserved traditional Moroccan music. The Beat poets - William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac - made Tangier their second home; Burroughs wrote 'Naked Lunch' here. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and various artists passed through, drawn by the city's mystique. Today, you can trace their footsteps: visit the Tangier American Legation Museum (which has a wing dedicated to Paul Bowles), have mint tea at Café Hafa (frequented by Bowles and the Beats), sit at the Gran Café Central on Petit Socco (the epicenter of International Zone social life), peek into Café Baba (still as smoky as when it was a Rolling Stones hangout), and browse the Librairie des Colonnes (a Tangier book institution since 1949). For Beat poetry enthusiasts, this is hallowed ground.[citation:1][citation:6]
Insider Tips
- Paul Bowles wing at American Legation Museum is essential
- Café Baba is tiny and smoky - pure Beat atmosphere
- Librairie des Colonnes has been a literary hub since 1949
- Pick up a copy of 'The Sheltering Sky' before your visit
- The literary legacy is everywhere - just sit in a historic cafe and imagine
Best Time to Visit
Best experienced during: Afternoon, Evening, Year-round