Patisserie des Princes, 32 Rue de Bab Agnaou

This glamorous looking bakery is located on a popular pedestrian street just south of the Place Djemaa al-Fna. The front display window lures you in, and there are heaps and trays of goodies behind glass displays to tantalize you. Like most of the pastry shops in Morocco, this one sells many items that are similar to the definitive prototypes sold in France.

The tastes of the treats I ordered did not quite match their visual appeal. I tried something that looked like an almond-coated crepe with some sort of sweet paste wrapped inside. My friend ordered a similar crepe, but it had a hearty fish paste filling (I am glad I did not select that one). The croissant was a little better, but far from any croissant I have enjoyed in Paris. The pain au chocolat was not bad either, but it could have used a bit more chocolate filling. There are plenty of other selections here like cakes and cookies, and perhaps these are a bit sweeter. At least the prices were not too expensive. You can consume your purchase in the back room, or have your items wrapped to take away.

Patisserie Mik Mak, Avenue Moulay Ismail

This bakery is near the popular budget-friendly Hotel Ali in the Medina. Almost as an immediate reflection of its location, the interior is plainer and appears more like a working-class joint than a swanky cafe-patisserie. The baked goods I tried are very light in weight and in flavor. I ate a so-so yellow cupcake topped with some chocolate chips, and the pain au chocolat was decent but not too memorable. The item that looked like a very thin round sponge is a common sight in the markets, but the one I tasted had practically no flavor. There were also a few single-portion cakes on sale, but not as many as at the Patisserie des Princes. The bite-size cookies sold by weight and are much sweeter and tastier than the larger individual selections.

You can also stock up on items like bottled water, soft drinks, yogurt, candy bars, and ice cream at Mik Mak. There is a very small ledge in the middle of the room if you want to eat your treat before you leave the premises.