The central square of Chaouen's medina is where the blue city has its heartbeat. Lined with café terraces and fruit sellers, it opens onto the Grand Mosque on one side and the 15th-century kasbah on the other. In the evenings, locals come here to sit, argue, and watch the day end — it is as much a neighbourhood living room as a tourist attraction.
The café terraces that ring the square are a good place to drink mint tea and observe the foot traffic. Kif dealers will approach quietly; a firm, friendly no is enough. The real pleasure is simply watching the square operate: children chasing cats, old men in djellabas, backpackers consulting phones, and women shopping at the vegetable stalls along the far edge.