Hammam Mouassine review: our verdict
The building dates back to 1562 and makes no effort to hide it: genuinely hot rooms fed by a central furnace that heats the entire bath, which you can ask to see. Mouassine is a collective hammam for men and women with separate entrances, where the ritual follows the old order: black soap, a quarter-hour soak, then an energetic scrub with a horsehair glove from head to toe, shampoo included, and a bucket of ice water to conclude.
This is for those who want the hammam as practiced in the medina, amidst bodies of all ages and without a single sideways glance. On the women's side, you remain in underwear or nude among strangers, and the ladies who scrub quickly put you at ease despite the language barrier. The table massage, lasting 30 or 45 minutes, follows. Those dreaming of dim lighting and rose petals will go elsewhere: here it is raw, physical, and that is the whole point.
The good tip: the hammam and massage package, which ensures complete care when you don't know the codes; disposable underwear and a new glove are provided, and you can book online. The trap: coming modestly, or hoping for the plush comfort of a hotel spa.
