Ifrane on Saturday nights is a madhouse. Imagine all of the wealthy Al Akhawayn University students who didn’t go home for the weekends, add a dash of scantily-clad girls from Azrou, a pinch of Meknassis, and a sprinkle of tourists and you’ve got the weirdest nightclub scene in the country (perhaps).

Last night, fueled by a delicious dinner at my favorite spot, Le Pub, three of us headed out in a lovely new Seat on the windy, dangerous road to Ifrane. We arrived a little past midnight, only to find that popular club Tilleuls was over their limit. We argued with bouncers and a female manager, all of whom told us that we wouldn’t be entering. Since I was with two Moroccan men, we even tried to pull the tourist ticket on my behalf, but that didn’t work.

Slightly crestfallen, we wandered around the corner to the Grand Hotel, a beautiful chalet-style hotel that would look more at home in the mountains of Switzerland and is home to a bizarre basement spot called “Library Club.”

The club was filled, filled with girls, not prostitutes, who had come in from the neighboring villages and towns (and while I say they’re not prostitutes, I’ve been informed that many of them are still, you know, looking for fun). Very few university students were present, although there were a few from the fac in Meknes, as Hamza ran into some friends. Drinks were everywhere, the smoke filled the air, the heat was on, and so was the techno.

The bizarre part in all this, I think, is that the hotel is expensive (1200 dirhams per night - we considered booking a room for Valentine’s Day) and mainly caters to tourists, but the din from the nightclub is so loud that I’m sure it can be heard in the first-floor rooms.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed it more than I would have Tilleuls, had it not been full. If ever you’re in Ifrane and want to experience a bit of Moroccan youth nightlife - check out the Library Club. Apparently the hotel has a lovely restaurant as well.

To book a room, e-mail the Grand Hotel and Spa Ifrane at grandhotelspaifrane@menara.ma

For other hotels in Morocco, check out Morocco Savvy