Best of Boston

We’ll forgo the hackneyed movie references here. Casablanca, while canonized by the classic picture of its namesake, has forged its own identity as a tried-and-true Harvard Square hangout. Every night of the week pulls in cute young couples huddling over Turkish meze spreads and warm olives, regulars on a first-name basis with the chatty waiters, and Oxford-clad yuppies who kick back in the corners under the shadow of palm fronds. They all converge in the bar-cum-boîte, where high-octane martinis and an accessible wine list only deepen the appeal of this beloved institution.