Most people who come to Rabat to buy a carpet end up on Rue des Consuls. The lane runs north–south through the heart of the medina, named for the foreign consuls who once kept their residences along its length, and today it clusters most of the city's Rbati carpet cooperatives and silver-filigree ateliers. The best shops open straight to the street and keep their looms on the upper floor, so you can watch the weaving the same way the rugs are sold.

Rbati is the distinctive urban Rabat style — hand-knotted wool, a strong geometric field, a central medallion, usually on a red or blue ground. Small pieces (around 1 × 1.5 metres) start around 2,500 MAD; larger room-sized pieces run well into five figures. Pricing is comparatively transparent — cooperatives post indicative tags — and haggling is softer-pressure than in Marrakech, with a 10–20 per cent negotiation considered normal. Payment by card is increasingly accepted; confirm before you commit. Bring cash for a small tip if a staffer walks you through the process in detail.

Beyond the carpets, the lane carries silver filigree jewellery, engraved brass, babouche leather slippers, djellabas, kaftans and spice stalls in the side lanes. Quality is consistently good even on tourist-grade pieces — Rabat's craft tradition is older and more disciplined than the city's lower tourist profile suggests. Most shops keep 9:30–13:00 and 15:00–19:00 hours and close Friday around midday for prayer. Mid-morning is the best time to walk: the looms are active, the lane is calm, and you can drink tea in one of the cooperatives without competing for the host's attention.