Karawan Riad — Hotel in Fez

Exceptionally well designed & decorated. Every room looks like a spread from Architectural Digest. The staff were friendly and attentive. The hammam is highly recommended. We loved relaxing on the rooftop & reading in the library.

I removed 1 star because we felt a little trapped & powerless. Our favorite way to travel includes exploring on our own, learning about local culture and trying local food. In retrospect, Fes might not have been the right location for us but we really wanted to see it, and to stay in Karawan. We felt the illusion of choice, but in reality most decisions regarding food and sightseeing were made for us, and we didn’t know how to ask for what we wanted in a way that would get results.

We heard that Fes is difficult to explore alone, and that tour guides only take you shopping. We assumed that if we booked a tour through the hotel, we could get around these limitations. Unfortunately that was not the case. We booked the ramparts tour and the “cultural” tour. The ramparts tour was a drive around the city in the Riad’s SUV. It was pleasant. The driver was super friendly. We wished there was more information about the city & the local history during the tour. For the cultural tour, the guide sat down with us to find out what we wanted to see before we set off. This really impressed us. We explained that we were interested in architecture and textiles, and made it clear we weren’t in Fes to shop. He was friendly & charismatic & we thought we managed to retain a guide who wouldn’t put us through carpet salesman sessions. Unfortunately we were wrong. We spent over an hour with a literal carpet salesman. When we compared photos with other travelers, they were taken to the same places on tour. It seems that whether booked via hotel or not, the guides leave you to be babysat by vendors to “explain the cultural significance” of the art, meanwhile the they tell a few tall tales and quickly switch to high pressure sales tactics while assuring you it’s a soft sell. After discussing with our friends, we fact checked many claims we heard on tour & most were false (Google “cactus silk”, or where Moscow mule cups originated). The tour guide himself was great; he took the time to explain a few things about how buildings were constructed & local infrastructure, but it felt rushed. What we didn’t like was all the salesmen we were taken to visit. We would have gladly paid double the tour fee for a truly cultural experience.

Regarding food, the tour guide took us to a tourist restaurant: 4 courses, $100, 2x the food we could eat. We weren’t given any choice. He just dropped us off & left.

We planned to try local dishes at other restaurants but didn’t because the hotel & guide declined to recommend any due to past complaints. The hotel recommended Riad restaurants. I was personally disappointed that we only ate at Karawan. The food WAS excellent quality and the service was very professional. But (understandably) the options were limited because they are cooking for a few people at a time. The food was mostly European. There’s no menu because they cook what’s available at the market daily. During our visit, the entrees were steak, chicken or salmon with mashed potatoes or a tagine. The meal is 4 courses, even if you only want an entree.

Breakfast was gluten heavy. There were 4 kinds of pastry & you could order eggs with cheese (this was always overcooked IMO). The yoghurt was absolutely delicious but there wasn’t enough & it wasn’t served every morning. I asked about gluten free meals when we booked, & the management was very reassuring, so I expected breakfast to be modified to my needs. As far as I can tell, the modification was roasted tomatoes (which were delicious! - but. Still.) We left a lot of wasted bread, pastry and cake on the table every day. The servers brought out lots of food at every meal, but when it’s not what you can eat, or want to eat, a lot of food gets wasted and it feels wrong.

Again, the building is a solid 5 stars & our disappointment was due to unrealistic expectations...

I stayed at this hotel for eight nights as I wanted to thoroughly explore Fès and the surrounding areas. This hotel is luxurious but it’s also interesting. Those who seek the conventionally deluxe establishments shouldn’t come here. But if you are interested in something special, this is the place.||Location: Inside the old Medina, off of a big plaza called Place Rcif, but cars cannot get to the hotel. One gets off near Place Rcif and walks up into a hidden neighborhood. I’m not sure if Google Maps would work, I simply memorized the path. Frankly, the first time walking to the hotel, through that local neighborhood, I wondered if I had made a mistake. But then the small entrance door opened and behold, a world of luxury opened up in front of me!||Physical plant: The building’s architecture and layout is classic Arab / Islamic. A great inner courtyard, opened to the sky, and surrounded by the rooms and the restaurant and several lounges. My room was a Royal Suite with three private balconies, two bathrooms, a lounge, a sitting area, and direct access to the terrace where Fès can be admired at sunrise and sunset. I heard that it took many years to renovate the building. I think the owners did a great job doing it.||Service: This is where the Riad really shines. The entire staff, from the front desk lady who made the restaurant recommendations, to the general manager who recommended the excursions, to the kitchen and food service staff, to the cleaning staff, everyone did a great job making my long stay as pleasant and as comfortable as possible. I took two super pleasant excursions as suggested by the general manager. I would like especially to commend Nourdine, the driver who took me on these excursions. In theory, he is not a tour guide. In practice, he did a much better job than tour guides. The information, tips, and assistance he provided were stellar. So, a great thanks to Nourdine.||Food: In these luxury hotels in Morocco, breakfast is not a buffet but is served at the table like a regular meal. At this Riad each breakfast varied slightly, but was always very good. I also had two dinners and both were tasty.||So what’s interesting about this place? For me, it was the location. The surrounding neighborhood is a “real” neighborhood where local people live and work. Right outside the Riad’s door there’s a leather workshop where they actually make leather goods. I talked to those guys a bit. Local kids played soccer in the plaza. It’s certainly not the typically exclusive neighborhood that surrounds 5-star hotels and some people might not appreciate this. But for those who do, this is definitely...

Morocco is known for its attention to detail in culinary arts, as gastronomy is a traditional part of the culture. In Fez, fine dining can be found at Karawan Restaurant, an authentic Moroccan restaurant located in the Karawan Riad. Chef Outhmane prepares a variety of gourmet food for the discerning diner, elegantly combining Moroccan and Mediterranean flavors.

I had the pleasure of dining at Karawan one evening for dinner, and I was pleased with the level of service, the quality and freshness of the food, and the elegance of the restaurant’s setting. The wait staff was very attentive, and each course was promptly delivered to my table. The atmosphere was relaxed yet inviting, with modern details that enhance the aura of luxury.

I started with amuse bouche of escargot. It was light and buttery, a delicious texture and perfectly cooked. Next I tried a tart of chicken, aubergine and cheese, which was baked until lightly crisped and the chicken browned. The combination of the ripe aubergine with the chicken gave the dish a hearty complexity that was satisfying and comforting.

For my main dish, I had fresh trout, with broccoli, red pepper and seasoned mashed potatoes. The fish was excellent, and the produce fresh. The mashed potatoes were creamy and fluffy and had the right amount of seasoning.

For dessert, I enjoyed lemon cream with a freshly made raspberry sauce. Not too sweet but just a beautiful blend of tart and subtle sweetness. A delicious way to end a wonderful meal.

Everything about the Karawan Restaurant is highly recommended. Whether you’re staying at the riad, or just looking for an upscale yet relaxing dining experience, Karawan is the way to go. The restaurant incorporates the finest parts of Moroccan cuisine, and blends with the rich culture of the world’s oldest...