Palais D'Hôtes — Hotel in Fez

We stayed at this Riad for two nights, and here are our honest thoughts based on our experiences in various Riads across Morocco:

Pros:

The Bedroom: We stayed in a standard double-bed room. It was clean, spacious, private, and had high ceilings. The air conditioning worked well, and we had a nice view overlooking the pool.

The Riad: A standout feature of this Riad is its two courtyards. The bedrooms and pool are located in the inner courtyard, which provides a sense of privacy and security. There are no ground-floor bedrooms, ensuring plenty of living space. The mosaic work and decorative details are stunning, showcasing authentic Moroccan artistry. The Riad is conveniently located within walking distance of the Medina’s center, the Blue Gate, and nearby gates where taxis are easily accessible. There are also plenty of convenience stores nearby for water and drinks.

The Service: Absolutely 5-star service, living up to its reputation. The staff are attentive but discreet, and the small touches highlight the quality of their service. For example, there’s a smart system for booking breakfast (time, menu, and location), so you can enjoy your meal in privacy at a time that suits you—this level of flexibility is rare in Moroccan Riads. The lift is handy, and the rooftop dinner is excellent, easily competing with the city’s top-rated restaurants. Upon check-in, they provide a helpful map with walking routes for exploring the Medina and the new city. The room also includes comfortable disposable slippers, two fresh bottles of water daily, and a coffee machine.

Overall, I would highly recommend this Riad to family and friends—our stay was flawless.

Suggestions/Cons:

• The pool is tucked away from direct sunlight, so the water is a bit cold, though still swimmable. • More towels could be provided around the pool. • The bathroom could use a toilet roll holder. • The mattress wasn’t perfectly flat. • The TV didn’t work. • Bathrobes would be a nice addition. • There weren’t enough electrical outlets. • The rooftop could use...

This is a review of the spa or "hammam".

I'm using quotes because it's not really a hammam, and I say this as someone who lived 13 years in Morocco and knows what a Hammam experience is supposed to be.

A hammam is a room with hot steam where you sweat so your body can get ready for deep cleaning by exfoliation and a massage. That's not what this place offers. The room had almost no steam and was oscillating between cold and warm. The room was extremely small and had absolutely no charm.

As soon as we entered the "hammam" room, we were directed by the lady to lie down as she started vigourisly the exfoliation process, without letting us sit in peace and start to sweat (not that it would have happened in that cold environment).

After 45 terrible minutes, we were sent to the massage part. I had hoped this would salvage the "Hammam" situation but no. My wife and I were separated in different rooms. The massage table was a creaky wooden construction, there is no comfort to be found on it. The masseur received a few notifications at the beginning and after a few minutes went to check her phone. I thought she was silencing it but 20 minutes later, the notifications started again.

The happiest moment was when the whole ordeal ended and I was able to find my stuff without anything missing (they ask you leave everything in a non secured place! I spent the whole time worried that someone would steal something, which would not be the first time it happened in Morocco).

I still can't believe they charge so much for this and dare call it a hammam.

I want to make sure people don't fall for this trap. There are much better options to be found in Fes, barely a stone throw away from this place, especially at these...

This was really an excellent stay in a real old house that, for more than 100 now, hosts its guests.|All the Riad was beautifully decorated with local made mosaics. A splendid interior covered court welcomes you as you enter the hotel. Welcome tea is kindly offered upon arrival. |We stayed in Misk room, at top floor. Large room, it accommodates 3 persons if needed. On lower floors the rooms are way bigger, so f you like space, check those first. All the amnesties were good quality.|The spa was a real gem due to the professionals working here. I have to mention Zineb as she did such a great massage, one of the best I ever had ( and I kind of do it regularly). Magic hands for my painful shoulder.|Nevertheless the massage bed should be updated, and the room could be made more welcoming with little effort. |The restaurant offered good local dishes. I had the best Lamb Tangine I ever during my 10 days stay in Marocco. I recommend at least one dinner to be served on the top terrace. Or the breakfast. For the breakfast the offer is large enough to accommodate most tastes.|The staff was more than helpful. Not only by doing the formalities fast and being kind, but also by being very client oriented. My husband happened to fell very sick during our stay there. They carefully prepared for him what I asked, they help with local medicine and were constantly in contact with us. |I warmly recommend this place if you want a beautiful, traditional and clean...