Where to stay in
Fez [Fez riad] A range of
hotels can be found
in the Ville Nouvelle and on the outskirts of town, and a smaller selection in
Fez el-Djid. But by
far the most fun and atmospheric place to be based is within the Medina itself,
and you can't do better than one of the
restored Riads in fez, magnificent mansions with traditional architecture
and decoration and set around a central open patio. There are several hidden
within Fez's old town and one of the
most spectacular and newest is the serene
Riad Laaroussa (Fez riad laaroussa).
This former 17th Century palace sparkles following a two-year restoration that
has transformed it from a decaying shadow of its former self into a
luxury Fez hotel.
In keeping with the mystical and unpredictable aura of the
Fez Medina itself,
Riad Laaroussa seems to appear out
of nowhere; you'll never once see its enclosed walls from the outside, and
finding your way in entails slipping away down a side street and through an
anonymous alley, whereupon you'll find yourself suddenly in a hallway with a
magnificent wooden door that hints at something special inside. The
Riad's patio area, with a veritable
grove of little orange trees and softly babbling Moorish fountain, is the ideal
antidote after a day of sightseeing around Fez. The unendingly smiling staff
know the city backwards and help ensure you get the very most out of your visit.
Riad Laaroussa is a big place, so
with just

seven rooms and suites, it feels spacious. All
accommodations in fez riad laaroussa
have thoroughly diffferent colours and layouts but stick entirely to local art
and design. It's all as supremely clean and comfortable as you'd expect from a
4-star property and the owners have done an ingenious job of keeping everything
simple and authentic whilst sneaking in every luxury you could want. The doors
and tiles may be antique but rooms are fully kitted out with air-con (crucial
for Fez's scorching summers) and even Wi-Fi. Bathrooms come in stunning
traditional styles whilst packing the most powerful showers you'll ever
encounter. For all the mod-cons though, televisions are mercifully absent, so
there's nothing to interrupt the peace apart from the evocative early morning
Islamic call to prayer. Rise early for a traditional breakfast on the sunny
terrace, from where there you can get panoramic views over the city rooftops.
You couldn't ask for a much more magical place to
stay in Fez, or anywhere else for
that matter - and you'll definitely thank yourself for deciding to sleep in the
heart of the Medina. Being woken up by the sound of birds looping round the
patio or donkeys plodding along nearby streets just adds to the
wonder of Fez - and for a short stay,
it's infinitely handy to avoid having a long trek back from the Old Town to your
Fez hotel.