Carved from a seventeenth-century palace deep within the Fes el-Bali medina, one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban centres on earth, Riad Fes presents a particular design challenge: how to install contemporary comfort inside a structure whose architectural language was fixed centuries before the concept of a hotel existed. The answer, delivered through a restoration overseen with close attention to traditional Moroccan craft, was to treat the building's existing ornament as the primary design material. The central courtyard shown in the images makes this approach vivid — horseshoe arches rise on slender columns, every surface above the dado line dissolving into stucco arabesque worked by master artisans whose techniques derive from the same Fassi guild tradition that built the Bou Inania madrasa nearby. The 30 rooms and suites layer hand-knotted Berber kilims over zellige tile floors, carved cedar ceilings above gilt-framed mirrors, and silk brocade curtains pooling beside arched windows fitted with mashrabiya screens — an accumulation that feels inhabited rather than staged. The dining room takes a different register entirely: deep crimson walls, dark timber panelling, a zellij-surround fireplace crowned by a Baroque gilded mirror, and a long banquette in olive velvet that pulls the space into something closer to a Parisian grand salon than a traditional Moroccan interior. An outdoor pool court, clad in warm timber decking and framed by rough-cut stone walls softened with climbing greenery, provides relief from the medina's sensory density without abandoning the riad's fundamentally inward, contemplative character.

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Riad Fès – Relais & Châteaux is a jewel of Moroccan heritage, blending luxury, history, and refinement in the heart of the ancient medina of Fez. Restored with respect for its noble past, the riad revives the elegance of Fassi aristocratic life, offering guests a journey into imperial Morocco. Inspired by Arabian Nights, its Andalusian-Moorish décor, carved wood, zelliges, and soft light create an atmosphere of timeless grace. From its terraces, breathtaking views stretch over the medina and the Atlas Mountains. Awarded the Michelin Key, Riad Fès is recognized for its exceptional character, design, and service. Gastronomy shines at Gayza, one of the finest restaurants in Fez, where Chef Abida and Chef Michel Nave, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, unite Moroccan inspiration and French savoir-faire. Wellness awaits at the Spa Riad Fès by Cinq Mondes, with traditional rituals, a marocMaroc hammam, and a refined sanctuary of calm.