Riad El Amine
Fès, Morocco
Where The Rif Mountains Meet The Medina
Riad El Amine Fès occupies an emblematic 19th-century house within the ancient medina of Fès, reached along the narrow derbs of Bouajjara in the Fes el Bali quarter. Behind an unassuming carved door, the Arabic-Andalusian architecture typical of the old Fassi houses opens onto a courtyard, where the sounds of the medina soften into birdsong and running water.
Three years of painstaking restoration, undertaken by some of Morocco’s most accomplished craftsmen, returned the house to its original splendour. Zellige mosaics were laid by Mr Ouazzani, the tile master behind the riad’s intricate geometric patterns, while carved plasterwork and painted cedar ceilings recall the artistry of the 19th century. High-ceilinged rooms retain their original frescoes and tiled parquet floors, restored rather than replaced.
Accommodation is arranged across three categories: the Ambassador Suites, set on the upper floors with a bedroom and separate sitting room beneath frescoed ceilings; the more compact Junior Suites, similarly appointed in miniature; and the Standard Doubles, simply dressed rooms suited to couples or solo travellers. Each carries its own detailing, from carved plaster cornices to hand-laid zellige.
Evenings might begin with tapas and cocktails at SamâRooftop, where the medina’s rooftops and minarets spread out below, or over a Moroccan tasting menu at Restaurant La Table de Fès. By day, the hammam and interior pool offer quiet retreat, while excursions range from a cooking class after the souk to a hennah sitting, a zellige master class, or an overnight beneath the stars of the Sahara.
You will love
- Zellige crafted by its master
- Rooftop views across the medina
- Hammam ritual with black soap
- Cooking classes straight from souk
- A night under Saharan stars
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
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Judith & Roger Williams
Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!
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Milford family
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