2 Best Hotels in Fez and the Middle Atlas, Morocco

At this reinvented palatial 17th-century riad, the French owners have created seven sumptuous suites around a vast courtyard of soaring columns. Named after winds, the individually decorated rooms—Chergui has a secret mezzanine lounge, Dzahri a seductive black-marble bathroom—are filled with antiques and one-of-a-kind finds; there's carved cedarwood here and vibrant zellij tiles there, but it's all about light and space. A roof terrace has panoramic views, and when the city sizzles, you can dip your toes in the courtyard’s crisscrossed water channels or head to the hammam to be soaped, scrubbed, and massaged. The fine-dining restaurant serves a modern spin on Moroccan traditional dishes.

A medina palace (part of which dates back to the 14th century) has been transformed into a luxurious boutique hotel. Home to the famed Dar Tazi, a restaurant that has long attracted international A-listers and the Moroccan elite, now it boasts six signature suites, all an artful blend of the traditional and contemporary, with living spaces, fireplaces, and large windows to frame the views. All come with butler service, and there’s a concierge on hand to organize authentic Fassi experiences. After a day of sightseeing, head to the sumptuous spa to be scrubbed and massaged at the dazzling white marble hammam. The restaurant is still the centerpiece, with four dining spaces and cooking classes available. But the pièce de resistance is the vast terrace overlooking the medina’s jumble of rooftops.