10 Best Hotels in Fez and the Middle Atlas, Morocco

Attracting a global clientele, this bed and breakfast with a French flavor is a serene experience from the moment you step through the ocher-color passageway into the luxuriant garden filled with sweet-scented jasmine and roses, as well as olive and citrus trees. The former pasha's summerhouse has beautifully private rooms, all individually decorated with local and Arabian antiques, crafts, and fabrics. Besides welcoming staff, the guest house has a small boutique selling the work of Moroccan designers, a popular bistro-style restaurant, and a small pool. An enchanting spa and authentic 19th-century hammam round out this lovely property. Cooking classes are also available.

Near the Michlifen ski slopes, this luxurious chalet-style retreat is less than an hour and a world away from the world's largest medieval city. Walk into the chic lobby, all natural stone, marble, honey-color wood, and fine designer furnishings, and you'll understand the appeal for R&R seekers. The resort spoils guests with four restaurants, a vast spa and fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, and spacious rooms decorated with an eye for detail. Get active with golf, hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Or enjoy an afternoon cocktail on the grand terrace surrounded by the natural beauty of the Middle Atlas peaks.

With only 21 tastefully decorated rooms and suites (some with two bathrooms), this upscale Andalusian-style property creates an intimate setting centered on an inner courtyard garden meticulously landscaped with a canopy of lush lemon and orange trees by a marble fountain. This unexpected oasis of tranquility and elegance is tucked into an alleyway close to the tanneries. Enjoy a freshly prepared cocktail by the open fire or watching the sun set on the roof terrace, before indulging in a three-course Moroccan dinner skillfully prepared with contemporary flair. From chic furnishings and a pampering spa, to an attentive, English-speaking staff, no expense is spared on details that make guests feel welcome.

Built around a lush courtyard garden—a tranquil oasis from the medina’s mayhem right on the doorstep—this 17th-century palace was in disrepair before being rescued and rebuilt by its French-American owners, utilizing the skills of the city’s finest craftspeople. Now archways, columns, intricate woodwork, and dazzling zellij tiles combine to create a stunning property, with palatial rooms and suites, a lovely swimming pool, and lots of lounging space. Dine alfresco on the expansive roof terrace; the friendly chefs will let you watch them prepare dishes in the large kitchen, and you can even accompany them to the market. There's a wonderfully authentic hammam on-site, too.

Set in expansive grounds in the Ville Nouvelle, the hotel caters to both leisure and business travelers with ultramodern, air-conditioned rooms that channel Moroccan decorative motifs and have marble bathrooms and terraces overlooking the gardens or the city. The ample dining options include Moroccan cuisine at Jnan L'Fassi, French at Bouquet Garni, and international fare at Eat Neocantine, plus there's a pool bar and a whisky-and-cigar bar. Postsightseeing, lounge around the large pool or be pampered at the spa. If you're feeling energetic, there's a state-of-the-art fitness center and a shuttle service to the Royal Golf de Fes.

Perched on a hill looking down on the medina, this boldly designed and ultrastylish boutique hotel has brought a new level of contemporary luxury to Fez. Using Taza limestone, marble, wood, metal, and glass, French design guru Christophe Pillet has imitated the layout of the old city. Rooms and suites are all clean lines, space, and light; there’s a Givenchy spa (one of a handful in the world) with a hammam, as well as an infinity pool that overlooks the medina. Choose gourmet Moroccan at Amaraz, French brasserie fare at Relais de Paris, or tapas at the rooftop Jungle bar, where you can drink in the views. The hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Originally the private residence of Moulay Bel Arbi El Alaoui, a famous 20th-century judge and theologian, this property has been renovated and expanded several times over the years, and high ceilings and intricately carved stucco and cedar walls surround central patios and fountains. Breakfast is served on an open terrace; work off the gastronomic offerings in the well-equipped gym. 

In a lavish 19th-century former palace just outside the medina walls, the 31 suites blend contemporary furnishings with acres of marble, intricately carved cedarwood, ornate zellij tiling, and sparkling chandeliers—the work of a four-year renovation led by experts in Moorish architecture. Some suites come with their own Moroccan-inspired living space and balcony; splurge on one with a private terrace. You’ll find it hard to tear yourself away from the panoramic views over the medina from the Roof Top Garden restaurant. There are stunning views too for sundowners at Le Golden Bar and at L'Amandier, the gourmet Moroccan restaurant. After a hard day’s sightseeing, head to the luxurious Le Spa for a hammam or relaxing massage.

Soaring ceilings, carved cedarwood, ornate stucco, and intricate zellij tiling reflect the sensitive restoration of this 17th-century mansion. The furnishings, almost minimalist by Moroccan standards, allow the stunning architecture to shine. Spacious rooms are spread across three courtyards, and the suites come with fireplaces and large tubs. There’s plenty of lounging space on the sun-filled roof terrace, as well as a patio pool and a cozy lounge complete with a log fire for cooler days. Don't miss a scrub and massage at the spa.

For an architecturally refined interpretation of riad living, head to this luxurious hotel: it's a perfect blend of character, modern convenience, creature comforts, and outstanding service. The place is magical in the evening, when weary guests are welcomed back into the glow of candlelight to the mesmerizing rhythms of oud music. The Andalusian pavilion with a decorative pool and intricately carved stone archways houses a sleek bar and lounge on one side and a plush, crimson-hued smoking room on the other. The upscale restaurant offering sophisticated preparations of Fassi cuisine means you may not want to muster up the energy to leave the pleasurable confines of this memorable, full-service hotel.