Discover North Africa’s most impressive medina in the city of Fez, Morocco
Nestled within the labyrinthine alleys of the Fez medina; a UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors will discover Palais Amani, the city’s leading hotel. This family-run 21 bedroom and suite property is like nowhere else. This traditional palace has been lovingly restored and offers a tranquil haven. Parts of the palace date back to the 17th century and developments over time also included art deco touches, still visible today.
Guests enter Palais Amani via two huge wooden doors into a peaceful garden and courtyard with birdsong as a soundtrack. Palais Amani is home to Eden restaurant with alfresco dining, a rooftop bar, a library bar with fireplace and an underground hammam. A large garden of 600m2 is at the centre of the palace filled with citrus trees. The traditional Moroccan afternoon tea ceremony is performed here daily in this tranquil haven. On the hotel’s roof terrace is a unique addition: The Fez Cooking School.
2026 is the time to explore the city of Fez which remains relatively undiscovered compared to other Moroccan cities. Here are eight moments in Fez for 2026:
1. Learn to cook at the Fez Cooking School
2. Get lost in the Fez medina, Africa’s largest car free medina
3. Find tranquility in the Jnan Sbil Gardens in the heart of Fez
4. Unwind with a traditional hammam ritual
5. Take a hike to the Fez mountains
6. Learn about ancient Arabic and the art of calligraphy
7. Sip mint tea and experience the traditional Moroccan tea ceremony
8. Head to cultural hub Cafe Clock inside the Medina
Morocco is by far North Africa’s gastronomic star and the city of Fez combines flavours from across Morocco and the best place to discover these are at the Fez Cooking School. The culinary school offers visitors to Fez a unique insight into this magical city combining a guided foodie tour of the medina followed by a cookery class, all in a purpose-built cookery school on Palais Amani’s roof terrace. Private and group workshops are available. The four hour experience includes a tour of the souks tasting food along a two-hour tour, a two hour cooking class with the newly gathered ingredients and then lunch. Priced €176 per person.
Fez reached its height in the 13th century when it replaced Marrakech as the capital of Morocco. The principal monuments in the medina including palaces, riads, mosques, libraries and fountains date from this period. Today whilst Fez is no longer the capital it has retained its status as the country’s cultural, spiritual and now foodie centre recognised by UNESCO. In Morocco, a “souk” refers to a market where daily life and tradition intertwine. Beyond mere shopping venues, souks serve as communal hubs where locals gather to purchase goods, socialise, and exchange news. Each souk in Fez possesses a distinct character, often named after the specific goods sold there, ranging from fresh produce and spices to handcrafted copper ware and leather items.
Whilst in Fez, guests can learn about ancient Arabic and about the origins of writing and the evolution of the Arabic alphabet, the birth of calligraphy, the development of calligraphy through the materials that were used and its techniques.
Cafe Clock mixes traditional Moroccan architecture (courtyard layout, carved cedar wood, and terraces) with eclectic, contemporary touches: local art, a brass-horn ‘nefar’ chandelier, fez hat displays, and a stunning rooftop terrace with panoramic medina views across to Mount Zalagh. The multi-level space includes a cinema room, art shows, and cozy nooks across three floors.
Within the peaceful 600m2 garden at the centre of Palais Amani guests are invited to experience the quintessential essence of Moroccan culture – traditional Moroccan tea making. Palais Amani’s tea master Ba Mohammed will show guests the method and talk through the history behind tea making in this country. From boiling the water to selecting the freshest mint and sugarloafs. Guests will also learn about the tea sets used to serve the tea and enjoy some special baked goods too. The ceremony lasts 30 minutes, is available daily and priced €10 per person.
To truly immerse in the spirit of Morocco a stay in a riad/palace is key and Palais Amani has been at the heart of all things Fez for many years and offers the finest Moroccan hospitality. Palais Amani offers 21 individually designed bedrooms and suites and is home to Eden restaurant with alfresco dining, a rooftop bar, library and underground hammam. A large garden of 600m2 is at the centre of the palace filled with citrus trees.
Palais Amani is a hotel built with passion and local knowledge. In 2006 Jemima Mann-Baha and husband Abdelali Mann-Baha bought the former home of one of Fez’s most prominent families (now Palais Amani), which had laid abandoned and deteriorating in the heart of the medina for over a quarter of a century. Four years of extensive renovation restored the property to its old splendour and revealed many stories about family, heritage and legacy. The renovation included the maintenance of art déco features dating back to the 1930s.
Fez is like nowhere else in Morocco and Palais Amani is helping to preserve the city’s heritage while also shaping its future. Discover this city in 2026.
www.palaisamani.com 12 Derb el Miter, Oued Zhoune, Fes Medina, 30000, Morocco
B&B is priced from £180.00 per room per night
