Boutique Riad in Fes: Why a Small, Intimate Riad Is Worth It

In the Fes medina, accommodation ranges from very simple guest rooms to restored palaces with a spa and a pool. In between lies the category that gives the city much of its charm: the small boutique riad, a house of a few rooms run by its hosts. That is what we chose to do with La Petite Maison, and here is why we think it is often the best way to experience Fes. To place this choice among all the options, see our guide on where to stay in Fes.

What a boutique riad actually is

A boutique riad is a carefully restored medina house, usually with between three and eight rooms, each decorated differently. The décor celebrates local craftsmanship, zellige, tadelakt and carved cedar, and the hosts are there every day. You do not go there for the facilities of a large hotel, but for an atmosphere, a calm and a level of attention only a small house can offer. If the riad concept is new to you, read what is a riad first.

Why small makes all the difference in Fes

The Fes medina is intense: narrow lanes, laden donkeys, traders calling out, crowds at peak hours. That is what makes it fascinating, but after a day of sightseeing you need silence. A house of only a few rooms guarantees it: no group coming home late, no comings and goings in the courtyard, no queue at breakfast. You fall asleep to the sound of the fountain and wake to a distant call to prayer.

Small size also means flexibility. Breakfast can be served earlier before a day trip, early check-in is easier to arrange, and your luggage is kept without fuss on departure day.

Character over facilities

A boutique riad will not offer you a gym or an Olympic pool. What it will offer is rooms that are all different: a stained-glass window here, a painted cedar ceiling there, a balcony over the lane somewhere else. The materials are those of Fes, worked by the city’s craftsmen. It is a place you live in, not just a room you occupy.

Because every room is different, it is worth reading the room descriptions before booking rather than just picking a category. Some rooms open onto the lane through a small balcony, others look only onto the courtyard and are quieter; some have a high cedar ceiling, others a stained-glass window that colours the morning light. A good host will tell you honestly which one suits you best.

That does not mean giving up comfort: private bathrooms, air conditioning, heating, good bedding and Wi-Fi are now standard in a well-run riad. Our checklist on how to choose a riad in Fes will help you make sure.

Your hosts make the stay

In a large hotel you are handed a key and a map. In a small riad, your hosts take the time to explain the medina, sketch you an itinerary, tell you what time the tanneries look their best and which restaurant will suit your tastes. They will book a licensed guide if you want one and warn you about fake guides. This relationship is often what travellers remember longest.

Two rituals: breakfast and the terrace

In the morning, a homemade Moroccan breakfast is a moment of its own: warm msemen and baghrir, bread, olive oil and amlou, jams, seasonal fruit and mint tea. In the evening, the rooftop terrace offers one of the finest sights in Fes, as golden light slides across the medina and the calls to prayer answer each other from minaret to minaret. We have gathered our favourite viewpoints in the best views in Fes.

Boutique riad or luxury palace riad?

Fes also has large palace riads, some with more than twenty rooms, a spa, a hammam and a pool. They are superb, more expensive and offer full hotel service. The small boutique riad aims for something else: intimacy, contact, more personal décor and usually a gentler price. For a broader comparison with conventional hotels, see riad vs hotel in Fes.

Who a small riad suits

It suits couples, solo travellers, friends and families who like quiet places and contact with their hosts. For couples, we have gathered our ideas for a romantic getaway in Fes. It suits large groups wanting to take over party spaces less well, as it does travellers who prefer the anonymity of a big hotel.

La Petite Maison, our take on the boutique riad

Our house lives up to its name. Around a courtyard with a fountain, a five-minute walk from Rcif square, we kept only a few rooms so that every stay stays personal. The Tangier Room with its cedar ceiling, the Fès Room with its fan-shaped stained glass, the Agadir Room with its balcony over the lane, the Marrakech Room with its carved door onto the courtyard, the Essaouira Suite in Atlantic blues for families: each has its own personality. Browse all our rooms, read our story or write to us to plan your stay.