Fez Café

Fez Café is the restaurant of Le Jardin des Biehn, a riad built in the former summer palace of Pacha El Mokri in the Douh area of the medina, and it is one of the most pleasant places to eat in Fes. Its main asset is the setting: tables sit indoors or on a terrace surrounded by the greenery of an Andalusian-style garden, a rare luxury in the dense lanes of Fes el-Bali. The restaurant is open to outside guests as well as residents of the riad.

The kitchen is led by chef Hicham Moufid, who blends Mediterranean flavours with Moroccan traditions. The menu changes every day according to what is available in the market, so it is less about signature dishes than about seasonal cooking, and the atmosphere is relaxed, described by the riad as Moroccan pop. The mix of Mediterranean and Moroccan ideas makes it a welcome change after several days of tagines and couscous. The restaurant also serves alcohol, a useful point in a medina where many places do not.

On Saturday evenings the restaurant holds a dinner with Arabo-Andalusian music, which is a good way to hear the classical music tradition associated with Fes in an intimate setting. If you plan to come on a Saturday, book ahead.

Fez Café works well for a long lunch in the middle of a day of sightseeing, when the shade of the garden is most appreciated, and for a calm dinner. It suits couples, families with children, who have more space than in most medina restaurants, and vegetarians, as the market-based menu usually includes good vegetable options. Prices are higher than in the simple cafés of the medina but reasonable for the quality and setting.

The riad stands on Akbat Sbaa in the Douh area of Fes el-Bali. The lanes can be confusing, so check the access page on the riad's website, use a map on your phone, or ask a staff member to meet you. The restaurant has its own phone line, separate from the riad reception, for reservations. After eating, you can ask to see the garden, or book a session in the hammam, which occupies the Pacha's former bathhouse.