Café La Noria

Café La Noria, also called Café de la Noria, is a garden café beside the Jnan Sbil gardens, the green space that lies between Fes el-Bali and Fes el-Jdid. Its name comes from the noria, the historic water wheel, and the café is a place to sit among trees and parasols rather than in a narrow medina lane. The French travel site Vanupied describes it as kitsch and colourful, which is part of its charm.

The menu is simple: this is somewhere for a fresh juice, a mint tea or a coffee rather than a full meal. Freshly squeezed juice is the classic order, especially in spring, and April is a lovely time to visit, when the orange trees in the area are in blossom and the air smells of orange flowers. On hot days the shade of the trees makes it noticeably cooler than the streets around Bab Bou Jeloud.

The café is best combined with a walk in Jnan Sbil itself. The gardens were created in the 19th century by Sultan Moulay Hassan I, opened fully to the public in 1917 and renovated between 2006 and 2010. They cover around 7.5 hectares and include an Andalusian garden, a bamboo garden, a large pool and historic water wheels along the river. The gardens are normally closed on Mondays and open during daylight hours, and they are especially popular at dusk with local families, which gives the area a relaxed, everyday atmosphere.

La Noria suits families with children, couples and anyone who needs a break from the intensity of the medina. It is also a good meeting point between the two old cities: from here you can walk to Bab Bou Jeloud and the Al Batha Museum in one direction or towards Fes el-Jdid, the Mellah and the Royal Palace in the other.

There is no website or booking. Opening hours are not published, so check on arrival; as an outdoor café it is most reliable in daylight and in good weather. Bring cash. In summer, come in the morning or late afternoon, and in winter choose a sunny spot. If the café is busy, there are benches in the gardens and other cafés with shaded terraces in front of Bab Bou Jeloud a short walk away.