Croon Lounge

Croon Lounge is a cocktail and tapas bar inside the Fes Marriott Hotel Jnan Palace in the Ville Nouvelle, and it is one of the more reliable places in Fes for a late drink. The hotel describes it as a lively, chic setting for cocktails and tapas, and it is open every night from 7pm until 2am, considerably later than most bars in the city.

The draw is simple: well-made cocktails and small plates in a setting where alcohol is served without fuss. The tapas menu means you can turn drinks into a light dinner, or graze after a meal elsewhere. For travellers staying in the medina, where most riads and restaurants do not serve alcohol, an evening here is a change of scene and a glimpse of the more modern side of Fes.

The hotel has several other venues if you want to vary the evening. EME Lounge, also in the hotel, specialises in whiskies and premium cigars and opens from mid-afternoon. Pachamama serves Spanish dishes with Mediterranean flavours and live entertainment until midnight, Bouquet Garni offers French cooking until 1am, and Jnan L'Fassi serves Moroccan cuisine with live music from Monday to Saturday. With so many options under one roof, it is easy to plan a whole night without leaving the hotel.

Croon Lounge suits couples and groups of friends, business travellers staying in the Ville Nouvelle and anyone who wants a relaxed but lively bar rather than a nightclub. Dress smartly, as this is a hotel bar, and expect international hotel prices for drinks. Note that the hotel's Pitch Lounge has been closed for renovation, so do not be surprised if parts of the building are being refurbished.

The hotel is on Avenue Ahmed Chaouki, a short taxi ride from the medina gates and close to the train station. Petits taxis are easy to find in the Ville Nouvelle, and hotel staff can call one for you late at night. If you are driving, the hotel offers complimentary parking. For a quieter end to the night, move on to EME Lounge, which also stays open until 2am.