Salon Lyautey Rooftop at Hotel Sahrai

Salon Lyautey is the rooftop lounge bar of Hotel Sahrai, and it is one of the most relaxed places in Fes for a drink with a view. The hotel describes it as an exclusive rooftop lounge where you can read or unwind with a glass of Moroccan wine beside the fireplace, and that sums up its appeal: it is a place for conversation and a slow evening rather than a party.

The setting is the main draw. Sahrai stands on the hill at Dhar El Mehraz above the city, and from the rooftop the view stretches across Fes, which makes it a natural place to watch the sun go down. Travel writers have described the hotel's rooftop as a place for cocktails and champagne, with DJs or live music at weekends, so the mood can be livelier on Friday and Saturday evenings than midweek. The fireplace comes into its own in winter, when Fes evenings can be surprisingly cold.

Moroccan wine is the house speciality, and the list is a good opportunity to try the country's own wines. Cocktails and other drinks are also served. The hotel's design, by Christophe Pillet, gives the space a contemporary, polished look that contrasts with the traditional riads of the medina.

The lounge suits couples, friends and travellers looking for a calm drink before dinner at one of the hotel's restaurants, Amaraz for Moroccan food, Medusa for Italian or Jungle for Lebanese. Arrive before sunset for the best of the view, and dress smartly. If you are not staying at the hotel, call ahead to check that the rooftop is open to outside guests that evening, as private events are sometimes held.

You will need a taxi to reach the hotel from the medina or the Ville Nouvelle, as it sits on the hillside outside the walls, and the staff can call one for your return. Combining a sunset drink at Salon Lyautey with dinner at Jungle, which stays open until 2am, makes for a full evening without changing venue. For non-drinkers, soft drinks are available, and the view alone justifies the trip. Bring a light layer, as the rooftop is exposed once the sun has set.