Mezzanine

Mezzanine is a lounge bar and restaurant between Fes el-Bali and Fes el-Jdid, a short walk from Bab Bou Jeloud, and it is one of the few places close to the medina where you can have a cocktail on a terrace. Its rooftop looks out over the Jnan Sbil gardens, the large green space created by Sultan Moulay Hassan I in the 19th century, which gives it a softer, greener outlook than most rooftops in the city.

During the day Mezzanine serves food, mainly tapas with Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes, and in the evening it becomes more of a lounge, with electro music, tapas and cocktails. The interior is dimly lit, with seating spread across several levels, low chairs, glass tables and walls hung with African masks, which gives it a different character from the traditional décor of the riads. French travel writers have recommended it as one of the places to go out in Fes in the evening.

The terrace is the best place to be, especially at sunset, when the light fades over the gardens and the walls of the old city. It is a good choice for a drink after a day of sightseeing in the upper medina, before dinner in the Batha area or at one of the restaurants near the gate. Groups of friends and couples are its main crowd, and the atmosphere becomes livelier later in the evening.

Mezzanine does not have an official website; it is active on Instagram, where you can check the latest opening times and any events. Listings suggest it opens from late morning until late at night, but hours can change, so confirm before you go. Payment by card may not always be possible, so bring cash.

The bar is easy to reach on foot from Bab Bou Jeloud, which makes the journey home at night simpler than from deep inside the medina. Combine a visit with a late-afternoon walk in Jnan Sbil itself, which is normally closed on Mondays, and finish with a drink on the terrace as the gardens empty. Dress is casual, but respectful clothing is sensible in the streets around it.