Palais Amani

Palais Amani is a restored 19th-century palace-riad in Derb Ejjare, in the Fes el-Bali medina of Fes, Morocco. Its position near the Chouara Tannery puts it on the eastern, Andalusian-quarter side of the old city, a short walk from the tannery viewpoints, the Qarawiyyin quarter and the Bou Inania Madrasa. As with every property in the medina, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site closed to motor traffic, guests arrive on foot or by handcart from the nearest gate, and the hotel can arrange porters. The building is organised around garden courtyards with fountains, a layout typical of grand Fassi houses, and its interiors combine carved plaster, painted cedar ceilings and zellige tile. Rooms are grouped into Standard Rooms, Deluxe Rooms and Suites, and published rates run from about MAD 1,500 to 3,800 per night. Amenities listed include garden courtyards, a hammam, cooking classes, a restaurant, a rooftop terrace and Wi-Fi. The cooking classes are a distinguishing feature, introducing guests to Moroccan dishes such as tagines and pastilla, and the restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine with breakfast generally taken in the courtyard or on the rooftop. The hammam offers a traditional steam and scrub treatment that suits visitors after a day on the cobbled lanes. The rooftop terrace gives views across the medina and is a quiet place at sunset when the call to prayer rolls across the city. Service is personal and house-like, aimed at couples, culture-minded travellers and small groups rather than business guests, and staff can help arrange licensed guides, craft visits and transfers from Fes-Saïss airport, roughly 15 km from the centre. Because the palace is built around gardens, it has a calmer atmosphere than many riads in the dense lanes, which makes it a popular base for several nights of slow exploration of the medina.