Riad Laaroussa Hotel & Spa

Riad Laaroussa Hotel & Spa is an eight-room heritage riad at 3 Derb Labchara in the Sidi Ahmed Chaoui quarter of Fes el-Bali, in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region. The restored 19th-century house sits in the heart of the old medina, within walking distance of the Qarawiyyin Mosque and university, the Bou Inania Madrasa and the Seffarine copper square. Bab Boujloud, the main western entrance, is the usual drop-off point for taxis, and porters can carry luggage through the lanes because vehicles cannot enter. The house follows a traditional layout, with rooms opening onto a central courtyard decorated in zellige, carved plaster and painted woodwork, giving the intimate, antique atmosphere typical of Fassi town houses. Room types include Double Rooms, Junior Suites and Suites, and published rates are around MAD 1,400 to 3,200 per night. Listed amenities are a spa and hammam, a rooftop bistro, a courtyard and Wi-Fi. The rooftop bistro serves Moroccan and light international dishes with views over the medina rooftops and minarets, and breakfast is typically served in the courtyard or on the terrace. The spa and hammam offer traditional steam, scrub and massage treatments, and are a main attraction of the stay, giving the small house more facilities than many riads of its size. With only eight rooms, service is personal and unhurried, with staff arranging guides, dinners and transfers, and the property suits couples and travellers who prefer a house atmosphere to a large hotel. The small scale also means availability can be limited in the spring and autumn peaks, so advance booking is wise. Visitors should expect narrow stairs, a quiet courtyard and the sounds of the surrounding neighbourhood, including the call to prayer, which is part of staying inside the living medina.