Fes travel guide: where to stay, what to do and where to eat in Fes, Fès-Meknès, Morocco.
Fassi cuisine is regarded as the most refined in Morocco, rooted in the court kitchens of the old capital. Its signatures are pigeon or chicken pastilla with sugar and cinnamon, mechoui, tagines of lamb with prunes and almonds, seffa and rfissa, and a long tradition of salads and pastries. Dining in Fès el-Bali is concentrated in restored riads and palaces along Talaa Kebira, around Batha and in the Siaj quarter; alcohol is restricted to a handful of hotels and licensed restaurants, while the Ville Nouvelle offers French and Italian menus.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Moroccan
Food tours & tastings in Fes
Eat your way through Fes with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
R'cif Market
Lower-medina market for fruit and vegetables from Middle Atlas farms, with a camel butcher and stalls selling trid and meloui snacks; packed by late morning.
Hours: Daily, mornings are busiest; arrive before 10am
Achabine street-food area
A cluster of stalls deep in the souks selling bissara, harira, fried sardines and cumin-dusted eggs.
Hours: Lunchtime for soups and fried fish; brochette vendors in the evening
Rue el-Attarine produce and spice stalls
Fruit, vegetables, spices and herbs sold along the Attarine lane next to the Attarine Madrasa.
Hours: Daily, roughly 9am-6pm; many stalls close Friday morning
Fondouk Kaat Smen honey souk
A honey and butter market selling up to 17 wild honeys, including orange blossom, lavender, caper, carob and jujube.
Hours: Daily, roughly 9am-6pm
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is usually served 12:30pm-3pm and dinner from 7:30pm; riad and palace restaurants generally need a reservation, and Nur requires one
Alcohol is served only at a few hotels and licensed restaurants (Ruined Garden, Fez Cafe, La Maison Bleue, Nur, Ville Nouvelle restaurants); Cafe Clock and Medina Cafe do not serve it
Mechoui at the Ruined Garden has to be ordered a day ahead
Many medina restaurants are hard to find on foot after dark; arrive by taxi to the nearest gate (Bab Boujloud or Batha) and arrange an escort in advance
Tipping 10% is customary at sit-down restaurants; rounding up is enough at cafes and stalls
Fixed-price set menus at family restaurants such as Dar Hatim are usually better value than ordering individual dishes
Ramadan changes restaurant hours significantly; many close by day and open after sunset for iftar
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |