Fez Café at Le Jardin des Biehn

Fez Café at Le Jardin des Biehn is a garden restaurant at 13 Rue Akbat Sbaa in Fès el-Bali, the medina of Fez in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region. It is attached to the Jardin des Biehn hotel, which occupies the former palace of a pasha, and the restaurant takes advantage of the formal garden that surrounds the building. The cuisine combines Mediterranean and Moroccan cooking, with a seasonal menu that changes through the year, and a meal usually costs MAD 200-400 per person (about $22-$43). Dishes associated with the restaurant include gazpacho, swordfish and beef fillet with mushroom sauce, which lean toward European technique rather than a purely traditional tagine list. The garden is the main attraction: shaded, planted and quiet compared with the surrounding lanes, it offers a calm break from the density of the medina and suits a long lunch. The dining atmosphere is relaxed but polished, closer to a boutique hotel restaurant than a casual cafe. Wine is served at lunch, which is rare among medina restaurants where alcohol is often reserved for evening service or not offered at all, and this makes the venue useful for visitors who want a glass of wine with a midday meal. Reservations are recommended, especially at lunch in the high seasons of spring and autumn and for groups; the restaurant can be contacted on +212 535 635 031 or through jardindesbiehn.com. Booking a day ahead is a reasonable window, and the staff can advise on the current seasonal menu and any dietary requirements. The Akbat Sbaa location lies on the slope on the southern side of the medina, and visitors arrive on foot, with the hotel staff able to give directions from the nearest gate. The combination of garden setting, Mediterranean menu and midday wine makes the restaurant a distinctive choice among Fez dining options.