La Maison Bleue

La Maison Bleue is a palace dining venue at 2 Place de Batha, also called Place Ahmed Mekouar, in Fès el-Bali, the medina of Fez in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region. It sits beside the Batha Square area near the Batha Museum and Bab Boujloud, which makes it one of the more accessible fine-dining addresses for visitors entering the medina from the west. The cuisine is traditional Moroccan, served in a candlelit courtyard, and the pricing is in the top band at MAD 400+ per person (about $43+). The two dishes most associated with the restaurant are the lamb tagine and the pigeon pastilla, the latter a classic Fassi celebration dish in which spiced pigeon is layered in thin pastry and finished with sugar and cinnamon. The kitchen follows a formal tradition rather than a modern reinterpretation, and the menu suits visitors who want a classic Fassi dinner in a historic setting. The dining atmosphere is the main draw: candlelight, a courtyard and live oud music in the evenings create a romantic, slower-paced mood that suits couples and special occasions, though the music can make conversation slightly more difficult at some tables. Alcohol is served, so the beverage programme includes wine and other drinks alongside mint tea. Reservations are recommended, particularly for evenings and weekends and during spring and autumn, and the restaurant can be reached on +212 535 741 843. Booking a day or two ahead is a sensible window, and guests can request a courtyard table when making the reservation. Smart-casual clothing is the usual choice in a venue of this type. The location on Place de Batha is easy to find compared with the deeper medina lanes, and taxis can reach the nearby square, which reduces the walk and makes the venue practical for an evening meal.