Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï

Sofitel Fès Palais Jamaï occupies a former nineteenth-century palace on the slope above Bab Guissa, on the northern edge of Fès el-Bali in Morocco's Fès-Meknès region. The terraces and gardens look down over the rooftops of the medina, and the setting makes the property one of the most photographed vantage points in the old city. Bab Guissa and the Merenid Tombs viewpoint are a short walk away, while the lanes leading down to Bou Inania Madrasa and the Qarawiyyin quarter begin at the hotel's doorstep. Petits taxis can reach the hotel from Fès-Saïss Airport in roughly twenty minutes, and the Fès train station is about fifteen minutes away by car. The building follows a Moorish-Andalusian style, with carved cedar, zellige tilework, plasterwork and arched galleries arranged around planted gardens, while newer wings add contemporary comfort. Accommodation ranges from Superior and Deluxe Rooms to Junior Suites and larger Suites, many with medina or garden views, and all rooms have air conditioning and WiFi. Prices run from about 3000 MAD per night in low season to around 5200 MAD in high season. Dining centres on several restaurants and a bar, with Moroccan and international menus and a terrace setting that suits sunset drinks above the medina. Breakfast is served as a buffet with Moroccan pastries, breads and fresh fruit. The outdoor pool sits in the gardens, and a spa and hammam offer massages, scrubs and traditional treatments, which suit a day of walking through the souks. Service is formal and concierge-led, with the desk arranging guided medina walks, tannery visits, cooking classes and day trips to Volubilis and Meknès. The property attracts leisure couples, small groups and business guests who want a classic five-star base with a separate entrance from the medina crowds, although walking back uphill in the heat can be tiring.