Hotel Sahrai

Hotel Sahrai sits on a hillside in Dhar El Mehraz, above Bab Lghissa on the northern edge of Fez el-Bali, giving it a position overlooking the entire medina from outside its walls, a short shuttle ride from the old city's gates. The architecture is deliberately contemporary, a minimalist white structure with clean lines and large glass windows that contrasts with the dense, ancient medina spread out below it, designed by Christophe Pillet to read as a modern counterpoint to traditional Fez riads. Rooms and suites are similarly modern in style, several with private terraces or plunge pools facing the medina view, finished with select Moroccan touches like zellige accents rather than full traditional decor. The rooftop restaurant and bar serve Mediterranean and Moroccan dishes against the panoramic backdrop and are a draw for sunset drinks even among non-guests staying elsewhere in Fez. The infinity pool, set at the edge of the hillside, appears to merge with the medina view below, and the spa offers hammam treatments, massage rooms, and a fitness center. The hotel runs a regular shuttle into the medina, since it is not walkable from the gates, and the service style is polished and international rather than the family intimacy of a small riad, making it a good fit for travelers who want modern comfort and views over an immersive medina-based stay.