5 Hidden Gems in Fez You Need to See (Beyond the Obvious)

Most visitors to Fez come with the same short list: the tanneries, Bab Boujloud, the Kairaouine Mosque. And yes — they're worth every step.

But Fez has a quieter, more surprising side. The kind of places you only find when you slow down, turn the wrong corner, and let the city show you what it's actually made of.

We've been walking these streets for years. Here are five spots we send our guests to that almost never make the tourist maps.

Dar Batha Museum — Where Fez's Soul Is on Display

Most people walk past Dar Batha without knowing what's inside. That's a mistake.

Built as a summer palace in the late 19th century under Sultan Moulay Hassan I, this Hispano-Moorish gem was converted into a museum in 1915 and it houses one of the finest collections of traditional Moroccan arts and crafts you'll find anywhere in the country. The ceramics alone are worth the trip: the famous Fes blue, developed by local craftsmen over a thousand years ago, glows from room to room. Zellige tilework, ancient Qurans, astrolabes, carved wood, Amazigh carpets beautifully presented with notes in Arabic, French, and English.

Don't rush through the garden. The courtyard, with its Andalusian design and shaded pathways, is one of the calmest places in the entire medina.

Practical info: Open daily from 10am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays. Entrance: 60 DH. Cash only — keep small bills handy.

From Riad Joy Fes: About a 10-minute walk through the medina, near Place Batha and Bab Boujloud. Ask us at the riad and we'll point you there directly.

Squalli Coffee — The Best Cup You Didn't Know You Needed

Nobody expects to find a world-class specialty coffee bar in the middle of a 1,000-year-old medina. That's exactly what makes Sqalli so good.

This is third-wave coffee done right — single origin beans, proper espresso technique, the kind of precision you'd expect in Milan or Copenhagen but almost never find in a Moroccan souk. The space is clean, minimal, and deliberately calm: no clutter, no tourist kitsch, just beautiful coffee and a brief, welcome pause from the intensity of the streets outside.

It's strictly drinks — no food, no pastries. Which is almost the point. Sqalli is focused, intentional, and refreshingly uncompromising. Walk in, order well, take a moment. You'll leave ready to face the medina again.

Good to know: It's a new address, still flying under the radar — which is part of its charm. Follow them on Instagram at @sqalli.coffee for current hours and location details.

Médin'Art — Moroccan Design, Completely Reimagined

If you've spent any time in the souks, you've seen the same ceramics, the same leather bags, the same everything. Médin'Art is the antidote.

Founded by French designer Laurence Alberro, this is Fez's original concept store — and it still feels unlike anything else in the medina. Every piece inside is made by Moroccan designers and artisans, but reinterpreted with a contemporary eye: babouches in bold geometric patterns, silk scarves with unexpected colors, handmade leather notebooks, jewellery in hammered copper, cushion covers you'd happily pay three times more for in Paris.

The staff genuinely know the designers behind each piece. It's the kind of shop where you come in for a quick look and leave forty minutes later with half your souvenir shopping done.

Find it at: 19 bis Zkak Lhjar, Talaa Sghira, Médina not far from Bab Boujloud. Hours: Daily from 10am to 7pm. 

Jnan Sbil Garden — Fez's Secret Green Lung

After a few hours in the medina, the city can feel relentless. Narrow streets, sensory overload, no horizon in sight. That's your cue to head to Jnan Sbil.

Commissioned in the 18th century by Sultan Moulay Abdallah and opened to the public under Moulay Hassan I, this 7.5-hectare garden is one of the few breathing spaces in the old city. It's a real botanical garden: over 3,000 plant species, bamboo groves, a Mexican cactus section, orange trees, geometric fountains, and historic water channels that once fed the entire medina.

On any given afternoon, you'll find local families on benches, students reading under palm trees, and the occasional peacock strutting past with complete indifference. It's deeply, quietly beautiful and almost always overlooked by visitors.

Practical info: Entry is free. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 6pm (closed Mondays, and briefly on Friday midday for prayers). Late afternoon, around 4–5pm, is the golden hour — cooler, calmer, and the light through the bamboo is extraordinary.

From Riad Joy Fes: Located near Bab Boujloud and the mellah, Jnan Sbil is about a 15–20 minute walk from the riad, easy to combine with a visit to Dar Batha.

Borj Sud — The View That Puts All of Fez in Perspective

There's one image of Fez that stays with everyone: the whole medina laid out below you, ten centuries of architecture stretching across the valley, minarets rising in every direction. You get that image from Borj Sud.

Built in 1582 by the Saadian Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur, this fortified tower sits on the hill to the south of the old city. From its terrace, you see everything : the sprawling medina of Fes el-Bali, the King's Palace, the distant Marinid tombs, the Zerhoun mountains on the horizon. It's free, it's almost always quiet, and it completely reframes the city you've been navigating at ground level.

The walk up is uphill (wear comfortable shoes) but absolutely worth it. Most taxi drivers know the spot — just say "Borj Sud" and they'll take you close.

Best time to visit: Early morning for sunrise, or late afternoon when the light comes from behind you and the medina glows. The fortress interior is often closed, but the terrace and surrounding viewpoint are fully accessible. Free entry.

Stay in the Heart of It All

All five of these spots are within reach of Riad Joy Fes Suites & Spa — some on foot, some by a short taxi ride. We know this city, and we're always happy to give you the exact walking route, the best time to go, or the name of a local guide for the harder-to-find places.

When you stay with us, the medina becomes easier to navigate — not because Fez gets simpler, but because you have somewhere calm and familiar to come back to.

Reserve your suite at Riad Joy Fes through our website and you'll always get our best available rate.

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