Riad Mazar Fes 

Myself and a friend stayed 3 nights in mid-February (Winter). Our rate included breakfast. Pros: -Helpful staff. We also spoke to the owner several times during our stay, he was always very welcoming. -Clean premises. -Beautiful internal architecture with stone and wood carvings & paintings and furnishings in covered courtyard and adjacent decorated ground floor rooms. -Check-in: cup of refreshing mint tea on arrival. The courtyard is quiet compared with the hustle & bustle of the medina. -Free WiFi throughout hotel. Log on details provided on check-in. -One small lift to all floors. We tended to use the stairs. Our cases were delivered to the room. -Room Jawhara (Suite, Floor 2) - key entry. Hanging space and shelves. Duvets. Free safe (ask Reception desk for key). Suitcase stand. Small wall-mounted Goldvision TV (HDMI port accessible). 2 small wooden chairs & small wooden table. 1 wooden upright chair. Wooden dresser with mirror. Fridge. Wall-integrated cooler/heater. Two single beds (firm mattresses) with bedside tables & lamps. 2 small rugs. Window with twin wooden shutters - views of a street below. Opposite side of room has 3 windows (each with twin wooden shutters) with view of riad’s internal courtyard. En-suite bathroom with walk-in shower & washbasin (water can run very hot), toilet, hairdryer. Tiled floor. -Room - no kettle or tea/coffee making facilities, but hot water and tea/coffee & cups available on request. -Breakfast, 8-11am. Moroccan food served at table: pancakes, brioche buns, eggs, cakes, olives, bread, butter, cheese, honey. We ate in the courtyard under the covered roof. Cons: -Room - occasional noise in evening from local children playing on street. Double-glazing would be useful. However, it’s nice to have a window with natural light into the room and hear the birds chirping. -Room - some light leaks in from internal courtyard into room through the coloured glass panes, as no curtains, but it didn’t affect our sleep. -Room - no kettle (see above). Notes: -We arrived by ONCF train from Rabat - it was an 8 minute (MAD 100) private taxi ride to the riad. The return - in a local red ‘Petit Taxi’ - was MAD 20 as we walked with our suitcases to the nearby Fontaine Batha fountain-roundabout (opposite Fez Heritage Boutique Hotel). -Cash is king in Morocco so find a Money Exchange or ATM soon after arrival. We used a Money Exchange at Rabat-Sale airport and an ATM by the Blue Gate in Fez. -There is a small pharmacy and several family-run convenience shops (drinks & snacks) close to the Riad. Turn right out of Riad then right at junction. -During our stay in Fez on foot we visited Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate) old medina with its souks, cafes & restaurants, Place Boujloud square, Jnan Sbil gardens. We also did a Freetour walking tour (3.5 hours) through the medina - highly recommended. -In Fez we ate at Medina (by the Blue Gate), Encanto, and The Seventh Art (twice). -From Fez we also did a day trip to Volubilis (Roman ruins) and Meknes.