exploring the rooms, traditional Moroccan design, food and everything that makes Palais Houyam such a memorable riad in Fes.

Words & photography by Pete Rudd

Reading time 7-8 minutes

Palais Houyam Fes review — arriving in Fes, we were excited to experience one of Morocco’s most atmospheric cities and stay somewhere that felt completely connected to its surroundings.

We had plenty planned for our time in Fes, including exploring the winding streets of the old medina and discovering some of the city’s most famous sights. Staying at Palais Houyam gave us a peaceful base to return to after the energy and chaos of the streets outside.

Set within Fes El Bali, the traditional riad is tucked away from the busier parts of the medina. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with Moroccan tea and shown around the property, with the atmosphere becoming noticeably more relaxed as we stepped inside.

This is our personal review of staying at Palais Houyam, including the riad, our room, the food, the spa and some of the places we explored during our time in Fes.

Before you book

Location: Fes El Bali, Fes, Morocco
Style: Traditional Moroccan riad
Best for: Couples, families, food lovers and travellers exploring Fes
Highlights: Traditional architecture, courtyard, pool, restaurant and hammam
Nearby: Fes Medina, Chouara Tannery, Bab Boujloud and Jardin Jnan Sbil

Palais Houyam is located in Fes El Bali, the historic old medina of Fes. The property describes itself as a traditional riad designed around Moroccan architecture, traditions and cuisine, giving guests a chance to experience the character of the city without having to leave the medina.

The riad has a range of rooms and suites, along with an outdoor pool, restaurant, spa and traditional hammam. The current Palais Houyam website lists accommodation ranging from Deluxe Rooms through to Royal Suites, the Houyam Suite and Presidential Suites.

For us, the location was one of the biggest advantages. Fes is a city that is best explored on foot, and being based inside the old medina meant we could step straight into the maze of streets, souks and historic sights before returning to the quieter surroundings of the riad.

First impressions

We arrived in the middle of the medina, where the streets were busy with people, shops and the constant movement that makes Fes such an interesting city to explore.

As we took each turn and made our way towards Palais Houyam, the atmosphere gradually became more laid-back and relaxing. It was a noticeable contrast to the energy of the streets outside.

Once we arrived, we were warmly welcomed with traditional Moroccan tea and big smiles before being shown around the property and introduced to everyone. It was a really nice touch and immediately made the arrival feel personal rather than simply checking into a hotel.

We were staying at Palais Houyam as part of a partnership, having been asked to create a short promotional film showcasing the riad and its beautiful surroundings. The team also helped us put together a plan for the activities and places we wanted to visit during our time in Fes.

Planning your own stay? You can find current information about the accommodation, restaurant, spa and facilities on the official Palais Houyam website.

Creating a film for Palais Houyam

As part of our stay, I was also asked to create a short aerial and cinematic video showcasing Palais Houyam and its beautiful surroundings.

The idea was to capture more than just the rooms and architecture, bringing together the atmosphere of the riad with the character of Fes and the surrounding landscapes. Using a combination of photography, aerial footage and moving images, I wanted the film to give a sense of what it actually feels like to arrive, stay and explore the property.

It was a great opportunity to approach the stay from a slightly different perspective and create visual content that Palais Houyam could use to showcase the experience to future guests.

The room

Our room at Palais Houyam continued the traditional Moroccan character that runs throughout the riad.

Rather than feeling like a standard modern hotel, the accommodation is designed around the architecture and decorative details that make staying in a traditional riad such a different experience.

The current Palais Houyam website lists several accommodation options, including Deluxe Rooms, Royal Suites, the Houyam Suite and Presidential Suites, with each designed to offer a different level of space and comfort.

For us, the room worked particularly well as somewhere to return to after spending the day exploring the medina. After the noise and activity outside, having a comfortable space within the much calmer surroundings of the riad was a welcome contrast.

The pool

One of the nicest features of Palais Houyam is the outdoor pool tucked within the traditional surroundings of the riad.

After spending time walking around Fes and exploring the medina, having somewhere to slow down and escape the heat was a welcome addition to the stay.

The pool is surrounded by the architecture and courtyard of the property, so it feels much more intimate than the large resort-style pools you might find elsewhere in Morocco.

It also adds another layer to the experience of staying at a riad. Outside the entrance, Fes can feel busy, noisy and constantly moving, while inside there are quieter spaces where you can simply sit back and relax.

The current property information confirms the outdoor pool as one of the main facilities at Palais Houyam, alongside the restaurant, spa and hammam.

Dining at Palais Houyam

Palais Houyam Restaurant

Food is always a big part of travelling for us, so naturally we were keen to experience the restaurant during our stay.

The Palais Houyam Restaurant focuses on traditional Moroccan food alongside Mediterranean and international influences. The property says it uses locally sourced ingredients and Moroccan spices, with dishes designed to combine traditional Moroccan flavours with a wider range of influences.

For us, dining at the riad was another opportunity to slow down after spending the day exploring Fes. Rather than heading back into the busy streets, we could enjoy a meal within the more relaxed surroundings of the property.

The restaurant is another part of Palais Houyam where the traditional Moroccan character of the riad comes through, from the setting to the food itself.

The Palais Houyam Spa

After spending long days exploring Fes, a traditional Moroccan hammam is a natural way to slow things down and experience another part of the country’s culture.

Palais Houyam has its own spa and traditional hammam, with the property describing the experience around traditional Moroccan rituals, essential oils and other Moroccan products.

The hammam is an important part of Moroccan culture and has long been used as a place to cleanse, relax and unwind. For travellers spending several days walking around the medina, it offers a completely different pace from the streets outside.

The property also offers massage and spa treatments alongside the traditional hammam experience, giving guests the opportunity to spend some time relaxing during their stay.

If you’re planning a trip to Fes and want to experience a traditional Moroccan hammam, the Palais Houyam spa and hammam is one of the facilities worth considering when planning your stay.

Exploring Fes

Palais Houyam’s location inside Fes El Bali makes it a great base for exploring the city. During our stay, we spent time wandering the medina, visiting the Chouara Tannery and exploring some of the historic sights around Fes.

The hotel also helped us organise guides and activities during our stay, which made exploring the city much easier. You can read more about what to see and do in our Fes travel guide.

Final thoughts

Sadly, our time at Palais Houyam eventually came to an end.

We arrived in Fes to explore the city and create a short promotional film for the riad, but the stay became an important part of the wider experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep between activities.

For me, that’s what made Palais Houyam memorable. It wasn’t just the traditional architecture, the courtyard or the Moroccan design. It was the contrast between the energy of the medina outside and the much calmer atmosphere inside the riad.

The team were also a big part of the experience. From the warm welcome with Moroccan tea and big smiles to helping us organise guides and activities around Fes, they made it much easier for us to experience the city.

If you’re planning a trip to Fes and want to stay somewhere that gives you easy access to the medina while also offering somewhere peaceful to return to, Palais Houyam is worth considering.

Fes is one of those places where you could easily spend several days exploring without seeing everything. Having Palais Houyam as our base gave us somewhere comfortable to return to at the end of each day, and it became an important part of our experience of the city.

Work With Pete

I create natural, story-led photography and video for luxury hotels, resorts, tourism brands and lifestyle businesses.

Having worked with hospitality and lifestyle brands including Four Seasons, I create imagery that captures not just how a property looks, but how it feels to experience it.

From hotel interiors and architecture to food, lifestyle, landscapes and destination content, I create visual stories that can be used across websites, social media, campaigns and marketing.

View my Hospitality Photography portfolio or get in touch if you’d like to discuss a project.