Hotel Sahrai

Located five minutes outside the medina, Riad Fes’s new sister property offers a contemporary, sleek retreat with a world-renowned spa.

• The Givenchy spa, the first of its kind in North Africa
• The rooftop deck for après dinner drinks overlooking the lights of the medina

Set in a brand new building constructed in 2014, this 50-room hotel is part of the new growth in Fes, one of the Moroccan cities that the king has targeted specifically for renovation and restoration. Created by the owners of the Riad Fes, the Hotel Sahrai offers a contemporary retreat outside of the bustling walls of the medina. The property is light and airy with large glass windows and open spaces for the lobby, back terrace and pool area. Paris-based interior designer Christophe Pillet styled the property to be an homage to the traditional Moroccan aesthetics with hand-painted Fassi ceramics and hand-carved plaster walls—all with a modern-minimalist twist.

The two restaurants, Relais de Paris and Amarez, offer Continental and Moroccan menus, and attract a buzzy mixture of guests and local expats. The Givenchy spa, the first of its kind in North Africa, is a serene space with dark stone and mashrabiya panels and offers an extensive menu of traditional Moroccan and Western treatments. The outdoor Arcades bar runs the length of the property with seating nooks that are ideal for relaxing with a drink before dinner.

Those who would like to be removed from the bustle of the medina or families with very young children who would appreciate the outdoor space of the deck and pool area. Guests must be fine with not staying within the medina (it is a five-minute drive away), and don’t mind driving back and forth to the medina each day. Couples or families with older children who want an authentic riad experience in the heart of the medina should consider Riad Fes or Palais Amani.