Riad Anata in Fez: A Boutique Hotel Riad

A boutique hotel Riad in the heart of the Fez Medina, Riad Anata is intimate and stylish. A personal, private and luxury stay.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SVADORE

The drive from Casablanca airport to Fez is pretty easy. You ride on a two way highway for the majority of the time surrounded by a picturesque landscape of mountains, farms, nature and small towns. There is no need to get into the Medina (cars can’t drive in the medina anyway!), which is perfect because it helps avoid the chaos. You just need to drive through Fez’s nouvelle ville for 10 minutes before arriving in the Medina, but it’s pretty straightforward.

We pulled into the parking lot, 2 streets away from our boutique hotel Riad and made are way through the labyrinth streets. For those of you who don’t know what a Riad is, it is a traditional home or palace with an interior garden or courtyard. From the outside, Riads look all the same (except for their fancy doors) and look like nothing much. However, once you step in, you always discover the unexpected-what lies within is a treasure.

Riad Anata resides in a quaint part of Fez Medina, although it looks small on the outside the inside is a tall marvel. The Riad is an amalgamation of Andalucian townhouses and Moroccan Riads with a splash of trendy color. The courtyard has touches of hot pink armchairs in the center and a small library-reading den on the side offering a modern comfort with serenity. The decoration is impeccable and full of artisanal Moroccan décor. During our stay we stayed in the Orange room on the second floor with windows facing the courtyard.

With a limited number of rooms (five to be exact) the experience is very tailored and intimate. It has that real boutique hotel feel. It’s so intimate that at times you feel like you have the entire Riad to yourself! The room is stocked with any boutique hotel amenity including fresh bathrobes, artisanal shampoos and conditioners made of Argan oil (a specialty in Morocco), adapters, free guides, A/C and plenty of storage room. The terracotta floors and soft cotton sheets keep the rooms cool during the hot summer months. From the detailed shelving units in the shower to the chair made of calf, the Moroccan “puff daddy” chair as they call them, wooden etched decorations above the bed, and windows facing the courtyard, you feel immersed in Morocco’s finest and most local stay.

We made our way up to the rooftop terrace, which includes a wading or plunge pool and a spacious shaded lounging area to enjoy a mid-afternoon mojito from the bar (made with Morocco’s oh-so famous Mint leaves! Seriously, they are super addicting and you will never taste anything like it). This is the area where aperitif, dinner and breakfast are served. Many Riads include breakfast during your stay and Riad Anata’s is the best breakfast we’ve had in Morocco to this day. Breakfasts consisted of freshly brewed coffee and tea followed by a selection of homemade jams, honey, butter, yogurt breakfast bread, eggs, yogurt, sweet bread, beghrir (a pancake consumed in the Maghreb region), msemmen (a fried pancake like bread of the Maghreb region), and fresh fruit.

The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. They almost all live in the area so can tell you where to go, what to do and see. From Sara who works the reception to Simo who oversees your stay and Mina who works the kitchen. The staff goes a step further and offers one-of-a-kind classes to get you immersed in the local culture such as: excursions to Volubilis, Meknes or Chefchaouen, yoga workshops, belly dancing, and a personal cooking classes with their local Chef Mina. We chose to indulge and did Mina’s private cooking class and highly recommend you all do the same.

From the details to the staff, Riad Anata is unlike any boutique hotel Riad in the Fez Medina. It truly feels like a custom experience, tailored for each individuals travel needs. As I lie in a lounge chair on the terrace at 6:40PM, watching the sunset, sipping a mojito after a quick afternoon nap and listening to the sound of dream catchers, birds and owls. I can’t help, but think to myself that we have chosen one of the most peaceful Riads in the area.

If you’re interested in booking a stay with Riad Anata, visit their website at Riad-Anata.com.

• Riad Anata, Derb El-Hamia, Fès Boulemane 30200, Morocco; Riad-anata.com

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