Riad Zitouna

Perfect experience. The manager is very friendly, helpful and hospitable. The place is just what you need after the busy medina.

This was our second experience in a riad - definitely had some pros and cons. The riad is owned by a French woman who was helpful enough. She left the management of the riad to others overnight, and was gone from about 9pm to 8am every night. The breakfasts were wonderful, though, and the riad was safe and secure. Our room had a nice big TV, which was a little odd, but a nice modern convenience. The climate control was a little off though, and the beds were a little brick-ish.

We stayed here 23rd - 26th Feb 2012, 3 days at the end of a 9 day trip around Morocco. We were arriving late; I emailed the manager/owner about this and was told a taxi could be organised to get us from the station, and a dinner would be prepared for us. I knew this would be costly, but given our train wasnt arriving in Fes until 22h00, thought it would be the easiest option. We arrived and there was NO taxi to pick us up, so we had to negotiate our own and meander our way through the medina late at night to get there. Once there, we were served up a simply shocking meal for a number of reasons. I had realised I had forgotten to inform the manager that my travelling companion was vegetarian, and so tried ringing the Riad during the day before arrival. But to no avail, wrong number - the number listed on this website is NOT RIGHT! And so we had to simply tell her upon arrival, to which we were told "it's too late, you should've told me!" ; so we (I am not a vegetarian) were both served up with a big bowl of soup for the MAIN, and the meat/rice dish she'd prepared was nowhere to be seen; my companion said she'd be fine with a quick salad or something but this was clearly ignored! VERY overpriced at 15euros per person! And to top it off, the soup had been clearly been made with lamb stock, it reeked of mutton; so my companion couldnt eat it; it was still served to her despite her vegetarianism. A disappointing start to our stay there for certain... we couldnt believe the manageress had the audacity to still serve that soup! Breakfast was served in a lovely tiled room off the main courtyard, though the fire ought to have been on given the low February temperatures. The riad itself and the rooms were difficult to fault, it has to be said. Clean, spacious, comfortable... Though no terrace to relax and have a drink on. Breakfast was fine; your typical Moroccan continental fare. Unfortunately however, this riad's major failing is in its service. Only the manageress seems to be allowed/able to do anything; so when she's not there there's not really anyone to help you! WARNING: there is a curfew 7am-12am. this was not an issue for us, but on our last night we returned at 10:30pm to be told "I have been waiting an hour and a half for you to arrange your check-out details, I should be home by now" - totally unacceptable, very unprofessional - when a guest is paying to stay in a hotel, they should be put first; not made to feel unwelcome and resented in such a manner. Everything is at the management's convenience and not yours!! And if a curfew is not going to be stuck to, why enforce it?! This behaviour continued throughout our stay, a big shame as it tainted our enjoyment of our stay. This hotel is a PAY ON CHECKOUT hotel; this is so they can add extras on to it, and also charge you in Dirhams to make the most money as possible on the exchange rates. Unlike the very authentic Riad we stayed in in Marrakech where service was top priorirty, profit second, this place is clearly run with a sole focus on profit in mind, cashing in on the Riad trend. WARNING: there is a 3.3% charge for paying on card, something NOT mentioned on their page on hotels.com. We were constantly nagged about organising a taxi for our departure through the Riad, but this was at an inflated rate of 220 Dh, when the going rate, and the rate we paid when hailing a taxi ourselves, was only 120 Dh. With that 3.3% credit card charge, and the 30 euros robbed from us for our shocking first night meal, we generally feel very robbed by this Riad. And the Riad was only out to make money (offer of taxi and meal on arrival amongst other things). A real shame. Aesthetically a beautiful riad, with substandard service letting it down massively. Rather than being treated like special guests, we were nothing but a source of income.

This Riad is beautiful and the owners were wonderful. The Riad is in a great location, is very clean and the bed was comfortable. We originally only booked 3 nights but we had such a good time we stayed another 2. Oliver and his wife were very helpful and friendly but not intrusive.

Riad Zitouna is a wonderful place to stay in Fes. For first time guests to Fes, you will probably need Olivier to meet you at the edge of the medina to show you where the place is. The rooms are beautiful and the rooftop decks have a great view of Fes and the medina, especially at sunrise/sunset. The owners are very nice and helpful.