15 Best Restaurants in Fes

15 Best Restaurants in Fes, Morocco (2026 Local’s Guide)

Fes is Morocco’s culinary capital and if you only eat at tourist traps, you’re missing the real magic. As a local Morocco travel expert, I’ve spent years navigating the labyrinthine alleys of the Fes el-Bali medina to find the restaurants that genuinely deliver: incredible food, authentic atmosphere, and honest prices.

In this guide, you’ll find the 15 best places to eat in Fes from grand palace restaurants where you dine like a sultan, to budget-friendly neighbourhood spots where locals actually eat. I’ve included real prices, must-order dishes, and insider tips you won’t find in any guidebook.

New to Fes? Before diving into the city’s incredible food scene, check out our complete Fes Travel Guide. It covers the best places to stay, must-see attractions, getting around the medina, and essential travel tips for first-time visitors.

Read the Fes Travel Guide

Quick Facts: Eating in Fes, Morocco

• Budget meal: 30–70 MAD (~$3–7 USD) at a local eatery
• Mid-range dinner: 150–300 MAD (~$15–30 USD) per person
• Fine dining: 400–800 MAD (~$40–80 USD) per person
• Best area to eat: Near Bab Bou Jeloud & Rcif Square in the medina
• Reservation needed? Yes for fine dining restaurants, book 1–2 days ahead
• Best time to visit: Lunch (12:30–2:30 PM) for the freshest tagines
• Vegetarian-friendly? Yes most restaurants offer vegetable tagines & couscous
• Tipping culture: 10–15% is appreciated but not mandatory

Traditional Food in Fes: What You Must Try

Fes is the birthplace of some of Morocco’s most iconic dishes. The city’s cuisine is shaped by centuries of Andalusian, Jewish, and Berber influences a culinary heritage unlike anywhere else in Morocco. Here’s what to look for on every menu:

• Tagine

The slow-cooked masterpiece of Moroccan cuisine. In Fes, look for lamb tagine with prunes and almonds a Fassi specialty. The earthenware pot seals in flavours that melt together over hours. Price: 50–120 MAD per portion.

• Bastilla (Pastilla)

Fes’s most celebrated dish. A flaky warqa pastry filled with spiced pigeon (or chicken), almonds, dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Sweet and savoury together it’s extraordinary. Price: 80–180 MAD per portion.

• Friday Couscous

Couscous is a national institution traditionally served every Friday after mosque. The Fassi version uses seven vegetables and a rich broth. Try it at a family-run restaurant for the authentic experience. Price: 60–100 MAD per portion.

• Rfissa

A Fassi comfort food classic: slow-cooked chicken with lentils, fenugreek, and ras el hanout spices, served over shredded msemen flatbread. Rarely found in tourist menus ask locally. Price: 60–90 MAD per portion.

• Harira Soup

Fes’s everyday starter a hearty tomato, lentil, and chickpea soup with fresh herbs. Locals eat it for breakfast and during Ramadan. Pair it with chebbakia pastry for the full experience. Price: 15–25 MAD per bowl.

• Fish Bastilla

A seafood twist on the classic pastilla, filled with spiced fish, vermicelli noodles, and herbs. A newer Fassi creation but already a firm favourite. Price: 100–160 MAD per portion.

Fes Restaurant Price Guide (2025)

Category	Price per Person (MAD)	Price per Person (USD)	Best For
Street food / Snack	20–50 MAD	$2–5	Quick bites, sandwiches, harira
Local budget restaurant	50–100 MAD	$5–10	Full meal: tagine + bread + mint tea
Mid-range restaurant	150–300 MAD	$15–30	Riad dining, quality ingredients
Fine dining / Palace	400–800 MAD	$40–80	Full set menu, entertainment, live music

Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Fes

Fes has some of Morocco’s most spectacular dining experiences think candlelit courtyards inside 800-year-old palaces, live Andalusian music, and set menus that guide you through the full range of Fassi cuisine. Reservations are essential at all fine dining venues.

• 1. Palais Bab Sahra

Set inside a meticulously restored 19th-century palace in the heart of the medina, Palais Bab Sahra is one of Fes’s most visually stunning restaurants. The carved cedar ceilings and hand-painted zellij tilework make it an experience before you even touch the menu.

The kitchen excels at classic Fassi dishes: their lamb bastilla is among the best in the city, and the slow-cooked mechoui (whole roasted lamb) is worth ordering with 24 hours’ notice. Set menus start at around 350–500 MAD per person and include multiple courses with mint tea ceremony.

• Location: Fes el-Bali Medina
• Hours: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• Price: 350–550 MAD/person
• Reservation Required

💡 Local Tip: Book the rooftop terrace table at sunset for panoramic medina views it books out weeks in advance.

• 2. Eden at Palais Amani

Tucked inside the legendary Palais Amani boutique hotel, Eden is Fes’s most refined dining address. The restaurant sits in a lush private garden an oasis of calm in the middle of the noisy medina where candlelit tables are surrounded by jasmine and orange blossom trees.

The menu blends traditional Moroccan techniques with contemporary presentation. The bastilla with smoked pigeon is a signature, and the dessert selection rivals anything you’d find in Marrakech. Budget 600–800 MAD per person for the full experience.

• Location: 12 Derb El Miter, Fes el-Bali
• Hours: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• Price: 600–800 MAD/person
• Reservation Required

💡 Local Tip: This is the finest restaurant in Fes for a special occasion. The garden transforms magically at night go after 8 PM.

• 3. Darori Resto

A sophisticated restaurant that strikes the perfect balance between elegance and accessibility. Darori Resto is known for its warm Moroccan hospitality and a menu that puts seasonal local ingredients at the centre of every plate.

Don’t miss the chicken tagine with preserved lemon and olives their most celebrated dish. The ambiance is relaxed enough for families yet refined enough for couples.

• Location: Fes el-Bali
• Hours: 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM
• Price: 200–350 MAD/person

• 4. Les Jardins de Shaherazade

Once a royal residence, this restaurant now welcomes guests into its garden pavilions and tiled salons for an evening of exquisite Fassi cuisine. The romantic atmosphere lanterns, mosaic fountains, and live oud music makes it one of the most atmospheric dining experiences in all of Morocco.

The seven-vegetable couscous here is exceptional, and the Fassi-style bastilla is made to an old family recipe. Set menus include an amuse-bouche of Moroccan salads that alone are worth the visit.

• Location: Near Bab Guissa, Fes
• Hours: 12:30 PM – 10:00 PM
• Price: 300–500 MAD/person
• Live Music (evenings)

• 5. Dar Roummana

Housed inside a beautiful riad with a flowering terrace overlooking the medina rooftops, Dar Roummana is where Moroccan tradition meets contemporary creativity. The chef brings a modern sensibility to classic Fassi recipes lighter, more refined, and beautifully plated.

The terrace view at dusk is one of the most breathtaking sights in Fes. It also offers one of the city’s best cooking classes if you want to learn the recipes first-hand.

• Location: Fes el-Bali Medina
• Hours: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Price: 280–450 MAD/person
• Cooking Classes Available

• 6. Mouda Palace

Mouda Palace delivers the classic Moroccan palace dining experience: grand arched doorways, intricate plasterwork, and impeccably dressed servers. The menu leans traditional the mechoui (whole roasted lamb) and the Fassi couscous royale are showstoppers.

If you want to experience Moroccan hospitality at its most ceremonial with a multi-course spread, folkloric entertainment, and a real sense of occasion Mouda Palace delivers it reliably well.

• Location: Fes, Morocco
• Hours: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
• Price: 350–600 MAD/person
• Entertainment Available

Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants in Fes

Some of the most memorable meals in Fes cost less than $5. The medina is packed with local eateries where you’ll eat alongside Fassi families. These are the places the guidebooks rarely mention and where the food is often the most authentic.

• 7. Dar Rafti

Dar Rafti is the kind of place you stumble upon in a narrow medina alley and end up returning to every day. A cosy, welcoming spot run by a Fassi family, it serves generous portions of tagine, couscous, and harira at prices that feel almost impossibly affordable.

The lamb tagine with vegetables (around 55 MAD) is their signature, and the freshly baked khobz bread served on the side is worth the visit alone. No pretension, no tourist markup just honest, home-style Moroccan cooking.

• Location: Fes el-Bali Medina
• Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Price: 40–80 MAD/person

• 8. Boujloud Restaurant

Located steps from the iconic Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) the main entrance to Fes el-Bali Boujloud Restaurant is perfectly positioned for tourists exploring the medina. A solid, reliable option for a quick, filling meal without spending much.

The Moroccan and Mediterranean mix on the menu means everyone in your group will find something. The chicken tagine and grilled kefta brochettes are the crowd favourites. Expect to spend 60–100 MAD for a full meal including a drink.

• Location: Near Bab Bou Jeloud
• Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Price: 60–100 MAD/person

💡 Local Tip: Avoid peak lunchtime (1–2 PM) to skip the crowds. The outdoor seating near the gate has the best people-watching in Fes.

• 9. Snack Malak

Snack Malak is a local institution beloved equally by Fassi students, workers, and budget travellers who know what they’re doing. The menu is simple: fresh sandwiches, kefta, chips, and freshly squeezed juices at prices that won’t dent your daily budget.

The kefta sandwich (merguez in khobz) for around 15–25 MAD is arguably the best quick bite in the medina. The fresh-squeezed orange juice (10 MAD) is unmissable.

• Location: Fes Medina
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• Price: 15–40 MAD/person

• 10. Dar Khabya

Hidden in the residential heart of the medina, Dar Khabya rewards explorers. A no-frills local restaurant with some of the most flavourful traditional Moroccan cooking in Fes. The slow-cooked beef tagine with prunes and the rfissa (when available) are exceptional. Portions are enormous and you’ll spend less than 70 MAD.

• Location: Fes el-Bali Medina
• Hours: 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM
• Price: 50–80 MAD/person

• 11. San Gusto

A welcome surprise in Fes’s medina, San Gusto serves reliably good Italian food for travellers who need a break from tagine. Pasta, pizza, and salads at reasonable prices a comfortable option if you’re travelling with picky eaters or children.

• Location: Fes, Morocco
• Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Price: 80–150 MAD/person

• 12. Encanto Restaurant

One of the most talked-about mid-budget restaurants in Fes, offering a diverse menu of Moroccan and international dishes in a relaxed, modern setting. Popular with younger travellers, it also serves good coffee a rarity in the medina. Look for the Encanto tagine with its creative twist on the classic.

• Location: Fes, Morocco
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• Price: 80–160 MAD/person
• Good Coffee & WiFi

Essential Tips for Eating in Fes Medina

• How to Find Restaurants: The medina has no street addresses. Use Google Maps offline, or ask your riad host for directions. Most restaurants near Bab Bou Jeloud and Rcif Square are easy to find on foot.
• Best Times to Eat: Lunch runs 12:30–2:30 PM (freshest food). Dinner from 7:30–10 PM. Avoid the 1–2 PM rush at tourist-facing restaurants near the Blue Gate.
• Paying & Tipping: Most budget restaurants are cash-only. Fine dining accepts cards. Tip 10–15% at sit-down restaurants. Always check the bill some places add a service charge.
• Vegetarian & Vegan: Morocco is very vegetarian-friendly. Say “bidoun lahm” (without meat) when ordering. Vegetable tagines, couscous, and harira soup are naturally meat-free.
• Is Street Food Safe? Yes mostly. Choose busy stalls with high turnover, avoid pre-cooked meat sitting out, and always drink bottled water. Freshly squeezed juices are generally safe and delicious.
• Dress Code: Smart casual is fine for most restaurants. For palace and fine dining venues, dress respectfully no shorts or sleeveless tops. Conservative dress is always appreciated in the medina.
• Ramadan Considerations: During Ramadan, many local restaurants only open after sunset (Iftar). Tourist-facing restaurants usually stay open during the day.
• Mint Tea Culture: In Fes, mint tea (atay) is served at the end of every meal sweet, strong, and poured from a great height. Never refuse it; it’s a sign of Moroccan hospitality.

How to Get to Restaurants in Fes Medina

• On foot: The medina is car-free. Most restaurants are within a 10–20 minute walk from the main gates. Download Google Maps offline before you go.
• Taxi to the medina gates: Take a petit taxi to Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) or Rcif Square, then walk in. A taxi from Fes Ville Nouvelle costs 20–40 MAD.
• From your riad: Ask your riad host to draw you a map or walk you to the restaurant most are happy to help. This is the most reliable method.
• Guided food tours: Consider a half-day food tour on your first day in Fes you’ll learn the layout while eating at the best spots. Look for licensed guides near Bab Bou Jeloud.

More Guides About Fes, Morocco:

• The 12 Best Places to Stay in Fes (Riads & Hotels)
• The 14 Best Places to Visit in Fes Medina
• Best Restaurants in Morocco by City — Complete Guide
• Complete Fes Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know
• Traditional Moroccan Food: A Tourist’s Complete Guide
• complete Morocco travel guide
• 15 Best Things to Do in Fes, Morocco

Useful Resources:

• TripAdvisor — Fes Restaurants Reviews & Ratings
• Lonely Planet — Fes Restaurants Guide
• Wikipedia — Overview of Moroccan Cuisine
• Visit Morocco — Official Fes Tourism Page
• Google Maps — Navigate Fes Medina