Hidden away in Fez's ancient medina, this former pasha's palace has been lovingly transformed by a Provençal antique dealer with an eye for the extraordinary. Michel Biehn didn't just restore this 1906 summer retreat, he also filled every corner with carefully curated antiquities from Central Asia to Africa. From the Royal Suite with its soaring glass dome to rooms inspired by Marco Polo's silk road adventures, each space feels more like a private collection than a hotel suite. The magnificent Andalusian garden – complete with Isfahan roses, jasmine, and a tranquil swimming pool – provides a blissful escape from the medina's bustling souks.




The Fez Café sits at the garden's far end, a wonderfully bonkers mix of Elvis memorabilia, vintage hats in glass cases, and portraits of Moroccan kings. Chef Hicham changes his menu based on whatever looks good at the morning market, so you might find wild mushrooms from the Atlas one day, fresh river fish the next. Art fills every nook – African masks, Persian carpets, photography exhibitions by the current owner's son, you name it. Those twinkling star lights everywhere? They've become the hotel's signature.
No two are remotely alike. The Royal Suite was literally the pasha's bedroom – all intricate stucco and that incredible glass ceiling, while La Danseuse Berbère uses old cobbler's benches as bedside tables. One room channels Marco Polo with Chinese silks and carved furniture, another goes full Bedouin with desert-inspired textiles and a jungle-like terrace. Private balconies overlook citrus trees and rooftops, with rooms furnished in antique beds, colourful cushions, and treasures personally selected during the Biehn family's travels.
Beyond exploring Fez's incredible medina (those tanneries are unmissable, even if they're a bit pongy), there's plenty happening on-site. Cooking classes with the chef, evening concerts featuring traditional Andalusian music, browsing the boutique crammed with Atlas carpets and local pottery. The hammam experience is particularly special including traditional treatments using argan oil. They even offer sophrology sessions if you fancy something different. Its location also means easy access to madrasas, bustling souks, and the UNESCO-listed medina's labyrinthine streets – all just minutes from your peaceful garden sanctuary.
From Tibetan chests to Nigerian textiles, every piece has been personally collected during the Biehn family's globe-trotting adventures.
Book a treatment in what was once Pasha El Mokri's private spa – it's housed in the original 1906 bathhouse and offers an authentic slice of Moroccan wellness.
The riad's location deep in the medina means navigating narrow streets with luggage, though the warm welcome from the long-serving staff more than makes up for it.
Take a step back in time, and let the culture and spirituality of Fez beguile you.