Riad Numero 9, Fez, Morocco
Riad Numero 9 4 Stars
"Fusing Moroccan and Asian influences, this restored riad is ideal for exclusive rental, and lies in the heart of Fez's ancient medina."
Hotel Overview
Review of Riad Numero 9, by Nadia Latif
TI was tired and thoroughly disorientated when we arrived at Riad Numero 9. Shrugging off the offer of a riad-sent guide (how hard could it be?) we landed in Fez quite unprepared for the twisting maze of alleyways and unmarked side streets, so different from tourist-friendly Marrakech.
But what Fez lacks in the easily-navigable Jemaa el Fna square, it gains in a real sense of authenticity. The heaving souks, loaded pack animals, piles of silverware and spices, the crammed-together mosques; it's not the easiest city to holiday in, nor would you want it to be. Fez is magical, and without doubt this magic has rubbed off on Riad 9.
Tucked away in a sliver of passage, the front door is completely unassuming. But once inside, a mosaic-tiled confection awaits, tastefully put together by owner Stephen and his partner Bruno. They are a well-travelled pair and it shows, with collectables from around the world stashed in every corner.
Take a breakfast of homemade pancakes, French toast and banana jam up on the sun terrace, which has the best view of this rose-hued city we could find. Five times a day dozens of muezzins chime together in the call for prayer, and the sound filters up through the clambering vines and latticed fencing.
With just three immaculate suites (at present: Stephen and Bruno are planning to extend in 2010), Riad Numero 9 is very suited to exclusive rental, though individual bookings are taken. Each is spacious, beautifully appointed and scattered with antiques and curios. Try to secure the Master Suite, which stretches over the whole of one floor. It boasts a gorgeous carved ceiling, a pair of dentist's chairs in the bathroom and a wealth of little trinkets. We fell in love.
Hotel Policies
Rooms
3Come for...
- Exclusive rental for a family or small group of friends
- Rooftop terrace overlooking the medina
- Stunning quirky and colourful decor
Not Suitable for...
- Tricky: what's not to love?
Children
Families are welcome. The standard room can house one child on one extra bed, but there are no cots. If a family rents all three rooms, one or two can be used as children's bedrooms.
Eating in
One of the owners, Bruno, is a chef and is wholly responsible for the mountains of French toast and pancakes laid out at breakfast each morning. Though he needs prior notice, he's also more than happy to cater for dinner and lunches (highly recommended).
The Press Say
"Small but perfectly formed." The Australian 08"A restored three-bedroom riad in the medina in Fez. The small courtyard has a sunken Japanese table and two salons off to the sides." The Guardian 06
Reviews
Review of Riad Numero 9, by Joanna Monkhouse
In the heart of the Fez medina in Morocco lies an unexpected treasure - restored luxury Riad Numero 9. Owned by the designer of a leading luxury brand, Riad Numero 9 is a colourful jewel, small but funky, ideal for renting whole. Artfully restored zellige and painted woodwork sits happily with the modern European and Asian influences of the stylish décor.
The luxury riad has a small courtyard with a sunken Japanese table in the centre and two salons off to the sides. At night it is lit romantically by tiny candles on each of the many windowsills that line the walls, rising three stories to the roof terrace. The pea-green kitchen is a contrasting mixture of American 1950s with traditional Moroccan tiling.
The luxury riad's roof terrace has a great view of the medina, and dinner can easily be served there - a second set of crockery is kept in the small kitchen to save carrying it up and down the precarious stairs. Candle lanterns sit in specially designed niches in the wall which also provides privacy for sun-worshippers.
Up the winding stairs, each of the 3 bedrooms at Numero 9 has a shower room with a huge shower head, and are full of individualistic design details like hand-picked antique mirrors and fans. The master bedroom suite occupies the entire top floor, and unlike the two smaller bedrooms, it has a high, painted ceiling.