Fez — Set on the heights above Fez el-Bali, Les Mérinides is a five-star hotel known for its vantage point over the labyrinthine medina and the surrounding hills. 

The property’s terrace and pool look out toward the city’s tiled rooftops and minarets, offering a quiet counterpoint to the bustle below.

Les Mérinides sits next to Borj Nord, the 16th-century fortress that now houses Fez’s Museum of Arms, and a short walk from the Marinid Tombs lookout—two of the city’s most photographed viewpoints. 

From this ridge, guests can trace the contours of Fez el-Bali, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1981. 

The property features multiple dining spaces serving Moroccan and international cuisine, along with a seasonal outdoor pool and sun terrace. 

The hilltop setting strikes a balance many Fez visitors look for: immersive days in the medina’s alleys, workshops, and monuments, followed by quieter nights above it all.

A rich history 

The hotel’s name nods to the Marinid (Mérinide) dynasty, the Amazigh rulers who made Fez their capital in the 13th–15th centuries and oversaw a flowering of urban architecture and learning across the city. Their era shaped much of what visitors explore today — from madrasas such as Al-Attarine and Bou Inania to the guild quarters and caravanserais that structured medina life — mirrored in the urban layout that unfurls beneath the hotel’s terrace.

Steps away, the hilltop Marinid Tombs mark the dynasty’s necropolis and one of Fez’s most dramatic viewpoints. While Borj Nord below dates to the later Saadian period, the layering of Marinid, Saadian, and modern landmarks around Les Mérinides helps explain the property’s appeal: guests sleep within sight of the very ridgeline that frames Fez’s history.

Ready for a visit? 

Weather on the ridge can be breezier than in the streets below—bring a light layer for evenings on the terrace. 

Taxis or rideshares connect the ridge to medina gateways such as Bab Boujloud; Borj Nord and the Marinid Tombs are immediately nearby for sunset photos. 

For details on room types, seasonal offers, and direct contact, consult the hotel’s official site.