Fez – Set on a central avenue in the Ville Nouvelle, PAUL feels familiar from the street. Black-and-gold signage and a glass counter of viennoiseries signal what’s inside before you step through the door.
The room carries the chain’s Parisian cafe look. Dark wood, brass details, and neat marble counters frame rows of croissants, pains au chocolat, raisin swirls, and almond croissants that sell steadily through the morning.
Breakfast is the busiest hour. Guests order café créme, cappuccino, or noss noss alongside baskets of bread, butter, and jam. Those who want something heartier opt for omelettes, yogurt and granola, or a warm tartine.
By midday the menu shifts toward light plates. Baguette sandwiches arrive crisp at the edges, salads lean on seasonal greens and a touch of mustard vinaigrette, and quiche Lorraine or vegetable quiche offers an easy sit-down option.
Sweet things keep a second rush going in the afternoon. Éclairs, mille-feuille, fruit tarts, and chocolate mousse cups pair naturally with espresso or mint tea. There’s usually a crepe or two on offer for a softer finish.
Service is straightforward. A counter team handles takeaway in minutes, while servers manage the tables for longer stops. Turnover is brisk at peak hours without anyone feeling rushed out the door.
The crowd is mixed in a pleasant way. Office workers drop in for coffee meetings, families make a weekend treat of it, and travelers use the café as a rendezvous before heading toward the medina or the train station.
Part of the appeal is location. Being in the new town means easy taxi access, wider sidewalks, and less of the navigation puzzle that faces first-timers in Fes el-Bali. It’s an anchor you can find without checking a map twice.
Prices sit in the expected mid-range to high for the international bakery brand. You pay for the consistency and the sit-down comfort, and in return you get a clean presentation and a reliable standard across the menu.
If you are passing through, mornings are the sweet spot for the full pastry selection. Late afternoons suit a quieter coffee and dessert, especially on the terrace when the weather is soft and the avenue slows down.
PAUL will not replace a medina breakfast in a riad or a long Moroccan lunch. It offers something different: a dependable, central café where you can plan your day, meet a friend, or carry a still-warm baguette into the evening.
