Riad El Ghalia

Great Riad, excellent service, food and superb views over old town from top terrace. Difficult to find without a local guide first time, but oK after that

Not too difficult to find. The old city is confusing, but I was dropped off at the correct place and then had to walk about 100 meters to the riad door. I had someone directing me, so it wasn't bad, but if you are by yourself, you may never find the place. It's not centrally located, so there isn't anything nearby. The riad itself is nice. The interior is very authentic, and the roof garden is a nice place to have breakfast. It was nice enough, but it's more like 3 - 4 stars, certainly not five. The staff, though, is extremely helpful and attentive, and they have wi-fi on the first floor.

It's a clear goal for the riad, to be the best in the city. The service is great, and they went out of their way to please me. Among other things, they gave me a guide to my full dispossal.

Me and my girlfriend had wonderful time in Riad Al Ghalia. The hotel is magnificent, with a very nice staff. The bedroom is a jewel, we felt like princes in that huge bed. The only problem is the localization, in a very strange and dirty neighborhood. If you go to Fes, ALWAYS pick a guide at the train station, to help you to get trough the dark streets. Will make you feel safer. But imagine, if I say that about the neighborhood and still liked the hotel, it's because it's really good!

The Riad is quite beautiful but the standard rooms are extremely small and require a good cleaning down. As we were the only guests for the first few days the hotel kindly upgraded us the next day on our request to a suite which felt better and was far cleaner. I disliked the old shower curtains used in the bathrooms which was out of character with the place. Had we had to stay in the smaller standard room it would have heavily impacted on the enjoyment of our stay. Fez is old, historic and could also benefit if the local Government invested in better street cleaning and civic infrastructure. Fez is original and unique but it is also old, decaying and tourism has been impacted by the Arab Spring so you'll see a lot of poverty but the people are not as aggressive as the Egyptians you just have to keep firm. My expectations had been mismatched as I thought it would be a more ancient version of Marrakech. However, it is a place probably like no other but just be prepared that it is old and is in need to be maintained. The Riad could do with some refurbishment.

Although we had an awful travel experience in Morocco, Riad El Ghalia was definitely the highlight of the trip. Staff (and even the owners) were incredibly nice and considerate which made us feel like home during our 3-night stay in the hotel (we didn't even want to go out of the hotel!!!). Room was clean, comfy and quite (though the surrounding neighbourhood of the hotel was shabby which makes the hotel a secret garden). The view from the rooftop was good as well. The restuarante of the hotel is one of the best in Morocco. Nice food and nice service. If weather permits, we could eat at the rooftop enjoying the magnificant night view. However, breakfast is the same everyday so maybe you would get a little bored of it. Overall, I highly recommended this hotel and this is the best hotel I've ever stayed in my life!!!

Riad El Ghalia is a beautiful riad overlooking the Medina. From the moment you enter into the house you are surrounded with history and Moroccan tradition. We asked the staff to organize our taxi from the bus stop. The driver dropped us off at the entrance to Medina and then one of the staff met us there and took carried our bags and walked us to the riad. It's only a few turns from the gate so it's not a problem to find your way back. Everything was absolutely amazing! From the staff who welcomed us and organized our tours to the comfort of this old family villa and to quality of service and food. We travelled through 5 cities in Morocco and stayed at 4 star accommodations -this was by far the most authentic, beautiful, comfortable and special place! When I go back to Fes I will definitely stay there again!

I have been to Morocco many times over the course of 30 years and this Riad is a haven of beauty and peace in a city bustling with energy. Coming back from a day of exploring alleyways, medersas, and souks in the old medina, you can sit and rest in the indoor garden with its tinkling fountain or enjoy the rooftop view. The staff is dedicated to your every wish, and happy to accommodate your requests. The rooms are all named, each one decorated in a different style, all traditional and refined. The restaurant is among the best in the city. Ladies, you will feel like a princess in this place. Gentlemen, if you wish to spoil your Significant Other, bring her here.

We traveled for over 6 weeks in total and I must say, Riad El-Ghalia was the best hotel that we stayed at. The staff were very accommodating to our needs and very friendly. The rooms were spacious and very comfortable. My only regret is not having more time up on the terrace with my book!

This really was a palace, as you discover entering the enormous central courtyard. Arriving at dusk is ideal, as the Moorish lanterns are lit, the fountain is on, and you are served tea in one of the many couches scattered around. Our suite was lovely, with two sitting areas and a gracious iron four-poster bed. The bath was tiny, even claustrophobic - but these are the choices you make staying in an historic property. The staff could not have been better - friendly, helpful, attentive. When their hammam (steam area) wasn't ready, they arranged for a guide to escort us to the local hammam, where he scrubbed and tugged us into bliss. The food was great, and the dining room is beautiful. We ended up eating there both nights of our stay. It is NOT cheap, but a fine dinner with a nice selection of Moroccan wines and attentive service more than compensated for the higher prices. The location is a bit obscure, but an advance phone call took care of that. As our taxi pulled up in the local main street, there was a hotel guide there to take our bags and lead us to the derb (alley) on which the hotel was located. We would stay there again in a heartbeat, and encourage anyone else to stay there, as well. A wonderful treat, and a true highlight of our time in Fez