Riad Numéro 9

We chose this Dar because we had only two nights and its location in the Medina allows instant access to the Moroccan experience we hoped to see. Our host, Atika, spoke fluent English, listened carefully to our desires, and masterly accomplished our every wish. She is a gem in the service industry, going beyond our expectations by sometimes personally guiding us through the streets to our destinations. We learned so much history in our short stay by hiring a guide named Adil Cheikhi. Adil has extraordinary knowledge of Fes history as a lifelong resident. He spoke fluent English and tirelessly answered all of our questions while walking hours through the maze of streets pointing out the historical buildings and craftsmanship. The Dar itself is a time corridor bringing the traveler back in time to a period enjoyed by the original inhabitants. We felt as though we had a magical experience in a historical period of time due to the restoration of the building back to its original architecture. This Dar is an affordable delight and a great value that will stimulate your memory for years. Many thanks to Atika and Adil for your kindness, knowledge and services.

Oh, how wonderful our one-week stay was! And as it happened, we had the whole place to ourselves. We felt like a king and queen, no small thanks to the marvelous Atika, who is a kind, generous host, excellent cook, and all-around fantastic majordomo. The riad itself is a work of art -- a designer showcase thanks to the exquisite taste of owner Stephen di Renza. We were gobsmacked not only by the beauty of the place, but by all the work that went into renovating it. Just reading about the meticulous restoration was a treat. The location is also perfect, because it's right in the heart of the medina, though on a quiet little tucked-away street. Thank you, Stephen and especially Atika, for making our stay so great.

While Riad #9 is beautifully renovated, it was not functional at the end of December 2022 due to the lack of heat in the cavernous bathroom with an open air shower in which the inside temperature was approximately 55 F (12.8 C). In addition, the first floor dining room and library with a soaring 3 floor ceiling had a large, antiquated, propane heater that was inadequate. We ate breakfast wearing down winter coats and wooly hats but were still cold. In the lowest bedroom, any person over 5'8'' (172.7 cm) is guaranteed to hit his or her head when entering or leaving the room. It was a very poor value based on our other Moroccan accommodations during our 2 week visit.