Riad Semlalia

We just checked out after 2 nights in this wonderful Riad. We had an amazing experience. People there did their best to make us comfortable in every way you could think of. The Riad is really beautiful, full of details. The bedroom is cozy. The bed is very comfortable with beautiful and good quality sheets. Everything inside is very well taken care of. We highly recommend Semlalia Riad!

Our stay in May 2023 at Ryad Semlalia was nothing short of a great experience, and we can't emphasize enough how much credit goes to the remarkable staff member, Driss. From the moment we arrived until the day we departed, he went above and beyond to ensure our stay was nothing less than perfect - friendly, attentive, and incredibly helpful. His professionalism and courtesy were evident in every interaction, and he consistently went the extra mile to cater to our needs and preferences. Not only did he arrange seamless transportation to and from the airport, but he also made sure that we felt well taken care of throughout our entire stay. The accommodation itself is a true gem in the heart of Fez. The room was not only beautifully decorated but also impeccably clean, creating a serene and relaxing environment after a day of exploring the city. The central courtyard, adorned with intricate details, exuded the charm of a royal palace. A highlight of the ryad was undoubtedly the rooftop terrace, complete with a refreshing pool. As for the dining experience, our taste buds were treated to a nice culinary journey. Each dish we took in the Ryad was very tasteful reflecting the rich Moroccan flavors and culinary traditions. Overall, our stay at Ryad Semlalia was an absolute delight, and we cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone planning a visit to Fez. The combination of outstanding service, the elegant and comfortable rooms, and the charming ambiance, made our time here truly unforgettable. It is clear that the staff takes immense pride in ensuring their guests have a memorable experience. Thank you for a truly magical stay!

There are many Riads inside the Medina to choose from. It took me hours to research for the right one, and I can tell you that this is the most elegantly beautiful Riad I have stayed in Morocco. We stayed here for 4 nights. It was the best experience we ever had. The staff and owners made us feel very welcome. We were well looked after with useful information given to us by our host, Idriss. Nothing is impossible for Idriss. He walked with us and showed us how to navigate around the Medina on our first day. He even accompanied us to the train station on our last day since he had to go there to buy a couple of train tickets for the other guests. I guess we were lucky as the Riad wasn't busy at the time since it's still new to visitors. There is nothing we didn't like staying at Semlalia. The Riad is located at the end of a small lane secured with a big iron gate covered with matured plants and trees with beautiful and colourful bougainvillea flowers. It is a hidden oasis in a deadend road. Nice and quiet. But that is not all. Once we stepped inside the Riad, it is stunningly beautiful with handcrafted wall tiles and timber frames, beautifully designed mosaic floor and wall tiles, and intricately designed ceiling. It took the owners 7 years to complete the renovation, to its finest details in keeping with their culture and tradition. All furnishing and crockeries they served us are matched to perfection making us feel very special to be here. We love our ensuite room, which was spacious with windows that opens out to get some fresh air. Comfortable mattress and pillows with nice soft linens. Bathroom towels were nice and soft. The rooftop has a pool with deck chairs and lounges, and a large air-conditioned room for lounging if we wanted to. The photos may look nice, but the actual experience being there personally took my breath away. It is to be seen to believe. It is that special. However, I need to share this with you is the location. It is located in a nice quiet area of the Medina. About 2 minutes walk to the gate "Bob Ziat" where we can catch a taxi easily. The downside is that it is a fair walk for some to get to the market areas "Souks" and main attractions inside the Medina. But once you've done the walk a couple of times, you will get the hang of it and know which way to turn to get around without looking at your phone to navigate. Having said this, we did our walk when there was still light in the day. It helps with Idriss showing us on our first day. Thank you, Semlalia team and family, for making our stay and experience a memorable one.

Riad Semlalia is a beautifully restored residence in a great location and just a short walk to the nearby markets in the souk area. The owners and staff are warm, friendly and helpful and make you feel very welcome. The traditional moroccan style of the building and quality furnishings are simply stunning...! Breakfast is delicious consisting of eggs cooked your way, a vast fresh pastry selection, yoghurt and fruit salad, freshly squeezed orange juice, tea and coffee. We enjoyed a beautiful home cooked moroccan dinner on one evening during our stay at the riad which was a real highlight. I have to make special mention of the lovely Driss, who offers a wonderful personal service as well as helpful tips and information for navigating the laneways and attractions of the local area. His local knowledge, charming personality and helpful advice is invaluable. He's quite a character! Our stay at Riad Semlalia has been the highlight of our trip to Morocco. I can highly recommend it to other travellers who may be considering a visit to Fes. The residence and the people are the best. You won't regret it...!!

This Riad opened only a month ago. The owner bought 2 houses and combined them to build this Riad. We were amazed as soon as we walked in. Being brand new, everything looks beautiful and in accordance to local architecture. We were greeted with tea and cookies, sat down while they took care of the paperwork and our luggage taken to the room. While they don’t have a restaurant, dinner was arranged for us. Mind you, the moroccan salad we were offered is not the combination of greens, tomatoes and onion. It is a spread of 7 items capable of filling you up: pepper, eggplant, beets, caramelized tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots and zucchini. For main we asked for only 1 portion of chicken lemon tagine with veggies and couscous. By the way, since they don’t have a menu and we didn’t ask, we didn’t know that the dinner would include salad, main and dessert, so we were taken by surprise initially when we were delivered our dessert to our room. We could barely touch it, we were so full. The included breakfast has gems, cheese, coffee, orange juice and omelette. All is very good. During the evening we stayed in the lounge area and enjoyed some honeydew melon which was the dessert the second night. Just to show their great customer service, they served us our own watermelon, which we brought with us and stored in their fridge, on plates with forks. Nice touch. The room is beautiful, the bed comfortable. The only complaint is the duvet being too thick. We were too hot under it but chilly without it. We mentioned this, along with the fact that the wifi didn’t reach our room and they apologized for it and promised to take this under consideration. There is a rooftop pool, kind of small. Water temperature seemed good. The place offers good value and it is well placed so that you don’t have to carry your luggage very much from the one of the medina entrances. I can highly recommend this place.