Riad Laaroussa

Rooms

There are 5 suites and 8 double rooms. All bedrooms (except Brown Room) are high-ceilinged and look onto the courtyard, and many preserve their original zellig floors and cedarwood ceilings and doors.

The bedroom's ornate base elements - floors, ceilings and doors - are complemented by silk curtains, sabra bedspreads, intricately carved wardrobes and eye-catching objets like huge brass pots, funky lamps made from fish traps and deco-ish chairs and tables (many from Indonesia). Lanterns, appliqués and bedside lamps up the wow factor whilst the rooms' hot and cold air units ensure you'll be comfortable all year round.

On the ground floor, the vast Green Suite and Orange Suite have high ceilings and can sleep 3-4. The rest of the rooms are up on the first and second floors. The suites, again, are lavishly large and great options for families. The Cream Suite has a kingsize baldequin bed plus a second double reached via a steep metal ladder (certainly not toddler friendly).

We stayed in the Blue Room, which shares a cosy private salon with Yellow and Brown. The latter is the smallest; it lacks natural light and felt a bit stuffy when we last visited. The Red Room was a favourite with its kingsize double (can convert to twin beds) and an open-plan bathroom.

The newer rooms (Nadim, Hilal, Ghizlane & Gaetan) are located in a renovated annexe next door, circled around a flower-filled courtyard seamlessly connected to the main building through large wooden doors. The top-floor Terrace Suite looks particularly special with its jet-black bathroom and sun-drenched private patio.

In all bathrooms you'll find monogrammed black and gold babouches (which are free to take home!) and bathrobes, scented candles, a stack of fluffy white towels and flannels as well as full range of Senses de Marrakech bathroom goodies presented in chunky, silver-topped glass vials. Some have huge tadlakt tubs, others modern showers, one even has teapots for taps.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Cots available
• Fireplace
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

Laaroussa's huge roof terrace is the perfect setting for a memorable meal year-round, with indoor and outdoor seating as well as heaters for the cooler months.

The bistro restaurant serves a mostly Mediterranean-influenced set menu for lunch and dinner, but there are a few Moroccan classics to choose from. When we visited we focused more on the latter. After nibbles of olives and bread, we had a selection of hot and cold Moroccan salads (roasted peppers, beetroot, lentils and courgette dip) and a selection of briouats (moroccan savoury pastries) followed by meatball tagine in a rich tomato sauce. A chocolate tarte and lemon cheesecake ended the meal, and we enjoyed our chosen red wine, which came from close to Meknes: there were plenty of other bottles to choose from. And, in proper Fassi style, we then slumped into a sofa next to the fire for mint tea and chebbakia briwattes, the little honey-sweetened cakes that are ubiquitous in Fes.

Breakfast is a moveable feast: you choose between eating in the dining room, the courtyard, in your room or up on the roof terrace. The latter would always be my favoured option: the wraparound views of the medina are unforgettable. Expect a traditional Moroccan breakfast of orange juice, malaoui pancakes, semi-leavened bread as well as French-style baguette, a fresh fruit salad and several different jams and honey.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Kids' meals
• Lunch
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

Kids

The ethic at Laaroussa is resolutely pro-children and there can be little doubt that any vaguely adventurous child would have a ball in the souks.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Orange and Cream Suites have an extra bed on a mezzanine. Blue, Yellow and Brown are close to each other and open onto a shared salon, a nice option for families if booked together. Ghizlane, Nadim and Hilal rooms are close to each other and open onto a salon library with sofa and fireplace. Most rooms can hold baby cots.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 30 minutes
• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Riad Laaroussa is in the heart of Fes' medina, which is in the north of Morocco.

By Air
Fès Sais (20km). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.

From the Airport
It's a 30-minute drive from the airport to the medina. The hotel offers a transfer service - see Rates. Alternatively you can jump in a taxi and ask to be dropped at the gates of Ain Azleten (Azliten) or Bab Boujeloud (Boujlouad), and the hotel will come and meet you.

By Train
There are regular trains to Fès from Casablanca (4hrs), Tangiers (5hrs) and Marrakech (7hrs). If you're travelling overland, the train down from Tangiers or across from Marrakech via Meknes is as cheap-as-chips and very comfortable.

By Car
If you want to hire a car to explore other parts of Morocco see our car rental recommendations.

By Taxi
If you're really game for an adventure share a grand taxi from your point of departure within the country: this is a great way to meet with Moroccans and learn more about this fascinating country.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Morocco and getting around