Where to Eat in Fes With Kids

Where to Eat in Fes With Kids: Our Favorite Restaurants

Wondering where to eat in Fes with kids? There are many places in Fes to dine, especially in the Medina.  We were there during COVID so I am sure we missed a few good places that were closed at the time.  Fes is known for pastilla, a slightly sweet and savory dish usually served for dinner.  It is a mixture of moroccan spices, meat, egg and toasted almonds wrapped in puff pastry and baked to perfection (and often sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon!).  Definitely a must try dish while visiting.  Here are some of the best restaurants in Fes that are worth a visit…

Riad Fes, Relais & Châteaux

In addition to exquisite food, Riad Fes, Relais & Chateaux has a rooftop bar with ridiculous views of the city.  The perfect place to wind down at sunset with a cold drink and incredible atmosphere.  We were lucky enough to eat our second dinner here on the rooftop bar (usually not allowed) but it was quite because of covid.  The kids enjoyed the view and the food as much as mom and dad.

My favorite here was the pastilla.  They were serving pigeon pastilla (my fist time having pigeon) and it was drool worthy.  I wanted to order seconds for dessert and I never pass up on a chance for dessert!  However something about the sweetness of pastilla made it seem acceptable as a dessert swap.

Dawson enjoyed what he said was the best lamb dish he had ever had in his life.  Bold statement but apparently no joke.  He ordered it both nights we ate here.  The kids were extremely content with their fresh bread and buttered noods!

Of course we ordered and enjoyed dessert too…passionfruit cheesecake.  More please!

If you are looking for a high end meal and don’t mind a western price tag, this is one of the best restaurants in Fes.

https://riadfes.com/en/restaurant.html
5 Derb Zerbtana, Fès 30100, Morocco

Riad Fes, Relais & Chateaux is also a beautifully renovated boutique hotel/Riad.  Visit our Where to stay in Fes page here for more details and photos of the Riad.

Riad Alfassia Palace

Riad Alfassia Palace was probably my favorite food experience of the whole of Morocco.  There was such variety, all was traditional Moroccan fare and all of it was homemade.  This family owned riad and restaurant is beautiful, homey and the couple that owns it are so warm and kind.  We were treated as family from the moment the owner picked us up at the riad we were staying and guided us through the Medina to his palace.  This is a big help as it is very easy to get lost in the Medina.  We were awestruck by the tilework and craftsmanship that lay before us, covering nearly every inch of the interior of this riad.  Check out our Where to Stay in Fes page here for more photos of the Riad Alfassia Palace.  Back to the food…

We enjoyed chicken pastilla, couscous because it was a Friday (woohoo!) and a large variety of Moroccan salads.  Note: Moroccan salads are nothing like your typical leafy greens with dressing, they are an array of differently prepared, cooked and seasoned vegetables and legumes.  Every “salad” was unique, packed with flavor and so yummy for my tummy.  The pastilla even won the heart of Viona who wanted me to give mine up for her…I begrudgingly shared half with her.  And of course the couscous was cooked to perfection, light, fluffy and melted in my mouth.

And this is what we looked like before dessert arrived…

So we overate.  Can you blame us after looking at all of those pictures???  We have no regrets. Pictured below with Viona, is Karima, the owner and chef of this incredible Riad.

If you want to dine here, call for a reservation and they will arrange to meet you at your hotel/riad and walk you to dinner and back home if you are worried about getting lost in the medina.  If you are interested in staying in this quaint riad, visit our Where to Stay in Fes page.

If you are looking for an authentic home cooked meal that is out of this world, then this is one of the best restaurants in Fes!

http://www.alfassiapalace.com/
42 derb salma achabine ancienne, 30110, Morocco

Fondouk Bazaar

This place is chalked full of trendy bohemian vibes, a breath of freshness within the medina.  It has a great rooftop to enjoy your food, no views but still a nice atmosphere.  The food here is less traditional in both presentation and and offerings compared to most restaurants in the area.  It was a good place to break up the same same of Moroccan fare.

We enjoyed a fresh veggie pasta dish and orange glazed salmon, followed by a lava cake with homemade ice cream for dessert!

If you are looking for an international fusion menu with good ambiance and chill vibes, then this is one of the best restaurants in Fes.

https://www.facebook.com/fondoukbazaarfes/
16 Talaa el Kebira, Fès 30110, Morocco

Street Fare around the Medina

Moroccan Donuts. Before our travels to Morocco, I had read about and saw something on a tv show about Moroccan donuts.  I was like “say no more, sign me up for one of those!”  Who doesn’t like a donut?  You don’t have to twist my arm to make me try any variation of the round sweet gluten filled treats.  Anyhow, I was disappointed that I did not find any in Marrakech so I was determined to make this dream a reality while in Fes.  On the way to our dinner at AlFassia Palace, we passed a man selling some deep in the Medina, and I was devastated that now was possibly the worst time to fill up on a donut before the delicious meal we were heading to.  So the owner of Al Fassia, came back and got a few for us to have with dessert, woo-hooo!!! So nice!

Later I was able to find a man with a cart just inside the Blue Gate.  I went to him twice so I think this is probably the easiest place to find one if you are on the hunt.  They are very different from a western donut, more similar to a croissant with a chewier exterior.  They are lovely, especially rolled in sugar!!!

Moroccan Nougat is everywhere.  It is a very popular candy in Morocco.  The nougat is soft, chewy, sweet and often dressed up with some type of nut.  It is much softer than a taffy, still chewy but dissolves faster.  It is also called “zaban” meaning nougat and can be found at many cart vendors throughout the Medina.  If you are looking to try a traditional Moroccan candy, this is it!

Outside of the Medina

PAUL Ben Abdallah Fes

If you happen to find yourself outside of the Medina and craving something french, we happened upon this place when the restaurant we were hoping for was closed due to covid.  It was an odd location right on a busy roundabout, but we had a driver that could drop up off so it wasn’t an issue.

Plenty of pastries to choose from!  The kids enjoyed pizza and a milkshake here, another nice shake-up from the traditional moroccan fare.  The food here is good but nothing comparable to what you would find in Paris.

If you find yourself outside the medina and craving french food, then this is one of the best restaurants in Fes to check those boxes.

https://paul-maroc.com/
Ave Allal Ben Abdellah, Fes 30000, Morocco

Tips for Eating Out in Fes With Kids

A few things we learned about where to eat in Fes with kids, mostly the hard way.

Dinner runs late. Most riad restaurants do not really get going until 8pm. We fed the kids a snack in the afternoon and treated dinner as the main event instead of a race against a meltdown.

Reserve, and ask for a walk. The medina is a maze after dark. Several places, including Riad Alfassia Palace, will meet you at your riad and walk you both ways. Take them up on it.

Order pastilla for the table. It is sweet enough that picky eaters treat it like dessert, and it was the one dish our kids asked for again.

There is always a safe plate. Fresh bread comes with everything, and most kitchens will make simple pasta or fries without blinking.

Head for the rooftops. They are calmer and cooler than the ground floor tables next to scooter traffic, and the view buys you an extra twenty minutes of patience from the kids.

Planning the rest of your trip? Start with our guide to visiting Fes with kids, then see where to stay in Fes with a family and the things to do in Fes with kids that were worth the walk.