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Rooftop Cafes in Fes: Tea and Views Over the Old City
From street level the Fes medina is a claustrophobic, thrilling maze; from a rooftop it resolves into a vast bowl of green-tiled roofs, minarets and hillside. The old city's cafés and riads open their terraces for exactly this view, and a pot of mint tea on a Fes rooftop at the right hour is one of the quiet pleasures of the imperial city.
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- Updated
- 19 July 2026
At a glance
- Rooftops turn the confusing medina into a comprehensible, beautiful panorama.
- Terraces above the tanneries give the famous dye-pit view — expect the smell.
- Most serve mint tea, coffee and light bites rather than full meals.
- Late afternoon light and the sunset call to prayer are the best moments.
What the Fes rooftops offer
Fes rooftop cafés fall into a few types. Café and restaurant terraces around the main medina gates and squares offer easy panoramas with a drink and a snack. Riad rooftops, often open to non-guests for tea, give a more intimate view over a specific quarter. And the terraces above the famous Chouara tanneries exist mainly to sell the view down into the honeycomb of dye pits — a spectacular, pungent sight that leather shops leverage to draw you in.
These are places to pause and take in the city rather than to dine seriously. The kitchens are usually small, so think tea, coffee, fresh juice and simple plates rather than a grand meal.
What to order
The default order on any Moroccan rooftop is the national ritual: mint tea, poured from height into a small glass, sweet and fragrant. Around it, the menus keep things light.
- Mint tea (atay): green tea with fresh spearmint and sugar — ask for it less sweet if you prefer.
- Moroccan coffee or nous-nous: the half-milk, half-coffee glass that locals drink all day.
- Fresh orange juice: squeezed to order, a bright counterpoint to the tea.
- Light bites: msemen or crepes, a pastry, or a small salad and bread — snack food, not a feast.
Timing, the tannery view and etiquette
Late afternoon is the sweet spot: the light softens over the roofs, the heat eases, and if you time it to sunset you get the call to prayer rolling across the medina from a hundred minarets at once. For the tanneries, morning gives the clearest view of the workers and dye pits in action; either way you will be offered a sprig of mint to hold against the smell, and there is no obligation to buy leather afterwards despite the sales pressure.
A tea on a terrace costs a little more than at street level for the view, which is fair. To connect the rooftops to the city below, a guided walk or food tour of the Fes medina turns the panorama into a map you can then explore on foot.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get the best rooftop views in Fes?
Café and restaurant terraces around the medina's main gates and squares give sweeping panoramas of the old city, while riad rooftops offer more intimate views over a single quarter. The terraces above the Chouara tanneries provide the famous view down into the dye pits, though expect strong sales pressure from the leather shops.
Do Fes rooftop cafes serve full meals?
Mostly not. Their kitchens are usually small, so expect mint tea, coffee, fresh juice and light bites like msemen, pastries or a simple salad rather than a full dinner. They are places to pause and take in the view; for a proper meal, look to the medina's riad restaurants.
When is the best time to visit a Fes rooftop cafe?
Late afternoon into sunset is ideal — the light softens over the tiled roofs, the heat drops, and at dusk the call to prayer echoes across the medina from many minarets at once. For the tannery terraces specifically, morning gives the clearest view of the dye pits in use.
Do I have to buy leather to see the tanneries from a rooftop?
No. The terraces overlooking the Chouara tanneries belong to leather shops that will encourage a purchase, and you will usually be handed mint to mask the smell, but there is no obligation to buy. You can enjoy the view, thank them and leave.