A Fez riad earns a Michelin Key and joins the world’s best hotels

The Michelin Guide unveiled its new global rankings this Friday, September 18. After a year of inspections, nearly 500 properties received their first Key, while more than 80 others improved their distinction.

In Morocco, Michelin is placing particular emphasis on Riad Mayfez Suites & Spa, now awarded one Key. Located in the medina of Fez, the property is described by inspectors as a new interpretation of the traditional riad, combining Moroccan architecture with Art Deco influences and London references.

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This distinction comes as Fez strengthens its position among Morocco’s luxury tourism destinations. The spiritual capital is focusing in particular on restoring its heritage and developing a hotel offering capable of competing with that of Marrakech.

A former palace transformed into a seven-suite hotel

Riad Mayfez occupies a 19th-century palace where Arab-Moorish elements stand alongside an Art Deco villa. According to the property’s website, the building was acquired in 2006 before undergoing ten years of restoration and renovation.

The property has deliberately retained a very limited capacity. It has only seven accommodations, all different, decorated with antique furniture and objects brought back from various travels. This limited size allows it to offer an experience closer to that of a private residence than a conventional hotel.

A Michelin Key corresponds to “a very special stay.” The Guide awards it to properties with a strong personality, offering a superior level of service and standing out clearly from other hotels in their category. This hotel distinction is independent of the stars awarded to restaurants.

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Worldwide, the 2026 rankings now include 2,020 hotels with one Key, 657 with two Keys and 155 with three Keys. In Africa, more than one hundred properties across fifteen countries have been distinguished. Morocco is notably represented by its historic riads and grand luxury hotels.

By selecting Riad Mayfez among the properties highlighted in its new selection, Michelin is also recognizing the upscale development of the hotel industry in Fez. The city gains a new international showcase in rankings that, for Morocco, have so far been dominated by Marrakech’s most prestigious properties.