Practical guide
Palace dinner in Fes: pickup, cash, dress
How the Fes palace dinner runs in practice: pickup in the car-free medina, cash for drinks, what to wear and how to enjoy the night properly.
Reserve your place at the table ↗Quick answer
Expect pickup from your accommodation or from the nearest point a vehicle can reach, because Fes el Bali is largely car-free. Bring Moroccan dirhams for drinks, which are cash only, and wear loose, comfortable clothes that cover arms and legs. The evening lasts about three hours at a private table, and the calendar lists the start and the pickup details for each date.
Start with the calendar
Open the booking calendar before anything else. Only nights listed there are on sale, and each shows its own start time and pickup details, so there is no point planning around any other date. Check the night against the rest of your Fes days. The old city rewards early starts and long walks, and a three-hour dinner with rides at both ends fits better after a lighter day than after a full one. If your plans are still moving, a reservation held now and paid later keeps the night without a charge. Because the start time changes by date, avoid pairing the night with a train or tour that leaves late that evening or early the next day.
How pickup works in a car-free city
The ticket lists pickup from your accommodation. Fes el Bali covers roughly 300 hectares and is one of the world’s largest car-free urban areas, because its alleys are too narrow for cars. Only one major road enters it, from the south, and ends near Place R’cif. If your riad or hotel sits inside the pedestrian zone, vehicles cannot reach the door, so the team arranges the nearest accessible pickup point for you. The booking page shows that point when you check your date, and the old city has several main gates, so the point depends on where you stay.
Meeting the car
Tell your accommodation which night you are going and ask the host how to reach the pickup point, and whether they can walk you there. Share the exact name of your riad or hotel with the provider through the booking page so the driver knows where to meet you. UK government travel advice warns that people posing as tourist guides often harass visitors, so politely decline offers of help from strangers and follow your host, or the driver, instead. Arrive at the point a little early.
Walking the lanes after dark
The medina’s main streets run between its gates and its central mosques, and most side streets lead only to residential lanes, many of them dead ends. The best-known street, Tala’a Kebira, starts just inside Bab Bou Jeloud and crosses the medina towards the Qarawiyyin mosque and university. Everything off it is easy to get lost in. Keep your phone charged, carry the address of your accommodation, and stay on the busier routes. UK government advice notes that petty crime is common in medina quarters, so carry little, keep valuables out of sight and stay alert, especially if you are walking alone.
Cash: what to bring
Drinks are not included, and the venue takes cash only for them, in Moroccan dirhams. Tips for the driver and venue staff are not included either. The dirham is Morocco’s currency, issued by Bank Al-Maghrib. UK government advice urges care at cash machines and recommends avoiding large sums, so withdraw during the day, keep notes in more than one pocket and carry just enough for a few drinks and the tips. Cards will not pay for drinks at the venue. Ask your accommodation for small notes when you change money, because tips are easier in small denominations.
What to wear
UK government advice for women in Morocco is to wear loose-fitting clothing that covers arms, legs and chest, and the same loose, easy cut suits anyone who will sit for three hours at a shared dinner. Choose flat, closed shoes, because the lanes are narrow and winding, and bring a layer you can take off. A light scarf or wrap is easy to carry and covers the shoulders if you want it to. Avoid public displays of affection on the way, especially near religious sites. If you volunteer for the staged wedding, you will dress up for the part.
At the table
The evening runs about three hours at a private table. The itinerary on the booking page puts the dinner first and the dance show second, and the live band plays while you eat; the order can change on the night. Have cash ready for drinks, and give your main-course choice when asked, since each guest picks one. You are free to leave whenever you wish; if you want an early ride back, ask the driver when you are collected. Keep a hand free for clapping, because the room joins in.
Language and company
The driver speaks English, French, Spanish and Arabic, so you can ask about the route and the evening in your own language. The evening welcomes solo travellers, couples, families and groups, and every party gets its own table. The format invites participation, and joining in is always optional. If you travel with someone who dislikes being singled out, mention it to the staff early and enjoy the music from your seat; nobody has to dance.
Photos and manners
UK government advice is to ask permission before photographing people, especially children, and that applies to performers and fellow guests as much as to anyone on the street. Photographing sensitive political or military sites is illegal. Alcohol is sold in licensed venues, and drinking it in the street is illegal. Respect local customs at all times, and follow the staff’s lead on when it is polite to film the dancers or the fire acts.
Getting back
The ticket lists drop-off as well as pickup, so you are not left to find your own way home through the medina after dark. If your accommodation is inside the pedestrian zone, expect the same short walk from the drop-off point that you made on the way out. Keep your accommodation’s address and phone number to hand, and tell your host roughly when you expect to be back. If you have a tour or a train the next morning, say so when you are collected, so the evening ends in good time.
Who this isn't for
If you use a wheelchair or cannot manage narrow, winding lanes, ask the provider about the pickup point before you book. The booking page marks the evening wheelchair accessible, but the old medina’s alleys are narrow and winding. Travellers who want an early night, a quiet dinner or card payment for drinks should choose another evening. The palace dinner is a long, festive night with cash at the bar and a lively room around you.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the pickup happen?
At your accommodation, or at the nearest point a vehicle can reach if you stay in the pedestrian medina. The booking page shows the details for your date. Share your accommodation’s exact name with the provider.
How much cash should I bring?
Enough for the drinks you plan to order and a tip for the driver and staff, all in dirhams. Drinks are cash only, and the amount is up to you. Withdraw during the day, not late at night.
What should I wear?
Loose, comfortable clothes that cover arms and legs, plus flat shoes for the lanes. UK government advice recommends this for women in Morocco, and it suits the evening for everyone.
Which languages does the driver speak?
English, French, Spanish and Arabic. Ask about the route and the evening in whichever of the four suits you.
Can I leave before the show ends?
Yes. You have a private table and are free to leave whenever you wish. Agree an earlier ride back with the driver when you are collected.
Can I take photos and video?
Ask permission before photographing people, performers and fellow guests included, and follow the staff’s lead on filming the show. UK government advice recommends asking first, especially with children.
Is it a late night for children?
The evening runs about three hours plus the rides at either end, so it is a full evening for small children. Families are welcome, and each party has its own table.
Is the medina safe at night?
UK government advice says petty crime is common in medina quarters, so stay alert and carry little. Use the pickup and drop-off included in the ticket rather than finding your own way home.
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