One of Fes’s most famous palace hotels is preparing to welcome guests again — more than a decade after closing its doors.
Palais Jamai is set to reopen in October 2026, bringing a landmark of Moroccan hospitality back to the hill above the old medina.
The restored property will return with 94 rooms and suites, new restaurants, bars, wellness facilities and sweeping views over one of Morocco’s most historic cities.
But this is not simply another luxury hotel opening.
Palais Jamai has been part of the story of Fes for nearly 150 years.
Now, it is getting another chapter.
A Palace Above the Medina
The original palace dates back to 1879, when it was built as a residence for Mohamed ben Arbi el Jamaï, a grand vizier under Sultan Moulay Hassan I.
Its location remains one of its greatest assets.
Set near Bab Guissa on the edge of Fes el-Bali, the palace looks across the rooftops and minarets of the medina.
Inside, the architecture reflects the craftsmanship associated with historic Moroccan palaces: zellige, carved plaster, woodwork, arches, courtyards and gardens.
The building was later transformed into a hotel and became one of the city’s best-known luxury addresses.
For many travellers, Palais Jamai was not simply somewhere to sleep.
It was part of the experience of arriving in Fes.
Closed for More Than a Decade
The hotel closed in 2014.
What followed was a long wait.
Plans to renovate and revive the property surfaced over the years, but the reopening repeatedly remained somewhere in the future.
That is why the October 2026 return matters.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has now placed Palais Jamai in its prestigious Legend Collection and lists the hotel among its major new openings for this year.
After more than a decade away from the hospitality map, one of Fes’s grand names is finally preparing to receive guests again.
94 Rooms and a New Era
The restored hotel will have 63 rooms and 31 suites, including a Royal Suite.
Food will also play a major role in the new Palais Jamai.
Three restaurants and four bars are planned, with culinary concepts developed by Groupe Alain Ducasse.
One of the standout spaces will be a sky bar overlooking the medina.
That view could become one of the hotel’s biggest attractions in its own right.
Few experiences capture Fes quite like watching the light change over the old city from above.
Hammams, Pools and Gardens
The hotel will also include traditional hammams, wellness and fitness areas, two swimming pools, a padel court and a kids club.
Boutiques, an art gallery, a florist and a vegetable garden are also part of the project.
The mix reflects how luxury travel has changed.
Guests increasingly expect more than expensive rooms.
They want design, food, wellness and a strong sense of place.
Palais Jamai already has something many new hotels have to create from scratch: history.
Restoring Without Erasing
That history is also the biggest challenge.
The renovation has focused on preserving traditional elements including zellige, stucco, woodwork and arches while introducing modern hotel infrastructure and comfort.
That balance matters in Fes.
The city’s appeal does not come from looking new.
It comes from the layers of history that remain visible everywhere.
A successful restoration therefore cannot simply polish the palace until it feels like any other luxury hotel.
The best version of Palais Jamai should still feel unmistakably like Fes.
Returning to a Different Morocco
The Moroccan luxury hotel market has changed dramatically since Palais Jamai closed.
International brands have expanded.
Historic riads have become increasingly sophisticated.
Travellers now expect higher standards in design, dining, wellness and personalised service.
Palais Jamai is therefore returning to a much more competitive market than the one it left.
But it also has something new hotels cannot easily buy.
A name people already know.
A building with a story.
And a position above the medina that cannot be recreated somewhere else.
That gives the hotel a powerful advantage if the restoration delivers on its promise.
Fes Gets an Icon Back
Morocco has no shortage of new luxury hotels.
But Palais Jamai feels different.
This is not a new brand arriving and choosing Fes as its next destination.
It is a piece of the city returning to life.
A palace built in the 19th century.
A hotel remembered by generations of travellers.
A landmark closed for more than a decade.
And now, a new chapter.
When the doors reopen, guests will find new rooms, restaurants and modern luxury.
But the real attraction will be much older.
Palais Jamai is coming back — and Fes is getting one of its great hospitality landmarks back with it.