Dinner with a Local Family in Fes, Fes

4.7 (48 reviews)
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Logan
Logan J.
Apr 03, 2024
We were very excited to be invited to a Moroccan home, especially because it was during Ramadan so we got to have Iftar with the family.... Read more
M
Mary Arlene W.
Mar 13, 2024
Visiting Moroccan homes was one of the highlights of the trip. You really get the taste of the culture, and we tried dishes that you couldn't... Read more
Janet
Janet M.
Mar 02, 2024
This was a terrific experience. Being welcomed into a local family's house was an honor. After the family warmed up to us (and we to them),... Read more
N
Nigar Y.
Feb 10, 2024
Wonderful, warm and welcoming family. Word of caution for those who are claustrophobic and have physical limitations climbing stairs.
M. Javaid
M. Javaid Y.
Feb 10, 2024
Visit to an actual home in Fes Medina was a delight. A family opened its doors to us and met us with Grace and love. We... Read more
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Overview

Morocco sits at the geographical and cultural crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. So it's no wonder Moroccan gastronomy is one of the greatest in the world, thanks to this mix of cultures, flavors, and nations! While in Morocco, you'll find many restaurants serving beloved dishes and recipes. But the best food is found in family homes, complete with secrets and techniques passed down by generations.

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a culture is with food. So go the extra step and join a local family for dinner in the Fes Medina, an incredibly unique experience that not many visitors do. You'll learn about authentic gastronomy, recipes, and ingredients from the direct source as you chat and mingle with a joyful Moroccan family.

This experience is an excellent way to understand the Moroccan culture first-hand, and the family's hospitality and generosity will, without a doubt, touch you. Discover the secrets behind several famed recipes, understand the local culture, and explore the unique etiquette of visiting a family in Morocco. Then polish it all off with a delicious meal and conversation!

Read more about unique and interesting culinary experiences in Morocco.

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Traveler reviews

48 total ratings, 38 with reviews
4.7
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.7
Food
4.8
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.9
Transport
5.0
Logan
Logan J.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 03, 2024
We were very excited to be invited to a Moroccan home, especially because it was during Ramadan so we got to have Iftar with the family. Our driver, Reda, also attended with us because the family that hosted us did not speak English. The food was amazing and plentiful. We ate so much that we skipped breakfast the next day! Our host, Said, and his family were welcoming and hospitable and their home inside the Medina was beautiful. This was a great educational, culinary, cultural experience. Read more

We were very excited to be invited to a Moroccan home, especially because it was during Ramadan so we got to have Iftar with the family. Our driver, Reda, also attended with us because the family that hosted us did not speak English. The food was amazing and plentiful. We ate so much that we skipped breakfast the next day! Our host, Said, and his family were welcoming and hospitable and their home inside the Medina was beautiful. This was a great educational, culinary, cultural experience.

Tips for future travelers

Said and his family don't speak English, but he does speak Arabic, Spanish, and Italian. This might be helpful to know in case you know any of those languages and would like to communicate with him.

Quality of Experience
This was one of our favorite experiences on our trip because of how special it felt to be invited into Said's home. He and his family were so nice!
Food
The food was delicious! We had dates, lots of variations of bread, a Moroccan soup, a chicken and pea dish, pastilla, potatoes with cumin, fruit, tea, juice, and a delicious Moroccan dessert called Chebakia.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The host family was kind, accommodating, and welcoming! We were honored to be able to eat with them.
Transport
Our host, Said and our driver, Reda, met us at our riad and guided us for the short walk to Said's home. They also walked us back to the riad after dinner.
M
Mary Arlene W.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2024
Visiting Moroccan homes was one of the highlights of the trip. You really get the taste of the culture, and we tried dishes that you couldn't try anywhere else. Read more

Visiting Moroccan homes was one of the highlights of the trip. You really get the taste of the culture, and we tried dishes that you couldn't try anywhere else.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Janet
Janet M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 02, 2024
This was a terrific experience. Being welcomed into a local family's house was an honor. After the family warmed up to us (and we to them), the visit was fun. We were joking and laughing. Couldn't have been better. Read more

This was a terrific experience. Being welcomed into a local family's house was an honor. After the family warmed up to us (and we to them), the visit was fun. We were joking and laughing. Couldn't have been better.

Tips for future travelers

Come with some questions to ask the family like - "What are your favorite movies/tv shows?" "Tell me about weddings in Morocco" (this question led to a fun conversation with photos of their daughter's wedding pulled out to show us). Also, have a list of recommendations of movies/tv shows that you like. We were surprised that we couldn't come up with movie titles when we were asked about our favorites.

Quality of Experience
Food
The visit wasn't really about the food. It was about meeting a Moroccan family.
Transport
The son of the family picked us up and dropped us off.
N
Nigar Y.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 10, 2024
Wonderful, warm and welcoming family. Word of caution for those who are claustrophobic and have physical limitations climbing stairs. Read more

Wonderful, warm and welcoming family. Word of caution for those who are claustrophobic and have physical limitations climbing stairs.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
M. Javaid
M. Javaid Y.
West Bloomfield Township, MI | Reviewed on Feb 10, 2024
Visit to an actual home in Fes Medina was a delight. A family opened its doors to us and met us with Grace and love. We really appreciated it. The only handicap is "Language" - wish we had an Arabic speaker with with us. The family's young son Hatim was fluent in English but too young to realize his much needed role to translate and facilitate conversation. Read more

Visit to an actual home in Fes Medina was a delight. A family opened its doors to us and met us with Grace and love. We really appreciated it. The only handicap is "Language" - wish we had an Arabic speaker with with us. The family's young son Hatim was fluent in English but too young to realize his much needed role to translate and facilitate conversation.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
jen
jen r.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 21, 2024
Very interesting experience
Very welcoming family
Food was yummy Read more

Very interesting experience
Very welcoming family
Food was yummy

Quality of Experience
Authentic
Food
Very yummy. But I didn’t like knowing I had eaten pigeon
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Elizabeth
Elizabeth F.
Burlington, VT | Reviewed on Jan 18, 2024

I appreciated exposure to a Moroccan home, family and the daughter who told us about her customs. Putting on the wedding costumes was fun.

Katharine
Katharine H.
North Port, FL | Reviewed on Jan 17, 2024
Interesting but not as impactful as our other stops. Read more

Interesting but not as impactful as our other stops.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Eric
Eric W.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jan 08, 2024
Thank you, Mohammad and family for your hospitality. Read more

Thank you, Mohammad and family for your hospitality.

Tips for future travelers

If we knew more about the family (e.g. young boy who likes football) we could have brought an appropriate gift for the occasion. It's a nice to have not a must.

Quality of Experience
Food
Authentic!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Caren
Caren P.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on Dec 04, 2023
Such a treat to be invited into a Moroccan family's home! Said and his son came to pick us up at our hotel and then helped us navigate the labyrinth in the medina to make our way to their home. We arrived to a delicious home-cooked meal of numerous vegetable side dishes and a chicken pastilla! Said's son speaks excellent English so helped with communication and kept us entertained with his conversation and musical skills - along with his younger brother and sister. Shukran to Said and his... Read more

Such a treat to be invited into a Moroccan family's home! Said and his son came to pick us up at our hotel and then helped us navigate the labyrinth in the medina to make our way to their home. We arrived to a delicious home-cooked meal of numerous vegetable side dishes and a chicken pastilla! Said's son speaks excellent English so helped with communication and kept us entertained with his conversation and musical skills - along with his younger brother and sister. Shukran to Said and his family!

Tips for future travelers

It was fun to step away from hotels and restaurants and experience a meal with a local family. I think due to cost, the family only ate appetizers and dessert with us. I felt a little awkward eating the main meal without their eating with us but we did give them a tip at the end of the night for their efforts.

Quality of Experience
Such a treat to eat in a local family's home vs. at the hotel or at a restaurant
Food
Delicious vegetable side dishes and homemade chicken pastilla (a traditional Moroccan dish)
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Said and his family were most gracious
Transport
A brisk walk to/from the host's home through the labyrinth of the medina

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