We had no idea when we booked Dar Mia exactly what awaited us upon our arrival. We were expecting a clean and well-situated pied-à-terre in the medina and nearly fainted when we entered into what is best described as a palatial and lovingly restored traditional home in the best location in Fes.
I am not one to be overly effusive in a review of a vacation rental, but "palatial" accurately describes this house and here's why: Both the first and second floor ceilings are wooden beamed and at least 25 feet high, with centuries old wooden doors to match. The proscenium of the interior courtyard is lined with hand painted plaster "dentelle" reliefs with mosaic tile pretty much everywhere else, including the largest (functioning) house fountain I have ever seen, again at least 25 feet high. You will also find tastefully arranged traditional Moroccan brass lamps throughout the home. Can you tell I like the owner's attention to detail, tradition and design?
Moving on to more objective matters, we found the beds to be comfortable, the kitchen well appointed, the living room, bathrooms and terrace all to be more than inviting. The terrace has knockout views of Fes in my humble opinion. The location of Dar Mia is truly ideal - you are less than a 5 minutes walk from the R'Cif square which is quite literally the closest you can get by car (and by foot) to the central artery of the medina, including most of the major historical sights. And you will pass by an excellent food and produce market on your walk with Zakariyae from the taxi drop off to the house, which means you have an abundance of food shopping options very close to home.
Speaking of Zakariyae, ("Zach") he is a tremendous asset for the Dar and for you. Born and raised in Fes, he can and will provide you with everything you need to know, starting with a history and description of Dar Mia and the differences between a house and a riad. He hooked us up with a very capable guide for our first full day in Fes and was around and able to answer any questions we had. Dar Mia is the perfect choice for a small family or small group of friends traveling together, as it is a house (with shared bath). There is an adjoining masseria (smaller guest house) that is also available and while smaller, it's still beautiful and much more than what most would expect to find in the way of a vacation rental in Fes.