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PALAIS AMANI, JEMIMA MANN-BAHA
AND ABDEL ALI BAHA
R E T H I N K I N G T H E D E S T I N AT I O N - B A S E D E X P E R I E N C E
In the mid-aughts, when Jemima Mann-Baha
and Abdel Ali Baha were searching for a
property to buy in Fez, the husband-and-wife
team had a singular vision. Their plan was to
return to Abdel’s native Fez to open a boutique
hotel that would provide jobs and training for
locals. They found the perfect property, a large
crumbling riad near one of the city’s main
gates, and after a meticulous three-and-a-half
year renovation, the Palais Amani opened its
grand cedar doors.
The small yet opulent hotel was an instant
hit, quickly garnering international press for
its exquisite design, warm hospitality and
traditional Moroccan cuisine. Ten years on,
and the gorgeous riad is still one of Fez’s most
popular boutique hotels, attracting guests not
only for its romantic atmosphere but for its
renowned cooking school as well.
INVESTMENT IN OUR TEAM IS
OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
HAPPY STAFF MEANS HAPPY
CUSTOMERS. GIVING THE STAFF
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROUD
OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE
THEY ARE FROM IS THE ESSENCE
OF PALAIS AMANI.”
JEMIMA MANN-BAHA,
FOUNDER & CO-OWNER
A natural extension of Jemima and Abdel’s
passion for their city, the Fez Cooking School
began simply enough. After a group trip
to the local souk to shop for supplies, the
hotel’s chef would give a hands-on cooking
demonstration. Guests loved the experience
of cooking and eating together in the open-air
kitchen on the hotel’s spectacular rooftop
terrace, and the workshops soon began to take
on a life of their own. Today, Palais Amani has
an annex dedicated to the school, and visitors
from around the world flock to the hotel to
learn about the unique flavors and diverse
cuisine of Morocco.
PHOTO
JEMIMA MANN-BAHA, SECOND
F R O M R I G H T, W I T H H E R F E Z C O O K I N G
SCHOOL TEAM
ANDREWHARPERTRAVEL.COM
SPRING | 2019