Stayed for 11 nights in a room on the beautiful roof terrace. The riad turned out to be a delightful place, full of charm and character with very friendly and helpful staff. Felt more like home than a hotel. Took breakfast in the sun on the terrace amongst the gulls which was lovely.

www.riadmaisondusud.com
29 Avenue Mohammed ben Abdellah, Essaouira 44100, Morocco
+212 24474141
Google map: bit.ly/rpoWx6

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A fantastic riad in the middle of the old medina of Essaouira. This riad has recently opened and it is very luxurious. The riad is decorated throughout with one-off African artwork, it is amazing. We had a double room which was very nice, it even had a flatscreen TV in it. All of the rooms are en-suite and even have their own lounge area.
On the large roof terrace you have views of the Atlantic Ocean, there is a gentle breeze blowing which is really nice on a warm day. In the evening you get a magnificent view of the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean from the roof terrace.
The riad is in a quiet area of the medina, it is a few minutes walk away from the main shopping area, the fish market and a five minute walk away from the main beach of Essaouira.
The staff at the riad were very friendly, they all spoke good English and were happy to help us with everything that we needed, they were always smiling which made us feel good.

www.riad-bab-essaouira.com
35 biss, bd my Abd errahmane Eddakhil
Essaouira, Morrocco
+212 524 785 508

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PLACES TO STAY
We were happy with the Cherifa Suite (approximately $200/night) at Madada Mogador. Nice, contemporary style; convenient location (just inside the medina); pleasant manager who is happy to provide advice and answer questions; and a ginormous deck. And, the liquor store is only a 15-minute walk.

THINGS TO DO
- Have a drink at the Taros rooftop deck. Pretty people, pretty views.

- It's cliche but, see The Ramparts at dusk.

- Get scrubbed at the Hammam Lilla Mira. This was the (unexpected) highlight of our trip to Essaouira.

- Buy argan oil. You'll never find it this cheap in The States.

- Visit Galerie d'Art Damgaard. Stunning pieces by local artists on sale for reasonable prices.

- Treat yourself to aperitifs (and impressive, complementray hors d'ouevres) in the Heure Bleu lounge.

WHERE TO EAT
- Have a drink on the rooftop deck at Taros. Beautiful view; even beautiful-er people.

- Dine at Le Patio. Sophisticated, yet homey. DO order seafood.

- Lunch at Creperie for a safe, no-nonsense crepe in a convenient location.

- Aperitif It at the Heure Bleu's swanky cocktail lounge. The (complementary) "bar snacks" are first-class.

- Dine at Restaurant La Licorne. Charming. Order the Lyonnaise salad (trust me on this).

Full Essaouira trip report (plus Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains) at: www.travelmusings.net/morocco/

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Essaouira is full of riads and hotels catering to the large number of visitors that make their way here each year. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay though, you can’t do much better that this cute little traditional guesthouse in a great location near the harbour and beach.

Like everywhere in the Medina itself, it can be a bit tricky to find so arm yourself with a decent map before you start looking (note: Lonely Planet’s offering doesn’t begin to cover it...). It’s small enough to feel like a house rather than a hotel and the French-style breakfasts on the roof terrace are a great way to start a lazy day in the sunshine.

www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/morocco/essaouira/16246/

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Dar Lazuli in Essaouira is a really tranquil, relaxing place to stay. It has a great location just inside the medina walls, a minute's walk from the beach, main square and cafes.

The riad is full of character and lovely white painted walls which just make the whole place feel full of light.

The beds are huge and really comfortable, and there are two terraces where you can sit and enjoy meals outside. Essaouira can be pretty windy and the terraces are really sheltered.

The Moroccan couple that look after Dar Lazuli are incredibly friendly, keep the place immaculate and can't do enough for you. Latifa can also cook delicious meals for you in your apartment which I thoroughly recommend!

Dar Lazuli
rue Moussa ben Noussair
Essaouira
www.darlazuli.co.uk

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Light, airy and very good value; Taros Cafe next door is very good.

Hotel Riad Dar Ness, 1 rue Khalid ben Walid, B.P 640, 44 100
Tel: 00 212 24 47 68 04

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