Illustrative photo of the region — the property's own gallery is on the booking page.

A 19th-century seafront residence turned riad — floor-to-ceiling windows open straight onto the Atlantic, no need to leave the medina for an ocean view.

Riad Mimouna occupies a converted 19th-century residence at the seaward edge of Essaouira's medina, in the Sandillon quarter — close enough to the ramparts that several rooms and suites look straight out over the Atlantic through floor-to-ceiling windows. It's a genuine rarity: an in-medina riad with real ocean frontage, not just a rooftop glimpse of the sea.

The wind that makes Essaouira famous for windsurfing is part of the deal — reviewers note it can be brisk enough to notice on the terrace, which feels less like a flaw than the honest character of a working Atlantic port town. The rooftop restaurant makes the most of it, serving Moroccan and international dishes with a sea view most riads in town can't match.

Why we chose it

• Rooms with floor-to-ceiling sliding windows opening directly onto the Atlantic
• Corner suites with sea views on two sides, rare inside the medina walls
• A rooftop terrace restaurant that catches the ocean wind and the sunset both

Amenities

• Rooftop terrace restaurant with sea and medina views
• Free WiFi throughout
• On-site restaurant serving Moroccan and international cuisine
• Turkish steam bath and sauna

Frequently asked questions