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

Essaouira's original riad hotel: whitewashed rooms, blue shutters, ocean air, and open fires in winter.

Villa Maroc more or less invented the Essaouira riad hotel, converting a cluster of 18th-century merchant houses inside the ramparts decades ago and setting the town's aesthetic in the process: whitewash, blue shutters, thuya wood and wind-bent light. It still feels like the real thing rather than a copy.

Rooms twist around staircases and small terraces — no two remotely alike — and in winter, open fires and blankets turn the sea fog into an asset. The port, the fish market and the beach are all a few minutes' walk.

Why we chose it

• The town's original riad hotel, joined from old merchant houses
• Whitewashed rooms with blue shutters and ocean air
• Open fires and mint tea when the Atlantic weather turns

Amenities

• Oriental spa with Turkish steam bath
• Candlelit restaurant serving regional cuisine
• Cookery classes
• Rooftop terrace over the Atlantic

Getting there

Villa Maroc is in Essaouira, 15–20 minutes from Essaouira Mogador Airport (ESU). From here, Essaouira's highlights are within reach, including Walk the Skala de la Ville ramparts, Skala du Port and the fishing harbour and Watch thuya-wood marquetry being made — see the full Essaouira guide for more on what to see nearby.

Frequently asked questions