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A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira.

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Photo gallery for A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira.

View from First Floor to Ground Floor dining table.
Dining table and First floor view.
Dining Table.
Interior details - tiled floor.
Dining Table and Courtyard / Dining Room.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Parking available
  • Laundry room
  • Kitchen
S$231
avg per night

Explore the area

View in a map
Essaouira, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz
  • Place, Skala de la Ville
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Place Moulay el Hassan
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Essaouira Beach
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Airport, Essaouira (ESU-Mogador)
    ‪28 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3 Terrace

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4 Top terrace

1 Double Bed

1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Dining area
The current price is S$231
avg per night

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About the area

Essaouira

Located near the beach, this riad is in Medina, a neighbourhood in Essaouira. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Essaouira Beach and Sidi Kaouki Beach, while Dar Souiri and Gallery d’Art Damgaard are cultural highlights. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Skala de la Ville - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Essaouira Clock Tower - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Place Moulay el Hassan - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Essaouira Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Skala du Port - 10 min walk - 0.9 km

Getting around

  • Essaouira (ESU-Mogador) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Fish Burger - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Mandala Society - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Restaurant Baghdad - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Restaurant Des Reves - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Sisterhood (Coffee, Vintage & Events) - ‬4 min walk

About this property

A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira.

5 Columns is in the ancient medina of Essaouira, Southern Morocco’s favourite beach town. A beautiful 200-year-old house in the authentic and friendly Chbanat area, famous for its textile and craft workshops, and near to the main gate of Bab Marrakech. The house is located at the back of the souks with lots of local shops nearby, with helpful shopkeepers on hand to provide all you will need for your stay. Essaouira is a food-lovers heaven, with cafés and restaurants all within walking distance from the house, and the beach just a 10-minute stroll.

The Medina, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and the beautiful fishing harbour are great places to explore. There is a stunning sandy beach, with many beachside cafes and restaurants, and the bustling harbour, all within walking distance from the house. The beach is great for kite and windsurfing, along with camel and horse rides to the famous crumbling fort, Bordj El Berod. If you love fresh fish and seafood, the fish stalls by the harbour offer a wide variety of local produce. Simply choose your fresh fish from the stand and they will cook it and bring to your table. Unlike the big city that is Marrakech, Essaouira is laidback and timeless with sandy-coloured ramparts, whitewashed avenues, French-style piazzas, and a port full of azure blue fishing boats.

The house has been sympathetically restored, retaining all the original features such as the sandstone columns, thuya wood ceilings and the antique tiled floor of the inner courtyard. It is furnished with a mix of vintage & modern European furniture and art, with some beautiful Moroccan antiques and paintings by local artists, alongside works by contemporary British artists. Split over four floors, the house has two garden roof terraces; one with a kitchen and bar - great for outside dining and looking out across the medina rooftops, the other terrace is perfect for late afternoon sun. There are four double bedrooms, all with en-suite wet room bathrooms, and two cosy snug lounge rooms with large open fireplaces, and comfortable chairs. The bright covered courtyard dining area with a large dining table seating eight, is surrounded by mature plants, and is located next to the fully equipped kitchen, ideal for long lazy breakfasts, and dinner at home.

Our housekeeper Fatima will provide general cleaning during your stay and is also available to prepare food on request, at an additional cost. You will be met on arrival by our house manager Rachid, who will also be your point of contact during your stay. On your arrival, you will be taken on a short tour of the medina by Rachid, who can also help arrange excursions, taxis, or anything else you may need.

We offer a minimum 7-night stay, but shorter stays are available on request, and will be quoted based on the number of guests, and the number of nights. The minimum would be 3 nights for 3 people for shorter stays.
Also available for location shoots on request.

Essaouira airport is a short 20-minute taxi ride to the house. You can also fly to Marrakech airport; the journey time is approximately 2.5 hours to Essaouira. We can arrange taxi transfers from all airports - costs will be provided upon request.

LOCATION: Essaouira, Morocco.

CLOSEST AIRPORT: Essaouira (20 mins drive); Marrakech (2.5hrs drive).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Essaouira has a pleasant temperature all year round with high temperatures from early April, through to late November.

POPULAR EVENTS: The Gnaoua World Music Festival, Essaouira's biggest annual event, is held for three days, every June - early booking is recommended. Moga Festival - October

ADDRESS: 90, Rue Moulay Ismail, Medina, Essaouira, Morocco.

Amenities

Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Breakfast available
Parking available
Laundry

House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)
Minimum age to rent: 25
Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

Frequently asked questions

Is A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira. pet-friendly?

Yes, this riad allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira.?

As of 21 Mar, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira. on 12 Apr, 2026 start from S$231, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

Where is A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira. located?

Located in Medina, this riad is steps away from Souk Jdid, Place du Marché aux Grains and Fish Market. Haim Pinto Synagogue and Bab Marrakech Tower are also within 10 minutes.

A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira. Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 29 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 29 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 29 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 29 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 29 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

sabrina l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

gorgeous vacation home

Very stlylish Riad in the center of Essaouira with plenty of outdoor space. Host provided fabulous recommendations on best places to eat, shop, local artisans, etc. Lisa was VERY responsive to all of our needs, and Fatima, the housekeeper is an excellent chef!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning property in heart of Essaouira

Property is wonderfully furnished throughout. Location is perfect for exploring and very central. Fatima and Rachid were super helpful. Will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

louise c.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

We had the most amazing stay for New Year at Lisa's riad. The place was spotless and the added bonus of Fatima coming in daily was brilliant. The beds were extremely comfortable and we all slept so well, even during the call to prayer! Well equipped kitchen and lots of hot water. Thank you Lisa!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house, great location

Beautiful house with nice outdoor areas and really comfy beds! Great showers with lots of hot water and good pressure. In a great location and the house manager meets you on arrival and gives you a quick and very helpful orientation to the medina. Lisa is quick to answer any questions and recomends some great places to eat. Recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gerald B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect and Quiet Riad

We spend a week in Lisa Riad. It’s a amazing riad with 4 rooms , 4 bedrooms with toilet and a separate toilet . The street is quiet and very close to the Medina Center . We asked for the breakfast ( very typical Morocco ) and it was very good . Perfect place to be if you want to visit Essaouira
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous riad

We really loved our stay at 5 Columns. It's a gorgeous space and decorated with a funky/fun design sense that I really appreciated. Winter guests should know that it definitely gets cool at night, but every room has a heater, and for us that wasn't an issue. The house design, with the vast inner courtyard that typifies a riad, does funnel sound up and around in sort of echo-like fashion. But tbh I liked that: the small sacrifice in terms of privacy is more than made up by the fun communal sense of a shared space with friends/family. Lisa wasn't around during our stay, but she was very responsive and friendly. And Fatima (the manager/chef) is very sweet (and makes delicious breakfasts). Highly recommended.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hayley M.

A fabulous property, with great character, style and flexibility

My partner and I stayed at Lisa’s property in October. The property is exactly as billed on the website and just as quirky and stylish as we hoped. As there were only two of us, we didn’t take advantage of the space the property affords for groups/larger families. We would come back with friends without hesitation. The liaison with Lisa was prompt and informative, and we were very appreciative of her arranging taxis to and from the airport, and a wonderful welcome to the house/medina by Rashid and her housekeeper, Fatima. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Whilst Essaouira is more relaxed than Marrakesh, we were still grateful for this handholding in our first few hours. I would thoroughly recommend this property and Essaouira is a great place to chill and experience a more relaxed Moroccan culture than Marrakech. Thanks Lisa and team! Hayley and John
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2018
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Saverio C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and easily accessible Riad in Essaouira Medina

Lisa the house owner organised our airport transfer from Marrakesh to Essaouira (cheaper than general internet quoted private transfer prices). The journey is straightforward with potential breaks enroute if required. Rachid the in-situ property manager met us at the drop off point outside the Medina and accompanied us to the Riad. He ensured we could get our bearings and which routes to get around the Medina. We had ordered dinner for our arrival and Fatima the house keeper was there with a delicious dinner and beautifully laid table. It was our best meal during our stay. There are 4 double rooms to choose from, all with a slightly different feel. The outside roof top is sheltered from the wind and a lovely space to sunbathe or sit in the shade. All mod cons provided and everything is to the highest quality. There were board games books and puzzles available (we loved LINKEE). There is a pair of nesting House Buntings who come to roost every evening in the eves beside the open central courtyard, which we loved. Fatima came each morning and cleaned up our dishes from breakfast. The location is great since it is away from the hustle and bustle of the main Souk but still very easy to reach, and is next to one of the citadel gates to be able to access the beach and other areas. We are a family of 4 so everyone got their own room and it felt very spacious. Lots of spots to ‘chill’ although WIFI signal only strong by receiver on the first floor.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heleen L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We hebben een geweldige tijd gehad in het Riad. Het ontvangst verliep uitstekend en Fatima heeft ons elke ochtend verrast met een heerlijk en gevarieerd ontbijt. De ligging van het Riad is ook uitstekend. We komen heel graag nog eens terug.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Irmgard T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Geschmackvoll eingerichtet

Wir hatten einen schönen Aufenthalt in 5 Columns.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Helen T.

Lovely, spacious, clean, central - everything you could need

We spent a lovely family week exploring Essaouira and enjoying the riad. Everything worked smoothly, Famima who came every day to do the housekeeping was a delight, couldn't have asked for anything more. Recommended :)
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

fiona b.

Perfect

We all loved Essaouira and we loved this Riad. Rachid was there to meet us at the appointed time and gave us a lovely warm welcome. The house is absolutely beautiful - the use of space, light, original features, furniture, set furnishings and art all work to make you feel like you are literally living in an interiors magazine. We spent many hours as a family around the table (every bit as gorgeous as it looks in the photos), all slept well, enjoyed cooking in the kitchen, which has everything you could need and the (teenage) boys were happy to find there was good wifi. The outside area is pretty private and we loved the bar area, which we stocked up from the local Carrefour. It goes without saying that the property was immaculate and Fatima did a great job of tidying round us every day. Fatima also cooked for us one night - which she dropped off at an agreed time. It was delicious and enough for the whole street. Her Lemon Tart was AMAZIng. And I don't even like lemon tart!! (The cost was 150DH which is about £12. Well worth every penny) Lisa is really quick to get back to you about any queries and gave us some wonderful shopping and eating tips. In fact she cost us a fortune. We took an empty suitcase and it almost wasn't enough! We would definitely visit Essaouira again and definitely stay here. It's a little oasis in a crazy place. Thank you very much Lisa x
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Susan C.

Had a great time

Beautiful riad ! Great communication with the owner Lisa , highly recommend
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

anne k.

beautyful, perfectly organized, relaxed,

Dear Lisa, thank you very much for our great stay in your beautyful riad. Everything was organized perdectly, many thanks to Fatima and Rachid, who both did a great job with cooking delicious morocan food and with a perfect housekeeping. We had a very relaxed time (not so dificult in this very special designed ambiance :) )We enjoyed everything: house, sun, wind, ocean, people, food, shops, atmosphere. We´ll come back, so long, anne
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

Long weekend at 5 Columns with the girls

Spent a wonderful long weekend with friends at this beautiful riad - hidden away behind a grey door, it was like walking into another world. As we were arriving in the evening, we had arranged with the owner (Lisa) for the maid to prepare dinner for us, which was waiting for us on arrival. A gorgeous tagine with salads and bread, stunningly laid out on the central dining table. Absolutely delicious and welcome after our trip, all set within the 5 columns and the open-plan dining/kitchen area, with an open space above us leading to the top atrium. Decor is a mixture of Moroccan/African and vintage 60s/70s and works really well. The impression was of space and light, with 2 bedrooms on the first floor (one of which was mine - really comfortable bed and lovely accents of colour and soft lighting. Then stairs leading up to the main sun terrace, and then further stairs leading up to the top smaller terrace and the final bedroom. Everything was spotlessly clean and it was really quiet at night, so slept amazingly well (on a very comfortable bed I should add). Being right in the middle of the medina was exciting, because as soon as you walked out of the front door, you were right in the heart of the bustle of daily life. A very short walk to the main shopping area, we felt very safe as people there seemed relaxed and friendly - we managed to get lost a few times, and people were more than happy to steer us back in the right direction (although it was fun getting lost down the narrow streets as you would discover something new). The owner recommended restaurants for dinner for the length of our stay and they were all spot on - when you only have a few days, it is so worth not wandering around not knowing where is good or not, so that was a bonus. She also recommended areas to shop which was really useful. Plus we spent a lovely sunny day at a gorgeous spa retreat recommended by her as well, where we sunbathed and had a delicious brunch - and it was so reasonable! The beach is also only a short walk away, although the day we went down there, the weather was a bit hit and miss, but there are a few beach bars which would be lovely to hang out in the sunshine. It was my first trip to Morocco and I loved it - Essaouira is such an interesting place, and I feel I only scratched the surface, so would love to return and would definitely stay at 5 Columns again. Cannot recommend it and the personal service we received highly enough. Thank you Lisa :)
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Simon S.

Chique Essouira - we loved our stay!!

My wife and I came with two children and our au pair. This house made what would be a good holiday into a great vacation. The house is a cool renovation of a peroid Moroccan riad. Not wanting to sound clichéd but the historic elements have been blended superbly with modern European furniture. The first floor centres round a light filled balcony looking over the ground floor and a long wooden table. The lighting after dark is exquisite and the ambience enchanting. Their are two further floors centred around the patios with two further bedrooms Having tons of space to move around the kids loved playing at home. Also given that the rooms are over four floors the bedrooms on the upper levels have an element of separation and privacy too. The au pair loved that point and I would expect it to work equally well with couples or families with teenage kids who require a little more distance. The art work around the house was cool - I loved the hip prints and spent the first few days inspired to pinch some of the themes for my own home. The service was great too. We went over Ramadam and Lisa helped organise some beautiful bottles of wine for the house along with transfers and a plethora of recommendations of where to eat and visit. We also used on three occasions the dinner services organised by the house keeper. Tasty tajines with sides of salads and aubergine were brought round at an agreed time. It was half way between take away and a delivered banquet. Lisa (the owner) and Rachid (the house manager) are alway on call and the cleaner was there every day but was very discrete. The taxi firm which Lisa recommends was always punctilious and the owner speaks fluent English. Staying in Essouira is a really interesting with many great beaches and choosing this place highly recommended
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Gary W.

Authentic medina living with modern luxury

An authentic, luxury house in a great part of the medina of Essaouira. All (double) rooms are beautifully decorated, clean and highly stylish down to the owner being an interior designer and you can certainly tell by the quality of decor and interesting pieces dotted around. There's plenty of space in this Riad with two sun terraces on the upper levels ensuring total privacy and tranquility. If your looking for a spacious, authentic yet modern Riad experience to share with friends and/or with family then 5 columns is the perfect choice.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Ian L.

A beautiful spacious home with comfortable corners

You can warm your bones on the roof as is a great suntrap , The kitchen perfect for those who like to cook , Had no problem sleeping in the comfortable beds , Beautifully dressed with lovely pieces of art, I feel very at home there Recommend the Moroccan food cooked by Fatima
Archival

10/10 Excellent

caroline t.

Five Star and Fabulous!

The house is simply amazing and, I’ve been told, one of the best in Essaouria. It is modern, comfortable and stylish as well as unmistakably Moroccan. The location was spot on. The house is located within the heart of Medina, which in our view was the best place to be situated. A few minutes down a couple of winding alleyways brings you to the centre of the Medina where there are many shops and restaurants – staying in the Medina in a 5* riad was more of an exciting experience for us than staying in one of the soulless chain hotels along the sea front. The owners, Rachid and Latifa were very accomodating and arranged everything from airport transfers to dinner on arrival to recommending the best restaurants and things to do, all of which helped to make our holiday go smoothly. Dinner on arrival was perfect as it meant we didn’t have to find somewhere to eat whilst dazed and confused after a long day travelling. As was Rachid’s tour of the Medina, which greatly helped us to find our bearings. We loved Essaouria and can’t wait to return. The locals were so friendly. We shall be returning to Five Columns.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

kezia p.

A beautiful oasis

This really is a wonderful place to stay. Hidden on a back street of busy Essaouira, through a small grey door you enter into an oasis of light and warmth. It is beautifully and tastefully renovated combining the original old details with a sensitive modern touch. And so well looked after by all. Could not have hoped for a better place to stay. Thank you!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Beauty + harmony 2 mins from the souks

We feel so fortunate to have stayed at this beautiful house for our first trip to Morocco. It is tasteful, understated, stylish and yet so comfortable it felt like home. Designed with care and attention to every detail it provides the perfect foil to the bustle and noise of the medina. Simple decor with a mixture of sixties pieces and local rugs and furniture let the building speak for itself. Traditional style shower rooms combined with modern plumbing - a rare treat! We had Latifa's chicken tagine on the first night and it was delicious. Freshly baked pastries are available just a step from the front door and the kitchen had everything we needed for catering for ourselves after picking up the spices etc from the souks. Everything was taken care of from the moment we landed at Marrakech airport even though it was late when we arrived. The house was spotless and the owner was extremely helpful and gave us lots of good advice. Rachid's tour of the medina helped us to 'find our feet' and he and Latifa were there to help for the whole of our stay. Nothing was too much trouble. Essaouira is a wonderful place and we will be returning very soon. The souks are manageable and the people are so friendly. Safi beach is spectacular and there are lots of places to eat at very reasonable prices. I would recommend 'Five Columns' to my friends without reservation.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Understated charm in the ancient walled city

I whisked my girlfriend away to Morooco for her birthday last year. I've been to Morocco many times and decided to spend most of our time by the coast (Essaouira) and then overnight in Marrakech - the ideal long weekend for me. I'd been referred to 5 columns through a friend and it really didn't disappoint. To find such a stylish haven amidst the cacophony of the medina is such a wonderful thing. You can see the owners have really put some love into the interiors - I've ben told they're interior designers and it showed. Although there were four of us. It would comfortably accomodate 8 adults as there's a decent sized roof terrace with a bar and a big round table for al fresco dining. There are four very good sized bedrooms all with en-suites and a lovely open fire in a snug that was nice in the evening when it got a little chillier. In addition, the house was very well maintained with qualtiy white linens and big fluffy towels - nice touches that make such a difference. The housemaid comes in regularly - very friendly and discreet and will offer meals if required. We didn't but actually used the new, quality kitted out kitchen one night and for breakfasts. The owners leave some very useful tips on the best local restaurants - other places just leave business cards, or flyers - which was another nice touch. We tried a couple (after 5 and Taros and they were both a cut above) We'll definitely be going back - this time with a bigger group of good friends. Essaouira's great and we found 5 columns understated and charming
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Heike H.

Honeymoon in Essaouira

We spent our honeymoon here in February, and had a fantastic time. The house is wonderful, we really enjoyed the food and had a great time soaking up the atmosphere, relaxing on the roof garden or in front of a nice open fire, and walking around the Medina, taking photographs (I bet we have one of every blue door!). Everyone was lovely and really helpful, Emma organised for us to go to a souk on Wednesday morning, which was great, and to a beach on Saturday (with a very cool cafe) and Latifa made some delicious tagines and salads for us. We had a wonderful honeymoon! We hope to visit again sometime and I'd definitely recommend this property.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

5 Columns

What a treat to stay in such a cool house! I'm a big fan of mid 20th century design and I really like interiors, so it was great to stay in a property that has been so lovingly decorated by someone who obviously knows their stuff. There is a real attention to detail and each room has its own personality (I grabbed the coolest one straight away). Throughout the house there are really cool vintage knick-knacks and lamps, lovely massive coffee table books and very well chosen pieces of art on the walls - a mixture of trendy prints and what looks like contemporary african art. I felt at home straight away and didn't get that cold clinical feeling you sometimes get with posh boutique hotels. You feel as though the owners really care about this house. Although this is a self-catering experience the house still has a luxurious feel and there is a housekeeper who comes in daily so you feel welcomed and looked after. She can bring in meals if you order in advance (the dinner she made us was yummy & very reasonable in price) The house is situated within the walls of the historical Medina, so you can jump right in and feel connected straight away, without that distant sanitised touristy feeling you sometimes get when you visit a place. I absolutely adored the Medina, it's beautiful and nutty and colourful. On arrival we were met by Emma who showed us to the house and gave a free tour of the Medina. This was really helpful as it allowed us to get a feel for the place and get our bearings a bit. There's usually a bit of faffing around when you first arrive and it can take a while to get the hang of a place, so this helped us have a more immediate experience of Essaouira. She has an amazing knowledge of Essaouira and helped us to organise trips during our stay. I would highly recommend this house and will definitely stay there again because it is SO stylish and it enabled me to have a genuine close-up experience of the place without having to rough it.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

A great place to relax

My friends and I had a long weekend here for an "occasion" birthday in March 2010 and can thoroughly recommend this property. Apart from the fact that it's beautifully designed and somehow manages to capture the spirit of the town itself, it's also practical and comfortable - very important when self catering! Everything is exactly where you'd expect to find it and the little touches of luxury everywhere help to make it feel homely. It really does feel like a special place to stay. It can be baffling getting to grips with the medina and the prearranged tour of around the locality was a must for us, and I'd recommend the beautiful home cooked meal delivered by Latifa the housekeeper one night - delicious! There are tons of places to eat and drink within a few minutes walk though, and the local shopkeepers are friendly and helpful if you need your own supplies. A great place to relax - Essaouira is very laid back and atmospheric - that's its charm, but once you shut the door to the house it's hard to believe that there's any hustle and bustle going on outside - it can be as peaceful or noisy as you want it, being completely private. A great place to party or relax.