Travel writing based on first-hand experience
In Essaouira, the hotels reflect the city itself: charming and on a human scale. From chic palaces with refined elegance inherited from centuries past, to pop art riads, family kasbahs nestled in beautiful gardens, or classic beachfront hotels, here are our ten best luxury hotels in Essaouira for a stay in harmony with the wind and the ocean.
Planning More Essaouira Adventures?
Essaouira is the kind of place where we book one beautiful hotel and suddenly start imagining rooftop sunsets, seafood lunches, riad courtyards, windy beach walks, and “maybe we should stay another night” like responsible adults with no self-control. Use these Essaouira and Morocco guides to keep planning your coastal escape properly.
- Best Riads in Essaouira — perfect for traditional courtyards, boutique guesthouses, Moroccan details, and stays with more soul than a standard hotel room.
- Best Things to Do in Essaouira — useful for medina wandering, ramparts, the fishing port, beach time, crafts, galleries, and easy coastal exploring.
- Perfect Essaouira Itinerary — ideal if you want to turn your hotel stay into a smooth 2-day plan with food, views, art, and ocean air.
- Where to Eat in Essaouira — because after checking into a lovely hotel, we clearly need seafood, breakfast, terraces, and at least one “just one more plate” moment.
- Best Restaurants in Essaouira — handy for dinner plans, stylish tables, Moroccan flavors, seafood, and restaurants worth leaving the hotel for.
- Best Rooftops in Essaouira — for sunset drinks, medina views, Atlantic wind, and the noble art of pretending we only came up for one photo.
- Best Essaouira Excursions — great if you want quad biking, camel rides, surf lessons, day trips, and activities beyond the hotel pool.
- 3 Days in Marrakech Itinerary — useful if you’re pairing Essaouira’s breezy coast with Marrakech’s souks, gardens, palaces, and glorious chaos.
- Where to Eat in Marrakech — perfect if your Morocco route continues inland and you want tagines, tanjia, rooftops, and proper food stops.
Table of Contents
Best Luxury Hotels in Essaouira: Quick Comparison
No time to inspect every rooftop terrace, riad patio, hammam, heated pool, and suspiciously persuasive breakfast view? Fair. Here is the quick version: where each hotel shines, who it suits best, and why you might want to book it before your “quick hotel search” turns into a 19-tab emotional incident.
| Best for | Hotel | Area / setting | Price from | Why book it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chic palace stay | L’Heure Bleue Palais | Medina | From €200 | A polished Relais & Châteaux palace with a leafy patio, rooftop pool, hammam, excellent food, and serious old-Mogador glamour. |
| Families and garden calm | Le Jardin de Douars | Gardens outside Essaouira | From €180 | A peaceful kasbah-style guesthouse with two heated pools, family rooms, villas, spa treatments, padel, yoga, and space to breathe. |
| Bold design and adults-only mood | Riad Esprit Bleu | Medina | From €138 | A playful pop-art riad with seven suites, rooftop terraces, strong design details, and a no-children-under-12 policy for quieter stays. |
| Poetic boutique atmosphere | Casa.b Mogador | Near Place Moulay Hassan | From €180–€220 | An intimate six-suite guesthouse with vintage details, a flower-filled patio, warm service, and a refined organic restaurant. |
| Historic riad charm | Villa Maroc | Medina / near beach and port | From €155 | One of Essaouira’s classic riad-hotels, with four patios, sea-view suites, rooftop breakfasts, spa access, and lots of character. |
| Ocean views and terrace life | Madada Mogador | Medina edge / ocean-facing | From €120 | A small boutique hotel with huge terrace views over the beach, ramparts, and Atlantic — ideal if staring at the sea is your main plan. |
| Bohemian garden escape | Villa Beldi | 5 minutes from the medina | From €125 | A colorful garden hotel with spacious rooms, private terraces, a heated pool, refined restaurant, and relaxed boho-luxury energy. |
| Beachfront spa stay | Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa – MGallery | Main beach / near medina | From €105 | The most practical seaside choice, with beach access, thalassotherapy, pool, water sports, balconies, and easy medina access. |
| Rooftop views and bold interiors | Salut Maroc | Ramparts / medina | From €170 | A bright, design-led hotel with one of the best terraces in Essaouira, colorful rooms, Atlantic views, and strong sunset potential. |
| Traditional Moroccan stay | Dar L’Oussia | Medina / near beach | From €86 | A traditional hotel set around an Andalusian patio, with rooftop breakfasts, warm service, Moroccan decor, and excellent value. |
Best Luxury Hotels In Essaouira
L’Heure Bleue Palais (Relais & Châteaux), the most chic
A palace at L’Heure Bleue? Oh yes—and not the “gold taps and bad taste” kind. This is the real-deal chic: a large, leafy patio wrapped in sandstone colonnades, with shared spaces that feel like Mogador at its most glamorous. We’re talking an English lounge with wood paneling and proper club chairs for afternoon tea, plus an oriental lounge draped in deep crimson velvet that practically begs for a slow, fireside dinner. Over three floors, 33 rooms and suites—designed (like the rest of the hotel) by Studio KO—circle the patio, and the whole thing climbs up to a rooftop terrace with a heated pool. Translation: lunch up top, a lazy read, then an aperitif at sunset while you pretend you’re in a film.
What we love: the excellent food. The spa with its black marble hammam. The elevator that saves your knees after a long medina day. Preparing for your trip? This is where you start spoiling yourself.
Which room should you book? Classic rooms are perfectly lovely, but if you want that “we can see Essaouira breathing” feeling, aim for a Deluxe with a balcony on the 2nd or 3rd floors or go for a suite.
At what price? From €200 for the classic room (27m2), breakfast included, €280 for the Deluxe (45m2), €300 for the classic suite (60m2) and €340 for the Premium suite.
Le Jardin de Douars, the most family-friendly
Now for the place where families can actually exhale. Set inside a beautiful botanical garden about a 15-minute drive from Essaouira, this guesthouse feels like a calm little world of its own. The style is elegant and warm—Moroccan craftsmanship with a confident African twist—and the 25 spacious rooms and suites (25 m² to 160 m²) are split between the main kasbah and the garden spaces. The parent-friendly win? Two heated swimming pools: one (15m x 7m) with a children’s pool for family chaos, and a second (20m x 5m) reserved for adults who want silence and a book. If you’re traveling as a bigger crew (or just crave privacy), you can also rent one of six villas (200 to 500 m²) with hotel services.
What we love: the spa with argan oil treatments. A padel court, a yoga deck, and a new fitness room.
Which room to book? Go for a room with a private terrace, and if your budget has a bit more breathing room, pick a two-bedroom suite with a terrace for families—or go all-in with a villa.
What are the prices? From €180 for a double room with breakfast, €308 for a family room, and €429 for a suite. From €700 per night in a villa.
Riad Esprit Bleu, the most pop art
Picture this: you step into the patio… and there’s a gorilla statue staring back at you. Welcome. Opened recently by Philippe Bloch (with 20+ years in luxury hospitality), this riad gleefully flips the traditional script. A raw concrete structure sets the stage for a riot of artworks (yes, they’re for sale), and the seven suites (23 to 55 square meters) are loud in the best way—without sacrificing comfort. Think high-end bedding, a pillow menu, even a wood-burning stove for cozy nights. No tadelakt here: polished concrete, exposed brass pipes, rusted metal shaped by local artisans, and designer furniture that’s been chosen with intent. Want the most “we’re never leaving” option? The Prestige suite, with its private terrace and a small heated, glass-enclosed pool. One important detail for you: this riad doesn’t accept children under 12.
What we love : the double rooftop terrace with far-off ocean views, reserved for guests only. The stylish concept store. The obsessive attention to detail.
Which room should I book ? A Privilege or Passion suite overlooking the outside.
At what price? From €138 for the Premier suite, €175 for the Privilege or Passion suite and €350 for the Prestige suite with private terrace and pool.
Casa.b Mogador, the most poetic
Just a few steps from Place Moulay Hassan, Casa.b Mogador is the kind of place that makes us lower our voices without realizing it. It’s boutique, yes—but also quietly dreamy. Six spacious, ultra-cozy themed suites (32 to 40 sq m) spread across three floors, with serious bedding and décor that feels collected, not staged: vintage finds, family furniture, Moroccan craftsmanship, and a creative touch that never tries too hard. There’s a flower-filled patio and terraces for slow afternoons, plus a fireplace that turns waiting for dinner into an actual experience. And dinner is worth waiting for: Casa.b has a refined restaurant serving organic, homemade dishes.
What we love : the warm, home-like atmosphere that makes you feel instantly “in.”
Which room to book? Go for the entry-level Songes opening onto the flowery patio, or choose Céleste—the brand new cabin suite (35 m2) on two levels with a private terrace.
At what price? Between €180 and €220 per night in a double room with breakfast.
Villa Maroc, the most historic
This one’s an Essaouira classic—one of the city’s very first riads-turned-hotels—and it wears its history lightly, with real charm. Four patios (yes, four), including one anchored by a magnificent araucaria tree, make up a blue-and-white labyrinth of 21 rooms and suites. The décor stays understated but warm: antiques, art, and just enough character to feel lived-in rather than curated. Evenings are made for the intimate lounges with fireplaces, where the communal dining experience is genuinely delicious (and a little bit magical). Mornings? You take your coffee upstairs to the vast two-level rooftop terrace overlooking the main beach and the port, and you wonder why you ever rushed breakfast in your life.
What we like: the beautiful spa, plus the lunch/pool packages at Jardins de Villa Maroc, 12 km away—perfect when you want an easy “day out” without planning.
Which room should I book? A suite with a sea view is the move if you can swing it (23 m2 to 50 m2).
What’s the price? Rates start at €155 for a double room, including breakfast. A suite costs €183 and a sea view suite €210.
Madada Mogador, the most oceanic
If your idea of a perfect day involves “stare at the Atlantic until you forget your passwords,” this is your spot. This charming boutique hotel sits on the first and second floors of a former merchant’s house, and its expansive terrace steals the show. One side: the vast beach. The other: the medina ramparts. Behind it all: ocean, always. The panorama sets the rhythm from breakfast straight through to sunset. Inside, the look is sleek and loft-like, using traditional materials without going overly fussy. There are nine rooms and suites: the first floor has two with rampart-and-sea views, while the second floor opens directly onto the terrace. The highest (and most charmingly unusual) option? The “cabana,” built entirely of wood with its own mini-terrace.
What we like: the attentive service—and the in-house restaurant on the same street, which makes dinner decisions wonderfully effortless.
Which room should you book? Choose a room with terrace access, or pick a suite that comes with its own private terrace.
At what price? From €120 for a standard double room with breakfast, €140 for a room opening onto the shared terrace, €175 for a junior suite with private terrace.
Villa Beldi, the most bohemian
Five minutes from the medina and suddenly—bam—you’re in a lush, color-soaked garden with a towering umbrella pine and buildings painted in Marrakech Red and Majorelle Blue. Villa Beldi is bohemian-chic in the most photogenic way, but it’s also properly comfortable (so you’re not “suffering for style”). Eight rooms and suites, each with a terrace or small garden, sit inside this vibrant oasis. The look is a confident mix of raw materials, vintage pieces, and Moroccan craftsmanship—and the rooms are spacious (27 to 51 square meters), bright, and designed for actual rest. There’s also a refined restaurant serving sun-kissed dishes you can enjoy right in the poolside garden, which is dangerously easy to make your whole day.
What we like: the heated swimming pool (12m x 6m), plus the newer wellness treatments—30-minute massages from €23.
Which room to book? The Raphia room for its intimate terrace, or the Les Saintes suite, all on one level with a private garden.
At what price? From €125 for a double room, €160 for a suite, including breakfast.
Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa-M Gallery, the most seaside
If your priority is “be near the beach, always,” this one makes it easy. Just steps from the medina and facing Essaouira’s main beach (with a one-way boulevard in between), it’s designed for full Atlantic-mode living. Guests get access to a private sand area (850 m²) set up with loungers, daybeds, and parasols, plus a beach restaurant for low-effort lunches. The hotel is also Morocco’s first to have a thalassotherapy center with all the essentials—jet shower, hydrojet, seaweed wrap, and a heated relaxation pool—so you can come back from a windy beach walk and immediately turn into a calm seaweed-wrapped creature. The 117 rooms (including 15 suites) are bright and comfortable, all with a balcony or terrace, and the lobby’s refreshed blue-green palette keeps the ocean vibe going even when you’re indoors.
What we love: the very attentive service. The water sports center. The delicious buffet breakfast by the big outdoor pool (600m2).
Which room to book? Choose a sea or pool view room (31m2) over a standard city-view room—unless you snag one of the few with a partial sea view.
What is the price? From approximately €105 for a double room with a pool view, €135 for a double room with a sea view. Breakfast: €18 per person.
Salut Maroc, the most perched
Perched facing the ramparts, this former consular residence takes “best view in town” seriously. The owner—an English interior designer—has played with shapes, volumes, and Moroccan craft materials to create a space that’s bold, bright, and stylish without feeling chaotic. Each of the 10 rooms and suites channels a different mood and palette inspired by Morocco, so your stay feels a little like picking your favorite postcard and living inside it. The real magnet, though, is the immense terrace: a dream spot for lunch, drinks, or dinner while the sun sinks into the Atlantic. It’s popular—especially in the evening—so yes, early birds get the good tables.
What we love : the hearty breakfast on the terrace overlooking the Atlantic.
Which room to book? The Mogador in its oceanic shades of blue with a sea view, or—if you’re splashing out—the Casablanca or Tangier suites.
At what price? From €170 for a double room, €225 for an ocean view room, €350 for the Tangier suite and €375 for the Casablanca suite.
Dar L’Oussia, the most traditional
This is one of those places where the history isn’t a marketing line—it’s literally in the walls. Dar l’Oussia was the owner’s family home, and yes, he was born here. Over time it expanded and transformed into a hotel with 24 rooms and suites (25 to 50 m²) spread over three floors around a beautiful Andalusian patio. The comfort is modern, but the décor stays true to classic Moroccan style, which makes the whole place feel rooted and authentic. If the weather plays nice, you can take meals up to the enormous rooftop terrace and solarium, with a view that runs past the main beach all the way toward the dunes of Cap Sim. It’s one of the prettiest panoramas in Essaouira—and it’s especially sweet first thing in the morning, when the city is still yawning.
What we love: the fresh, tasty breakfast on the rooftop—homemade food– pancakes, cakes, and that easy, warm service that makes you feel looked after without fuss.
Which room to book? A Deluxe room overlooking the street or a Junior suite—both tend to be the best value for money.
At what price? From €86 for a comfort room, €101 for a Deluxe room, €129 for a Junior suite, breakfast included.
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