Best Hotels in Essaouira: 11 Riads & Places to Stay

Choosing between Essaouira hotels is not only about finding the highest star rating. Location matters a lot here. A beautiful riad deep inside the Medina can be perfect for one traveler and inconvenient for another arriving with heavy luggage. A beachfront hotel with a pool can make more sense for a family, even if it has less of the old-city atmosphere.
I’m Kamal, a licensed Moroccan tour guide, and when travelers ask me where to stay in Essaouira, I first look at how they want to spend their time. If you want to walk everywhere, I normally look inside or close to the Medina. If a swimming pool, larger rooms or easy vehicle access matter more, I look toward the beachfront. For a quiet break outside the city, there are a few countryside properties worth considering.
Below are the hotels and riads I would compare first. I have included different budgets and styles rather than filling the page with properties that all offer the same experience.
For transport, weather, how long to stay and general trip planning, use my Essaouira Travel Guide. If you want to plan your days after choosing a hotel, see my Things to Do in Essaouira guide.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Best Hotels in Essaouira at a Glance

Hotel or Riad	My Pick For	Area
Riad Chbanate	Best overall riad	Medina
Riad Baladin	Good-value Medina stay	Medina
Madada Mogador	Sea views and location	Medina entrance
Le Palazzo	Stylish central hotel	Kasbah
Villa Maroc	Classic Essaouira character	Kasbah
Heure Bleue Palais	Luxury with a rooftop pool	Medina
Salut Maroc	Design and rooftop views	Kasbah
Villa Quieta	Families and a beachside pool	Beach area
Riad Zahra	Good value with a pool near the beach	Beach area
Le Médina Essaouira	Full-service beachfront hotel	Corniche
Le Jardin des Douars	Quiet countryside stay	Outside Essaouira

Disclosure: Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Hotel details and guest feedback were checked in August 2026. Ratings can change over time.

Compare Essaouira Hotels & Current Rates

1. Riad Chbanate — My Best Overall Riad in Essaouira

Riad Chbanate is one of the first places I would check for a couple or first-time visitor who wants the atmosphere of a riad without giving up too much comfort. Its location near Bab Marrakech is useful. You are inside the Medina, but you are not staying deep in the narrow streets where arriving with luggage can be more difficult. The riad has eight rooms, a large rooftop terrace and a jacuzzi, and the ocean is only a short walk away. Its guest feedback is also among the strongest I found while researching this guide. The rooms feel more substantial than what you get in many very small Medina guesthouses, so I like this choice for travelers who want an intimate stay without going too basic.
Good for: couples, first visits, comfortable Medina stays
Keep in mind: choose somewhere else if a proper swimming pool and large resort facilities are essential.
Check Riad Chbanate Rates & Availability

2. Riad Baladin — Best for Character and Value in the Medina

Riad Baladin is a different type of stay. It feels relaxed and personal rather than luxurious, and its location near the Skala is excellent if you want to spend most of your time walking.
There are only ten rooms. The property sits on a quiet Medina lane, around a minute from the Skala and a few minutes from the beach. It also has rooftop terraces and a jacuzzi. Current Booking feedback is very strong, particularly for location and staff.
I would look here if you want a real riad atmosphere without paying for facilities you probably will not use during a short Essaouira stay.
Good for: couples, solo travelers, travelers who value location
Keep in mind: this is a small riad, not a full-service beach hotel.
Check Riad Baladin Rates & Availability

3. Madada Mogador — Best for Sea Views and Easy Location

Madada Mogador has one of the locations I like most on this list. It sits at the entrance to the Medina, close to the port and beach, so you get old-city access without being deep inside the narrow streets.
The property is small, with nine rooms and suites, and some categories have ocean views. Its terrace looks across the bay, and La Table Madada is downstairs if you want a good dinner without going far. Booking currently gives the property particularly strong scores for location and staff.
If you choose Madada mainly for the view, check the exact room category before paying. Not every room gives you the same experience.
Good for: couples, sea views, short stays, easy access
Keep in mind: pay attention to room category if an ocean view matters.
Check Madada Mogador Rates & Availability

4. Le Palazzo — Best Boutique Hotel in the Old City

Le Palazzo deserves a place in this guide because it gives travelers another option between a traditional riad and a large modern hotel.
It is in the Kasbah area, close to the old city sights and only a short walk from the beach. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and spa facilities. Current guest feedback is very strong, particularly for the location, comfort and staff.
I would consider it if you like the idea of staying centrally but prefer a more conventional hotel setup than a very small riad.
Good for: couples, families, travelers wanting central comfort
Keep in mind: some upper rooms require stairs, so check your room if mobility is an issue.
Check Le Palazzo Rates & Availability

5. Villa Maroc — Best for Classic Essaouira Character

Villa Maroc is one of the names that has been part of Essaouira’s hotel scene for a long time, and it still makes sense for travelers who want character.
The property combines four restored riads in the Medina and has 21 rooms, including family suites and sea-view suites. There is also a panoramic rooftop terrace, a spa and a Moroccan restaurant. Its position is close to the beach and the main sights.
I especially like that Villa Maroc works for more than couples. The two-bedroom family suites make it easier for parents who want to stay in the Medina without booking separate rooms.
Good for: couples, families, traditional style, central stays
Keep in mind: this is about atmosphere and location more than resort facilities.
Check Villa Maroc Rates & Availability

6. Heure Bleue Palais — Best Luxury Hotel in the Medina

If you want a proper luxury hotel but still want to stay in old Essaouira, Heure Bleue Palais is the strongest fit on this list.
It is a Relais & Châteaux property with 33 rooms and suites. The rooftop has a heated swimming pool with views over the city, and the hotel also has a spa, hammam, restaurants and an elevator. Its location near Bab Marrakech is useful for reaching the Medina without choosing one of its hardest-to-access corners.
This is the one I would compare for an anniversary, honeymoon or a traveler who wants service and facilities to matter as much as location.
Good for: luxury trips, couples, special occasions
Keep in mind: you are paying for facilities and service, so it is unnecessary if you simply want a clean room and a central base.
Check Heure Bleue Palais Rates & Availability

7. Salut Maroc — Best for Design and Rooftop Views

Salut Maroc is not subtle. That is exactly why some travelers love it.
The rooms use bold colors, Moroccan craftwork and very individual designs rather than the quiet neutral style you see in many boutique hotels. The property has ten individually designed rooms, a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Atlantic and ramparts, and its own traditional hammam.
I would choose it for someone who enjoys interiors, art and a hotel that feels different. I would not choose it simply because you need somewhere to sleep for one night.
There is no swimming pool, so do not confuse its luxury-boutique positioning with a resort-style stay.
Good for: design lovers, couples, rooftop views
Keep in mind: no pool, and the style is intentionally bold.
Check Salut Maroc Rates & Availability

8. Villa Quieta — Best for Families Near the Beach

Villa Quieta makes more sense when the beach, a pool and extra space matter more than sleeping inside the Medina.
It is in the beach area south of the old city and has an outdoor swimming pool, family rooms and private parking. Current guests rate it highly, including for comfort and location.
For families, this setup can be easier than carrying bags through pedestrian Medina streets and then dealing with stairs inside a small riad. You can still reach the old city easily when you want to sightsee.
Good for: families, beach time, pool lovers, drivers
Keep in mind: you will not step directly out of the hotel into the Medina.
Check Villa Quieta Rates & Availability

9. Riad Zahra — Best Value Hotel with a Pool Near the Beach

Riad Zahra is worth comparing if you want a proper swimming pool and easy beach access without paying for one of Essaouira’s larger upscale hotels. It is in the residential beach area, a short walk from the sea and around 15–20 minutes on foot from the Medina.
The property has 23 rooms, including family options and some rooms with balconies or ocean views. There is an outdoor 18 × 8 metre swimming pool, restaurants and parking. Current guest feedback is particularly positive for the staff and value.
I like it for travelers who want to divide their time between the beach, pool and Medina rather than staying inside the old city all day.
Good for: families, good value, beach stays, travelers with a car
Keep in mind: the pool is not heated, and you are not inside the Medina.

Check Riad Zahra Rates & Availability

10. Le Médina Essaouira — Best for Beachfront Comfort

Le Médina is one of the hotels I would look at if you want to stay by the beach but still be close enough to walk into the Medina.
It sits on Boulevard Mohammed V, directly opposite the beach, with an outdoor swimming pool, spa and private beach area. The port is only a short walk away, so you are not isolated from the old city the way you can be at hotels farther south along the coast.
This is a better fit than a riad if you prefer a larger room, elevators, a pool and the facilities of a full hotel. The location is one of its strongest points and is currently rated 9.5/10 by guests on Booking.com.
Good for: couples, beachfront stays, travelers who prefer a full-service hotel
Why I like it: you get the beach, a pool and spa without being far from the Medina
Keep in mind: you will not get the same small, personal atmosphere you find in a traditional Medina riad
Check Le Médina Essaouira Rates & Availability

11. Le Jardin des Douars — Best for Peace Outside Essaouira

Le Jardin des Douars is the one property here I would choose specifically because it is outside the city, not despite it.
It sits in the hills beyond Essaouira and offers 19 rooms, six suites and six private villas. There are pools, a spa, hammam, gardens and plenty of space, which makes it especially useful for families or travelers who want the hotel itself to be part of the trip.
I would not book it for a quick city stay where your priority is walking out of the door and being in the Medina. This works better when you want quiet, a pool and room to slow down.
Good for: families, longer stays, countryside breaks
Keep in mind: you need transport when you want to go into Essaouira.
Check Le Jardin des Douars Rates & Availability

Medina, Beach or Outside Essaouira?

I would keep this decision simple.
For a first trip where sightseeing matters most, the Medina is usually the easiest choice. Essaouira’s historic Medina is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Riad Chbanate, Riad Baladin, Madada Mogador, Le Palazzo and Villa Maroc all put you close to the places most visitors want to see.
Choose the beachfront if you care more about a swimming pool, car access, larger rooms or spending part of each day by the sea. Villa Quieta, Riad Zahra and Le Médina make more sense for that type of trip.
I would only stay outside Essaouira if that is part of the plan. Le Jardin des Douars is a good example: you gain gardens, space and quiet, but you give up the ability to walk out of your hotel and immediately explore the Medina.
For the broader question of how Essaouira fits into your trip, transport and how long to stay, keep that planning on my Essaouira Travel Guide.

What I Check Before Recommending an Essaouira Hotel

I pay attention to the exact location, not only the hotel name. Inside the Medina, I want to know how far you will have to carry luggage from a gate or drop-off point. I also check the room category carefully because a hotel advertised with beautiful sea views may have cheaper rooms facing a courtyard or street.
Recent reviews matter more to me than an old award. I look for repeated comments about cleanliness, noise, staff, beds and breakfast. For winter stays, I also check heating. For summer, I check air conditioning and whether the pool shown in the photographs is actually available to hotel guests.
If you are coming during the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, book earlier than you normally would. The city becomes much busier during the festival. You can check my Gnaoua Festival Morocco guide before choosing your dates.

FAQ About Essaouira Hotels

My Final Advice on Choosing an Essaouira Hotel

For a first visit, I would normally start with the Medina. Riad Chbanate is my strongest all-round riad pick, Riad Baladin is a good choice when you want something relaxed and well located, and Madada Mogador is hard to beat if you care about the port, beach and sea views.
For luxury, compare Heure Bleue Palais. For families who want a pool, compare Villa Quieta, Riad Zahra and Le Médina. If you want to get away from the city for a few days, Le Jardin des Douars makes much more sense than trying to force a countryside stay into a short sightseeing trip.
Do not choose only by the photograph at the top of a booking page. Check the exact room, recent reviews, access and cancellation conditions for your dates. If you are comparing accommodation in other parts of the country, see my Best Hotels in Morocco guide.
If Essaouira is one stop on a larger trip through the country, use my Morocco Travel Guide to plan the rest of your route. If you are still deciding whether to stay overnight or visit from Marrakech, compare this with my Essaouira day trip from Marrakech guide.