Beautiful medina riad in Essaouira with sea view
Riad in Essaouira
10 guests · 4 bedrooms · 3 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsPool, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Internet / Wifi and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
About this riad rental
Dar Ettouahen is a beautiful, elegant, light and airy, newly refurbished riad on a quiet street within the walls of the historic Medina of Essaouira. It is just two minutes walk from the bustling souks, outdoor cafes and candlelit restaurants, and seven minutes from the beach. Cosy enough for two, but well-equipped and spacious enough for a whole family or group of friends, Dar Ettouahen has traditional stone arches, tadelakt (marble-dust walled) bathrooms, tiled floors, high thuya wood ceilings and a open log fireplace.
The ground floor is a wonderful spacious open-plan living space, and upstairs there is a cosy salon and four large bedrooms. On the roof are fantastic sea views - there is a large sheltered terrace with plenty of room for eating, drinking and relaxing and a second smaller upper terrace provides the perfect setting for watching the sun set over the waves crashing on the rocks below.
During your stay, you will be looked after by Fouad, our local caretaker who is there to make sure that you have a great stay. Not only is he able to help with any problems you may have (e.g. finding a doctor), but he can also give lots of advice and organise excursions for you, including transport to the airport (from 600 dhms) or your next destination. He will meet you when you arrive in Essaouira, take you to the house, and lend you a local mobile phone with which you can call him if you need him during your stay. He is kind, honest and very reliable.
The house is cleaned weekly and in between guests. Khadisha and Bouchra, our excellent cooks, are also available to make delicious breakfasts and traditional Moroccan dinners for you at very reasonable prices. These meals are often described by guests as a highlight! They will also provide additional cleaning and washing for you on request for a small charge.
If you are travelling with young children we provide stair gates, a high chair, a travel cot (with additional mattress and cot bedding) and a baby bath. We are also able to organise babysitting during the evenings.
The medina around the house is pedestrianised, therefore there is no parking directly by the house but there is a large secure car park just a 10 minute walk down by the beach that many of our guests use. Fouad will be able to give you directions to the carpark on your arrival and will meet you there to welcome you and show you to the house.
The ground floor is a wonderful spacious open-plan living space, and upstairs there is a cosy salon and four large bedrooms. On the roof are fantastic sea views - there is a large sheltered terrace with plenty of room for eating, drinking and relaxing and a second smaller upper terrace provides the perfect setting for watching the sun set over the waves crashing on the rocks below.
During your stay, you will be looked after by Fouad, our local caretaker who is there to make sure that you have a great stay. Not only is he able to help with any problems you may have (e.g. finding a doctor), but he can also give lots of advice and organise excursions for you, including transport to the airport (from 600 dhms) or your next destination. He will meet you when you arrive in Essaouira, take you to the house, and lend you a local mobile phone with which you can call him if you need him during your stay. He is kind, honest and very reliable.
The house is cleaned weekly and in between guests. Khadisha and Bouchra, our excellent cooks, are also available to make delicious breakfasts and traditional Moroccan dinners for you at very reasonable prices. These meals are often described by guests as a highlight! They will also provide additional cleaning and washing for you on request for a small charge.
If you are travelling with young children we provide stair gates, a high chair, a travel cot (with additional mattress and cot bedding) and a baby bath. We are also able to organise babysitting during the evenings.
The medina around the house is pedestrianised, therefore there is no parking directly by the house but there is a large secure car park just a 10 minute walk down by the beach that many of our guests use. Fouad will be able to give you directions to the carpark on your arrival and will meet you there to welcome you and show you to the house.
Amenities
Pool
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
TV
Family friendly
Map of Essaouira
$$$$
Ratings and reviews
10.0 / 10.0
We stayed three days at this wonderful riad. It's conveniently located and close to the shore. The view from the roof top terrace to the ocean is just great. We enjoyed the breakfast service of Bushra really much.
In the bedrooms are actually beds for eight people. For the additional two there are sofa beds in the tv corner.
10.0 / 10.0
We enjoyed our stay here very much. We were met at the car park as arranged and guided to the riad which was in a quiet alley around 10 minutes walk away. It is a beautiful house with far reaching sea views from the roof terrace which we enjoyed very much There were a couple of minor issues but these were dealt with quickly and efficiently. Our favourite part was to watch the sunset from the rooftop each evening. There are many restaurants close by and nowhere, including the beach and port are more than 15mins walk away.
10.0 / 10.0
Dar Ettouahen exceeded our expectations, it is well equipped and quirky, the roof terrace with sea views sets it apart. It is 15 minutes flat walk across the medina to a glorious sandy beach. Car parking is £7 for 24 hours and is 10 minutes walk to the riad. The main supermarket is outside Essaouira so we stocked up for self catering on the way in. You can find well cooked food with drinks for £15/euro per head in dozens of restaurants nearby. The arrangements for picking up the key/finding where to park are haphazard (the sole means of communication being telephone) but once over that hurdle the apartment is excellent.
8.0 / 10.0
Wonderful house, a little problem with ants in the kitchen. Otherwise excellent!
10.0 / 10.0
We had two wonderful nights at the Riad. It is perfectly located to experience Essaouira. There is a beautiful view of the sea from the terrace. The rooms are beautifully designed, very authentic, there is a lot of space with many nice retreats (our son always chilled in the second living room on the second floor), The kitchen is greatly equipped, everything is very clean. We were a family of 5 with a teenager son and grandparents and we all felt very comfortable. Johan and Fouad on site are always available and very helpful. A highly recommended accommodation, anytime again! Jederzeit wieder!
10.0 / 10.0
Lovely property in a great central location. Lots to explore and do in Essaouira. We had lots of lovely food at local restaurants and breakfast was amazing each morning at the riad. We would recommend the quad biking with Palma Quad on the beach front and also a visit to Hotel Des Iles to use the pool. The local cafe does the most amazing avocado toast! Great shopping and prices very reasonable for momentoes and trinkets. It was very windy when we first arrived and so we had to shut the windows in the house which led to a little dampness. Also the local temple was being renovated so building work during the day was a slight disturbance. However overall the house was a great base with plenty of space and amenities which was very good value.
8.0 / 10.0
Great riad, perfect position.
Myself and a series of friends stayed here for 5 weeks in Feb/March. The riad was beautiful and going to sleep with the sound of the waves in the background was very soothing. I still miss that.
Fouad and Kadisha were both very helpful and good at what they do. Fouad took us to the Sunday market in Had Draa to see the livestock market and all the local comings and goings. Highly recommended.
All of us staying here are keen foodies and enjoy cooking in foreign lands with local ingredients, and the only slight disappointment was the kitchen equipment which fell a bit short. The saucepans were losing both their teflon and their handles, and could really do with replacing and ideally it would have been nice to have had an oven capable of cooking a tagine (especially as we were provided with one!). Another socket in the area by the kettle would be good as making toast and boiling the kettle had to be done in relays.
Of course, none of that would matter if you weren't into cooking and we did manage to overcome most of the problems.
Would I stay here again? Oh yes, in a heartbeat.
8.0 / 10.0
Lovely house
Very nice house in a good location. Fouad looked after us very well and Khadija cooked us lovely food. Recommended.
10.0 / 10.0
We had a phantastic week in Essouira. More than enough space for a family of four. The Riad is located in a small alley in the center of the old town. Litte shops for daily shopping close by. It is well maintained, clean and spacious. Fouad was always helpful, with organising trips and answering any other question we had.
We had a cpouple of typical windy days in relaxed Essaouira and some with no wind at all. In any case a place woth visiting and the Riad is definitely a recommendation.
10.0 / 10.0
Delightful house in the centre of the Medina. Khadija cooked fabulous breakfast every day.
We spent a week here. Everything is very local and it's very easy to go out and buy food to cook. House is immaculate. It has everything you need. Fouad was helpful if we needed advice.
Lovely house.
8.0 / 10.0
Charming, well equipped,great for large group.
Cool private riad with excellent cook and fabulous views over coast from the roof terrace. Sleeps 8 easily and 9/10 if pushed.
Situated in the Medina, so convenient for everything.
Essouira is a beautiful atmospheric city, fabulous beach, good mix of tourists and locals. Enjoyed camel riding, quad bikes and visit to La Fromagerie, a taxi ride out of town for a pleasant lunch, but be warned, much hotter inland...
Riad whilst delightfully cool, is damp due to humidity, towels and clothes never dry. Bathrooms adequate.
8.0 / 10.0
Superb property and excellent local help
A truly beautiful property with the advantage of Fouad to phone taxis / organise trips - he is a mine of information. Kadisha will cook for you and we'd recommend taking her up on that. The logistics worked very smoothly with Fouad organising the taxi from the airport then meeting us outside the Medina with a porter for the luggage (the Medina being traffic free). We were a little unfortunate in that consistently windy weather kept us from enjoying the sun terrace with its lovely sea views. Other than that we had a great time - local restaurants are very reasonably priced (speak to Fouad for recommendations).
10.0 / 10.0
Lovely riad in a great spot with fabulous views!
Four of us (two couples) stayed here for 3 nights in February and had a fabulous time. Unsurprisingly, we had more than enough space and had a very comfortable stay. We made little use of the terrace as it wasn't that warm during our visit but the views over the sea are beautiful. We did make very good use of the fire each evening for which Fouad provided us with wood on our first day and really enjoyed the living space on the ground floor. The kitchen seemed very well stocked although we made little use of it apart from keeping drinks in the fridge and making mint tea!
The riad is in a great location in the medina and we would recommend it for families or groups. Everything is within very easy reach and the whole place is very friendly and welcoming.
Jen was really helpful with communications beforehand including organising for us a very punctual and comfortable taxi pick up from our riad in Marrakech to bring us to Dar Ettouahen.
Many thanks - we hope to come back!
10.0 / 10.0
A wonderful New Year break
We were three generations, ten of us altogether, who thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Dar Ettouahen. We will miss the sea views from the roof, the warmth and friendliness of the people, the endless fascination of the markets, and the fresh food. Vegetables there are wonderful. We had intended to cook for ourselves but after sampling Kahdisha's cooking on the first night we could not resist it on most subsequent nights, apart from a couple of occasions when we tried a restaurant. Some of us had never been to Morocco before and were worried about the potential for stomach bugs but we all remained really well. The taxi arrangements were excellent, with child seats provided as requested, and very good drivers. The property was clean and comfortable. We would recommend staying here, it is inside the Medina so no traffic - we spent our days walking about exploring the town, the beach, and the port, and were never bored. Thank you!
10.0 / 10.0
Perfect relaxing getaway
Just returned from this beautiful riad where we spent a relaxing week. The pictures of this Riad do not do it justice as it is hard to capture the spacious living area downstairs. Very clean and comfortable. We had breakfast cooked daily by the housekeeper and a few evening meals. This was a treat and her tajines were fantastic. It was very windy for our stay but this meant that we were able to tolerate the high temperatures well and sat out on the roof terrace daily to read and sunbathe. Essaouira itself has a friendly and chilled vibe with great choice of restaurants and good shopping. Finally the owners of the property have been very responsive and good to deal with.Good communication throughout.
8.0 / 10.0
Dar Ettouahen
Just returned from a lovely holiday at this Riad in Essaouira. The roof terrace with a view of the sea was a magically place to sit in the evening watching the sunset. In the heart of the Medina close to the hussle and bussle with a variety of resturants but once inside a quiet relaxing space. The owners were extremely helpful arranging taxis and meals which were excellent. All the arangements went smoothly and the caretaker Fouad was there to answer any queries. What more could we ask.
5.0 / 10.0
We are 4 retired educators who spent a wonderful 4 days relaxing in this beautiful house and enjoying the many delights of Essaouira. The caretaker was extremely helpful as was the cook who cooked breakfast for us every day and also 3 delicious dinners at a very reasonable price.The house is furnished with taste and flair using local artifacts and the beds are comfortable. We are already planning our next trip and can't wait to be sitting on that roof terrace with a glass of wine!
10.0 / 10.0
Fabulous House!
We are 4 retired educators who spent a wonderful 4 days relaxing in this beautiful house and enjoying the many delights of Essaouira. The caretaker was extremely helpful as was the cook who cooked breakfast for us every day and also 3 delicious dinners at a very reasonable price.
The house is furnished with taste and flair using local artifacts and the beds are comfortable. We are already planning our next trip and can't wait to be sitting on that roof terrace with a glass of wine!
8.0 / 10.0
Lovely spacious old house, beautifully renovated.,
We loved the house, its location was quiet and secluded up a little alleyway. The house was comfortable with plenty of great beds and even a chill out space for the 4 boys who loved the TV and the wifi. Roof terrace much used despite the wind. Kadisha cooked a wonderful meal. Fouad did all he could to make our stay all that we wanted with help and advice and arrangements for transfers. We would love to come back.
Unlimited toilet paper, bin bags and some bottled water there for our arrival would have been generous.....but we managed once we worked out where to get things. The advice in the folder was really helpful. Thank you
8.0 / 10.0
Very good!
We had a wonderful time in Essaouira. Essaouria was very relaxing after a few days in Marrakech. The house is lovely and very clean, everything you need is there. Everything was very well arranged for us, the taxi from Marrakech, the camel riding, the quad trip and the massages. Fouad was very helpful and Khadisha is a wonderful cook. We enjoyed Essaouira very much and would certainly recommend the city and the house to other visitors!
Jan, Gerda and 3 daughters (18, 16 and 14), Nijmegen, The Netherlands
10.0 / 10.0
Fabulous holiday
7 of us stayed here for 9 nights, returning just over a week ago,& none of us wanted to come back! The house is stunning, very roomy & comfortable with more than enough space for so many of us. Special mention must go to Kadisha, such a lovely lady who looked after us so well. Breakfast every morning was a great inexpensive start to the day, and she cooked dinner for us on a couple of evenings which was amazing! Fouad was really helpful and amenable, and was on hand to assist if we needed him without being overtly pushy or in our faces.
I would definitely recommend this house to any group of people who would like to experience something completely different. I would love to come back next year for the whole of the Gnaoua Festival.
Massive thanks to all concerned
10.0 / 10.0
Amazing Riad !!
We were lucky enough to spend a month at this fantastic Riad in the heart of the medina in Essaouira. Travelling with 2 small kids we had a few boxes to tick and this beautiful Riad fulfilled them all. Minutes from local restaurants, easy access yet quiet (no call for prayer morning alarm which can happen depending where you are - just the sound of crashing waves !) stair gates etc...
The owners could not have been more helpful through the booking process and the house keepers were amazingly friendly and helpful and the food they cooked for us at home was fantastic.
Essaouira is a must with or without kids, locals are friendly, beaches amazing, some winter sun... We will be going back for sure, and we would definitely stay here again.
10.0 / 10.0
Fabulous, relaxing traditional home
My sister and I had a fabulous 3 night get away. We were met by a friendly cab driver, arranged by the owners at a good price. The house itself is in the the old town so convenient to everything. The house is STUNNING! and over 4 with a roof multi levelled roof terrace with its own snug! The decor and little touches in the decor all add to the traditional ryad experience. Candles and lovely colours everywhere!
The house is beautifully quiet and I slept the best I have in years. Maybe that was also the lack of kids!
Fouad and Kadyisha did a a great job of looking after us. It feels nice to have personal and trusted advice on what to do there. I can recommend Kadyisha's cooking and the Hammam. Its a very traditional, personal experience of the local women and their local ritual as well as being very relaxing and great for your skin. There wasn't a lot of the same language spoken but we left giving hugs:>
The street traders are welcoming and didn't get cross if you left their shops without buying from them. They have really lovely, original, inspiring things for sale and my little case was bulging!
In short, my sister and I had a great time. Its far more enriching than your average short break and the house is just great to relax in. Its very big and would take friends/family no problem.
I will go back with my family for sure!
10.0 / 10.0
Beautiful seaside holiday house
We had a fantastic week in Dar Ettouahan with our 3 year old. A very comfortable, well-equipped and stylish house. Clean and well-maintained. Excellent advice available from local house manager. Location perfect.. so close to cafes and shops, but very quiet once inside. Terrace overlooking sea wonderful. And real fire great for evenings. Highly recommended and we will return! Thank-you.
8.0 / 10.0
Nice place in the Medina!
We spent two weeks in this lovely place. Just open the door and you are in the middle of the Medina. On the 4 th floor you are far away and you can enjoy the view of the Atlantic sea and (when it is not too windy) relax in the sun. We filled all the beds (8 adults and 1 smaller child) but enough space to have different activities. Kadisha and her daughters made very nice traditional food and big breakfasts on demand. The house owner was very helpful and we felt everybody wanted us to have a pleasant journey and stay. And we had!
8.0 / 10.0
beautiful riad
We stayed for 3 nights in Dar Ettouahen with 3 children aged 9, 7 and 2. The house is amazing,and took out breath away when we arrived. As with the previous reviewer, our kids loved the covered seating area on the roof and also used it as a den! The space was more than ample for us, with large bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, all beautifully decorated.
The house was close to all we needed, food, souks and beach, and although we got lost once, it wasn't difficult to find our way back!
Johan was really helpful, and made the travel arrangements for us to and from Marrakech, which was a brilliant help.
We had a fantastic stay in Dar Ettouahen and will definitely return!
8.0 / 10.0
Relaxing days at the riad in Essaouira
Our stay at the riad was extremely carefree and relaxing. The house is very clean and well-maintained. There is a first shock for those new to Morocco and its cities as one enters the extremely small alleyway which is the "quiet street" on which the house is located. However, it is very easy to orient oneself in Essaouira and fears about the alley were ungrounded.
The caretakers make sure that you are met upon arrival and taken to the property so as not to lose your way. Madame Khadisha comes to make breakfast and even dinner if you wish to stay in. We only used the breakfast option and enjoyed taking our coffee up to the upper terrace to sit in the morning sun watching the sea. Obviously, you have to have no problem with steps if you want to stay in a Moroccan riad.
The house is extremely quiet, especially at night.
Johan and Clare were very helpful in the reservation stages and always answered our questions promptly. The whole process was amazingly easy and unbureaucratic. Their tips in the documents found in the house are very helpful.
The only criticisms we can think of is that the showers could be better (the mounting for the hand-held showerhead came loose while I was showering). The house mobile phone could also not be used even if we bought a card because it needed a pin number that no one seemed to have. Also there is in fact no TV reception, but we did not need it anyway.
In Essaouira we liked to take long walks on the beach, wander through the souks, visit the harbor, climb on the ramparts. We had a nice dinner at the Patio, had drinks upstairs at Taros and listened to music there, had a great grilled chicken sandwich from one of the stands near the main square.
We very much enjoyed our stay and would definitely repeat it on a return visit to Essaouira.
10.0 / 10.0
Spacious, beautiful property centrally located
We had 5 nights in Dar Ettouahen with our 4 children aged 14, 10, 8 and 3. The house is stunning, from the fountain in the living room to the roof terrace. The children loved the covered seating area on the roof and used it as a den. The bedrooms were all large, airy and tastefully decorated, and I loved all the traditional Moroccan lights and fabrics everywhere. The house was cleaned daily by the housekeeper who worked tirelessly to make sure everything was lovely for us. There were a lot of stairs but even our 3 year-old found them easy enough to negotiate.
Although the house is tucked away in a little alleyway it was only 2 minutes' walk from the hustle and bustle of the town, with lovely shops and places to eat nearby. If you don't fancy going out to eat, the housekeeper Khadisha cooks amazing meals and breakfasts too - we felt well and truly spoilt!
We had a truly wonderful stay in Dar Ettouahen and would love to go back sometime!
FAQs
How much does this riad cost compared to others in Essaouira?
The average price for a rental in Essaouira is $89 per night. This rental is $79 above the average.
Is parking included with this riad?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Beautiful medina riad in Essaouira with sea view. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this riad?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Beautiful medina riad in Essaouira with sea view. Enjoy the water!
Is Beautiful medina riad in Essaouira with sea view pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this riad is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Beautiful medina riad in Essaouira with sea view?
We found 9 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.
Explore similar vacation rentals in Essaouira
Explore all rentals in EssaouiraEssaouira travel inspiration
Read our blogGuides
Top Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama: Adventure and Fun Await
Local Culture
Exploring Miami’s Wynwood District: Street Art, Food, and More
Guides
Fun Things to Do in Ocean City, Maryland
Local Culture
A Foodie’s Guide to the Best Dining in Orlando, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Oahu and Honolulu
Guides
Top Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Guides
Top Things to Do in Miami: From Beaches to Culture
Guides
The Best Things to Do in Orlando: Attractions, Food, and Family Fun