Dar Essaouria is a luxurious countryside riad that sits on the top of a hill, twenty minutes from Essaouira, with astonishing views. With seven bedrooms sleeping fourteen guests, it is the perfect property to bring the generations together or to enjoy a holiday with your favorite friends. It comes with a full staff who will keep the property looking immaculate and who will cook delicious Moroccan meals for you. It enjoys many treats, including a fabulous swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a spa with a hammam and massage room, a tennis court, a pétanque court and a sweet little plunge pool in the riad. Charm, character, tranquility and comfort come in lavish abundance at Dar Essaouria.
When arriving at Dar Essaouria, you will think that you are arriving at a very palatial castle. Its unique style is very striking. Surrounding the riad are wonderful gardens and terraces, and within lies a stunning central courtyard. The gardens are beautifully landscaped with smart hedges, ancient olive trees, palms, cacti, colorful bougainvillea and gorgeous seating and dining areas sprinkled throughout. Beside the generous swimming pool is a pool house, a beautiful traditional hammam, an alfresco lounge and dining areas and the hot tub where you can enjoy a gorgeous dip under the stars. There are plenty of loungers and deck chairs scattered ideal spots to enjoy your holiday books and a glass of something chilled. The hammam is beautifully tiled. Your villa staff can arrange for massages or other beauty and wellness treatments, which will leave you feeling very relaxed and pampered. Another terrace enjoys fabulous far-reaching countryside views.
The central courtyard is stunning, with the tallest of trees offering beautiful greenery, a pretty plunge pool, a fountain, oversized jars and pots and tables and chairs. The blue and white tiling is absolutely stunning. It is such a tranquil, calm space to relax in. Sitting off the courtyard is a fabulous living room and a large dining room with a feature fireplace. There are indoor and outdoor bars, perfect for cocktails and mixing your favorite drinks.
Dar Essaouira boasts seven exquisite bedroom suites, all with ensuite bathrooms and televisions, which invite long, lazy lie-ins. The bedrooms all enjoy individual color schemes and fabulous fabrics and furnishings. You will enjoy the sleep of kings in this villa, knowing that you will wake to enjoy a delicious breakfast which can be taken in the courtyard, terrace or dining room.
Features:
Ground Floor
- Large living room with multiple seating areas, fireplace and access to a terrace
- Separated dining room with 14 people and fireplace
- Media room with comfortable seating, TV and access to a terrace
- Professional kitchen for staff use (guests are not allowed)
- Chill out area with comfortable seating and access to a terrace
- Hammam room
- Guest toilet
First Floor
- Bedroom with two single beds pushed together, TV and en-suite bathroom
- Bedroom with two single beds pushed together, TV and en-suite bathroom
- Bedroom with two single beds pushed together, TV and en-suite bathroom
- Bedroom with two single beds pushed together, TV and en-suite bathroom
- Bedroom with two single beds pushed together, TV and en-suite bathroom
- Bedroom with two single beds pushed together, TV and en-suite bathroom
- Bedroom with two single beds pushed together, TV and en-suite bathroom
Exterior Grounds
- Private swimming pool
- Plunge pool in courtyard
- Large terrace and garden area
- Various sun loungers
- Bar and chill out area
- Outdoor dining
- Covered terrace
- Garden furniture
- Private parking
- Tennis court
- Pétanque area
- Hot tub
Additional Facilities
- Safe deposit box
- Reverse cycle air conditioner
Location:
Dar Essaouira enjoys a wonderful countryside setting, twenty minutes from the lively, popular resort of Essaouira. Essaouira boasts stunning beaches, thrilling watersports, delicious fresh seafood, camels and a buzzing Medina. The town is very much a working port and fishing town as well as a beautiful tourist hub. It is known for its coastal wind, beautifully named the Alizee, giving the town the name of the ‘Wind City of Africa’.
Compared to the frenzied Medina of Marrakech, you will enjoy a relaxed shopping experience in the Medina of Essaouira. There are five main gates and a laid-back, car-free pedestrian area sprinkled with souks that you can explore at your own pace. You will discover palm-lined avenues lined with art galleries and boutiques. You will enjoy the gorgeous white and blue facades and the striking ramparts. Dating from the late 18th century and added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2001, it is a lovely place to stroll. It was famously used in the opening scene of Orson Wells’ 1951 film Othello and Game of Thrones. You will see wonderful live musicians and acrobats in the city and can take a table at one of the ice cream parlors to sit and enjoy them. The Medina is surrounded by dramatic, wave-lashed ramparts which offer spectacular sunset views. The Slala de la Ville 18th-century ramparts protect the Medina and its row of nineteen bronze cannons from the crashing waves and seafaring marauders. Below the ramparts, you will find archway workshops flourishing where artisans create intricate marquetry in local thuya wood. In the old Jewish quarter of the Medina, you will find steam baths that offer an amazing experience. Outside Bab Doukkala, you can hop on a carriage down to the Medina entrance gate nearest the beach.
Essaouira’s busy port is filled with colorful fishing boats. There is a large fish auction in the market hall by the port gates every Saturday, plus you can watch the daily catch being sold every afternoon to the restaurants around the harbor. You will see the sea-blue wooden boats arriving and departing and nets being repaired.
The beaches are great fun for windsurfing and kite surfing though the water is pretty cold. The beach runs for approximately six miles and is popular for walking, football and other sports. Swimming is best in the town stretch as Safi Beach to the north has a strong current. Camel owners are founds on the sands to the south. You can head south across the Ksob River to see the ruins of the Borj El Berod, an old fortress and pavilion at low tide. From here, you can walk inland to the village of Diabat or continue to the sand dunes of Cap Sim.
The Gnaoua World Music Festival is held in June for three days. It is Essaouira’s biggest annual event. The Gnaoua people are descendants of slaves that originated from Black Africa and established brotherhoods throughout Morocco. They are made up of master musicians, metal castanet players, clairvoyants, mediums and their followers. The festival showcases their talents with music and mysticism.
Terms & Conditions:
Arrival time
1 pm
Departure time
12 pm
Minimum stay
3 nights.
Tax
Tourist Taxes are not included in the rental price and are to be paid locally in cash on arrival (the correct total per person per night will be sent to you after booking confirmation).
Other Ts and Cs
A non-refundable 40% deposit is required to confirm a booking at this property (or full payment if booking within 12 weeks of departure).
