Most Romantic Hotels in Essaouira, Morocco

A handsome palace in the foothills outside of Essaouira might win the "most romantic" superlative based on that short description alone. Le Jardin des Douars truly locks down the title with its sprawling terraced gardens featuring winding stone trails, hammocks, and parasols. Although Le Jardin welcomes families with small children, one of its elegant pools is a gorgeous infinity pool for adults only; it has aquamarine tiling and a clay-colored deck with sunbeds from which guests can gaze out upon the serene landscape. Throughout the pink-clay castle itself are open-air hallways, marble columns, roughly hewn wood beams, and gorgeous traditional textiles. Amply sized apartment-style rooms feature lounge areas, air-conditioning, and rainfall showers (plus tubs in some rooms) with argan-oil bath products. Le Jardin's atmospheric restaurant offers local, French-North African food; its menu changes frequently and breakfast is included in the rates. Crafts and luxury beauty products are for sale in the attractive spa, which has a traditional hammam.

One of Morocco's most picturesque riads -- and arguably one of the most upscale riads in Essaouira -- Riad Baoussala is a homey bohemian complex in a quiet and peaceful location about a 15-minute drive outside the medina. Its surrounding eucalyptus gardens aren't as magnificent as Le Jardin's greenery, but they are still sprawling and serene, and cultivate a sense of seclusion. Its six rooms are relaxing suites with jewel tones and natural materials, all with fireplaces (a romantic touch that's rare for the area) and low-lying lounge space. Each one has an airy, earthy vibe, with charming traditional details, like rustic lanterns, woven textiles, and little alcoves carved into stone walls. When couples want to emerge from their rooms, they have more common space available to them here than what is usually found at riads within the medina, including an outdoor pool that's heated year round, an ochre rooftop deck, and an outdoor cinema with a small open-air amphitheater. A pine-lined outbuilding serves as the spa's intimate treatment room for the spa, and a separate stone structure houses the free-to-use black-stone hammam. Breakfast is included in room rates, and a prix-fixe dinner is available (just give the hotel notice by lunchtime). 

A traditional riad with a stunning sense of design, Dar Maya is an unquestionably romantic escape that draws almost exclusively couples, located in Essaouira's scenic medina. Throughout its common areas are Moroccan archways, twinkling light fixtures in wall recessions, and low-lying couches with bright woven throw pillows. Spare, elegantly furnished rooms have a calm, chic ambience that is enhanced by recessed lighting, tiled floors, and handsome wooden doors. Fireplaces up the romance factor, and some rooms also have private balconies. Bathrooms are especially luxurious (far more regal than what you'll find at Le Jardin or Baoussala) with heated floors and towel racks, bathrobes, "tadelakt" walls, travertine and marble floors, and fit-for-royalty bathing facilities, from tubs that are accessed through keyhole archways to showers that sit at the bottom of a short set of steps. Dar Maya's local-focused food is excellent and starts with a free breakfast. (Lunch and dinner are available on request.) Meals can be taken in the courtyard or in guest rooms, and snacks and refreshments are available throughout the day. Dar Maya and Riad Chbanate (below) both have romantic rooftop hot tubs and terraces, but Dar Maya's exquisite design and extravagant bathrooms give it the edge, plus it has a traditional hammam (Riad Chbanate will help arrange hammam visits, but does not have one of its own).

The upscale Riad Chbanate is housed an 18th-century riad with beautiful, updated interiors featuring beautiful archways and wooden floors. Each of the eight suites, each with its own unique decor scheme that mixes traditional Moroccan elements with modern amenities, like flat-screen TVs with DVD players (rare amenities) and air-conditioning. Chic and romantic bathrooms have bathrobes, deep marble tubs (some in beautiful alcoves), and rainfall showers. As a smaller property, Riad Chbanate doesn't offer a ton of features, but it does have a rooftop terrace with a whirlpool hot tub and a few sunbeds. Breakfast is included in room rates and features fresh fruit, crepes, eggs, and baked goods. Lunch and dinner are available on request, with a variety of options including traditional tagines and couscous. Most guests who stay here are vacationing couples, though the riad also does get some families (usually with older kids). Chbanate doesn't have a spa or hammam, but massages are available on the property.

Riad Malaika is a romantic, intimate riad filled with natural light, inlaid mosaics, and objets d’art. Hand-painted tables, carved-wood armoires, and gilded lanterns join four-poster beds in the nine airy rooms to elegant effect. Bathrooms are generously sized throughout, and have herbal toiletries and walk-in stone tiled showers (the Junior Suite has a bathtub and a terrace). A welcoming roof deck furnished with plenty of padded loungers and lattice-shade structures is a wonderful place to relax at the end of the day (no hot tub here, though, like at Dar Maya and Riad Chbanate). On the ground floor, surrounding the atrium, a handful of cozy spots are tucked behind the curved stone doorways, with pillow-stuffed chairs, cushioned banquettes, and brightly colored throw rugs. The homemade breakfast is plentiful and varies by the day. The open-plan kitchen on the main floor serves excellent local fare in the evenings, with advance notice.

L'Heure Bleue Palais is a renovated 19th-century luxury riad, with upscale features like a rooftop patio with a pool (an exceptional amenity for a hotel in the medina), a black marble hammam, and a spa. Decor throughout the hotel is decidedly dark and colonial-inspired, evoking turn-of-the-last-century vibe. The 33 stately rooms feature marble bathrooms and colonial touches like zebra-striped pillows and leather ottomans, but they don't feel as distinctly Moroccan and romantic as some of the other rooms we've highlighted so far -- this sets the hotel back a few notches. A renowned restaurant offers locally focused fare with an emphasis on seafood, and the breakfast buffet included in the room price serves traditional Moroccan pancakes. Couples might enjoy the cooking classes offered by the staff, who can also arrange for day trips to vineyards o golf courses. Overall, the property has a grandiose feel that strikes some guests as too uptight, plus some signs of wear are visible, particularly in the bathrooms.

Located a short drive from Essaouira’s medina, the beautiful Sofitel is a quiet retreat catering to golfers, couples, and families alike. It has all the luxury amenities expected of a five-pearl resort, including two wonderful outdoor pools, an 18-hole golf course, an upscale spa, and four restaurants serving excellent food. Rooms are colorful, stylish, and high-tech, with furnished terraces offering panoramic views, luxurious bathrooms with separate soaking tubs, and free Wi-Fi. Villas are set in their own private gardens complete with heated pools and spacious wooden decks with daybeds. All units are luxurious and comfortable, though some pieces of furniture are starting to show some wear and tear. Considering its chic rooms, quiet location, and wonderful features, Sofitel makes for a luxurious and serene stay, but we docked it down due to its lack of local character.

Housed in a traditional Moroccan riad just outside of the medina, this upscale boutique hotel offers eight serene rooms with brass sinks and marble tubs and a rooftop patio with stylish, cushioned seating. An atrium courtyard sits at the heart of this small property, and there is an excellent French-Moroccan restaurant on the ground floor, along with a Moroccan cooking workshop held in an old almond warehouse. The property is particularly popular with couples, especially those seeking a real taste of Moroccan culture, but it is a hair less wow-worthy than the other riads on this list, and technically adjacent to the medina, not in it.