Charming Hotel or Boutique Hotel in Essaouira:
How to Choose the Right Riad ?
Whether in Venice, Saint-Louis in Senegal, Athens, Heraklion, Tangier, Paris, Phuket, Cadaqués – and of course Essaouira – I remember every charming hotel, and sometimes boutique hotel, where I have stayed.
These are places that often shape and enrich the journey itself.
Travelling is about discovering a country.
A charming hotel is often the very first gateway to a city or a region.
It bears witness to history, reflects local culture, and carries a sense of memory and soul.
What I love about a charming hotel
What I look for above all is cultural and architectural immersion.
Stepping into a charming hotel often feels like entering a fragment of history, always with that extra touch of character that makes the experience truly unique.
It is fascinating to talk with hoteliers who explain their vision and tell the story of what the building once was before becoming a hotel:
a grand townhouse, a chapel, a theatre, a guest palace…
Suddenly, centuries of history unfold before your eyes, and you come away enriched by:
- the ingenuity of architects,
- the delicacy of textures,
- the richness of furniture and decoration,
- the softness of natural light,
- the intelligence of sun exposure, and the adaptation to climate.
You do not simply sleep in a charming hotel. You allow yourself a moment out of time, much like visiting an exhibition or attending a concert.
And what about a boutique hotel in Essaouira?
Boutique hotels tend to embrace a more contemporary spirit.
While they share with charming hotels the desire for a strong identity, this identity is less rooted in the destination’s history and architecture, and more expressed through modern design and creative aesthetics. Cultural inspiration may be present – but it is not the only source.
I once stayed at the Keemala Hotel in Thailand at the end of a cruise: a collection of lodges and villas built into the mountainside, deeply integrated into nature, with bold contemporary architecture and décor inspired by Thai heritage.
A remarkable blend of modernity and tradition.
In Essaouira, this approach can be found in many new guesthouses with a bohemian chic style. They aim to connect guests with their surroundings through natural materials and offer a relaxed yet stylish experience.
This aesthetic is also common in European Atlantic surf destinations, in Ibiza or parts of Greece – places often shaped by former hippie communities.
Isn’t it said that Jimi Hendrix once passed through Diabat, just two kilometres from Essaouira? And surfing in Sidi Kaouki, a legendary beach near Essaouira, certainly didn’t start yesterday. This is another side of Morocco: less cultural, more epicurean.
Another key element I value: the size of the hotel
- Typically offering between 10 and 20 rooms, these hotels remain human in scale. They strike the right balance. Large enough to provide genuine hotel services and all-day dining, yet small enough to preserve intimacy, a real pleasure when on holiday.
- A spa is often part of the experience.
- These places are usually run by professionals deeply invested in their project, driven by passion and commitment.
- They know how to share the destination, telling small stories and anecdotes that help you understand the country more deeply and see it with a more open eye.
- Charming hotels and boutique hotels feel a bit like home, but with the added comfort of professional service.
