Chems Bleu

Inside Essaouira's medina on Rue Moulay Azouz, Chems Bleu occupies a restored riad a short walk from the 18th-century seafront ramparts and the spice-heavy souks of Ahl Agadir — a calm, characterful base for travellers wanting the old city on foot without the noise of the main thoroughfares.

Breakfast draws consistent praise and is served on the terrace, which catches Essaouira's reliable Atlantic breeze. Family rooms make the property practical for parents navigating the medina's car-free lanes, and an airport shuttle removes the hassle of negotiating transfers from Essaouira-Mogador Airport, roughly 15 kilometres south.

Check-in opens at 15:00, check-out at 11:00 — tight enough to encourage an early medina walk before departure. The port fish market and Place Moulay Hassan both fall within ten minutes on foot.