Riad Dar Sebta

Above the medina's tanning souks on Rue Sebta, Riad Dar Sebta occupies a restored 19th-century merchant house behind an unmarked wooden door, its interior courtyard open to the sky and lined with zellige tilework. A five-minute walk reaches the fishing port and Skala ramparts, making it a quiet base for travelers who want Essaouira's old town without traffic noise.

Rooms open onto the courtyard rather than a corridor, so light and sound both come from the center of the house. The rooftop terrace faces west, catching the Atlantic wind Essaouira is known for among kitesurfers, with breakfast served there most mornings.