Riad Le Grand Large

Forty steps from the ramparts of Essaouira's medina, Riad Le Grand Large sits on Rue Oum Rabia behind an unmarked wooden door typical of the old Portuguese quarter. Inside, a plant-filled courtyard rises three floors to a rooftop terrace facing the Atlantic wind.

Rooms keep tadelakt plaster walls and thuya-wood furniture made by local carpenters; the riad arranges private cooking sessions in its own kitchen rather than a set restaurant menu.

The fishing port and Skala ramparts are a five-minute walk, making this a quiet base for travellers avoiding the noisier souk-adjacent guesthouses.