Situated on the edge of the medina, close to the souks and only a few minutes from the beach, L’Heure Bleue has excellent facilities. There is a fine restaurant where the seafood specialities that Essaouira is famous for may be enjoyed, an extensive wine cellar, and amusements that even include a small cinema. Lunch can be taken by the beautiful rooftop swimming pool while admiring a marvellous view across the medina and harbour. This chic hotel was once a fondouq, a travellers’ inn, and there is something deliciously evocative about it.
Its splendid marble-floored central courtyard, filled with dark wood furniture and palm trees, captures a distinctly retro atmosphere. The elegantly furnished bedrooms are accessed from the galleries on every floor, and are decorated in colonial African style. The suites are particularly romantic, with open fireplaces and private lounge areas. A day of sightseeing or self-indulgence is perfectly complemented here by a session in the hotel’s traditional hammam, rounded off by a relaxing massage.