Heure Bleue Palais

The hotel is located right at one of the entrances to the Medina. It’s convenient in that sense but note you cannot take the vehicle right up to the hotel, it’s certainly easier to get to that other hotels in the Medina. The staff and rooms were impeccable. Loved every aspect of our stay and only commendations to them all. Definitely the best place to stay in Essaouira.

Amazing service, lovely experience but hotel in need of some investment to make it true 5*. We had a 3 night stay here as part of an 11 day trip to Morocco. The staff were amazing and so helpful, lovely rooms (if not a little dark), great breakfast in a beautiful setting and great private free parking. However, there are aspects of the hotel that are lacking lustre- especially the rooftop pool. Not sure if they are doing renovations to it -there was some building work going on and they had invested in beautiful sun lounger cushions but the rest of the pool was a little shabby, the movie room - whilst a great touch was a few DVDs in a room with a projector and the bar, billiards room and communal areas could have just done with some refinements. All in all a lovely hotel and a great stay but needs a little more to make it amazing.. it has so much potential!

This is such an interesting property with respect to the history of the building itself. It was originally built as a private palais for a wealthy pasha, but later it fell into disrepair and was even used as an orphanage at one point. More recently, it was purchased by another private buyer and completely renovated, later to be purchased by the current hotelier and renovated further by adding a third floor and a rooftop pool. The location is excellent, steps from the medina and the port, yet still remains a quiet oasis inside the walls of the hotel. We requested a room with a balcony and were a bit disappointed to find that the view from our balcony was of a parking lot and the busy street beyond. But further inspection revealed that there are only three rooms with balconies and none have particularly scenic views. Regardless, our room was spacious and comfortable. But it was the gorgeous English gentlemen's bar that we particularly enjoyed each evening. Truly stunning. And taking breakfast in the courtyard is a treat, as well. We tried to use the pool one afternoon, but it was just too breezy and chilly. We had been told that it's always windy in Essaouira, and they were not wrong. Even still, I hope to return because it is a truly special place.