Villa Maroc opened its doors well before the trend for “riad” hotels took off, and was one of the first places to take a couple of adjacent, run-down, traditional houses built around courtyards, and to restore them to their former glory, adding a dash of modern style along the way. The white-wash and blue splashes remind you that you’re by the sea, and from the terrace the uninterrupted views over the Atlantic, the Isles De Mogador, and the fortified port are amongst the best in town. Now comprising four houses, each linked to the other, there are numerous cosy corners off the central courtyard of each house, for relaxing with a book or perhaps a spot of private dining. There’s greenery everywhere, from the towering pine in one of the courtyard to myriad, attractive potted plants dotted over the terraces, and the overall feel is of somewhere luxurious but welcoming and easy-going – a bit like Essaouira itself really!