When they renovated this 4-storey home in the medina, owners Emma and Graham deliberately avoided dusty, moody Moorish overtones, instead hanging on to their expertise in retro interior design. The Design House is filled with groovy 60s finds like mushroom lamps, a wall of skulls and a rattan hanging chair. Clean white lines and sunny terraces (there are 2) provide the perfect backdrop for photo shoots and lazy afternoons.
Beyond the house walls, laid-back Essaouira is an antidote to the frenetic pace of life at home. Whether you want to eat well, shop till you drop, or experience the relaxation of a hammam, ex-Londoner Emma can introduce you to all the right people. While away your time exploring the medina, walk along the beach for a drink at Café Vagabond, book some quad biking or head out on a camel. Back at the house, cook up a storm in your sleek kitchen or ask Emma to arrange a delicious home-cooked Moroccan meal delivery. This is a fabulously cool hideaway in a wonderfully friendly town.
Highs
- The ultra-cool feel of the house with its genuine pieces from 60s and 70s designer legends
- Set in the heart of Essaouira's medina, just 10 minutes' walk from the long sandy beach and 2 minutes from the harbour
- Perfect for a girls' weekend away - a whole house with a daily maid, roof terraces in the sun and meals on request
- Whether for a family or a group, Emma can provide you with a tour of the medina and give you the low-down on activities and days out - her experience is invaluable
- This is a house rental, so you get the whole place to yourself - and there are reduced rates for a smaller group
Lows
- A 7-night minimum stay, and during Peak Season a minimum of 6 guests must stay
- Usual no-car problem for a house in Essaouira’s medina, but there is a parking area 1 minute away
- Light sleepers should bring earplugs to avoid being woken by the call to prayer (the medina has 50 mosques)
- Heating is fireplace and plug-in radiators only so it can be chilly in winter, though temperatures in Essaouira are rarely low
- All 4 beds are doubles
Best time to go
Spring is a magical time to be here: from March onwards you are guaranteed good weather and the coastal wild flowers are spectacular. There is an excellent music festival in June, with Gnaoua and other tribal performers (book well ahead). We'd avoid August when the town struggles to cope with the huge influx of visitors from home and abroad. Winter can also be a great time to be in Essaouira: days are often sunny and mild and the light at this time of year has a unique quality. Also bear in mind the dates of Ramadan, the month-long Muslim day-fast.
Our top tips
Essaouira is famous for its quality inlaid woodwork made from thuya, a local hardwood. You can visit the workshops where you will find a selection of furniture, bowls, chess sets and boxes.
Location
The Design House is in the medina (old city) of Essaouira, on the west coast of Morocco.
By Air
Fly into Essaouira (20km / 20 minutes' drive) or, if you're combining your visit with other parts of Morocco, it may be easier to fly into Marrakech (175km / 2+ hours' drive). From Essaouira airport, it's easy to take a taxi to the medina.
By Car
You won't need to drive to get around Essaouira itself, but it's worth considering hiring a car if you're travelling from Marrakech or want explore the wider area during your stay.
By Bus from Marrakech
There are regular buses as well as a constant stream of grand taxis ploughing the route between Marrakech and Essaouira. We'd advise taking the Supratours bus from outside the train station in Gueliz. These are fast (2.5-3 hrs) and air-conditioned, but less frequent (only 2 per day).
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to Morocco and getting around
Airports:
- Essaouira 20.0 km ESU
- Marrakech Menara 175.0 km RAK
Other:
- Beach 0.2 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests
A beautifully considered and restored house in the Old Medina, Emma has done the most amazing job not only with the restoration but in curating the house with a sumptuous mix of 60s furniture and artwork alongside incredible finds from her travels. No exaggeration, it was perfect. Beautiful, peaceful and comfortable, it had everything we could have needed or wanted and Emma was always at the end of a phone to share suggestions should we want any, organize trips, share all her insider knowledge of what to do and where to go. We had the most wonderful week. Emma could not have been kinder or more helpful. She literally arranged everything for us, seamlessly. She had the best suggestions for where to go, what to see, where to shop, where to eat, what to do with a 10 year old and teenager, and where to go outside of the city for adventures. Our day and night with Mohammed at the beach hideout were unforgettable. The food some of the best I have ever eaten. She went above and beyond to ensure that we had a lovely stay… and we did. This was a little slice of heaven. It was the perfect place to come back to after a day of enjoying everything Essaouira has to offer both in and outside of the city, and the prefect place just to hang out in all day should the mood take you.
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape