Riad Lunetoile

The rooftop views were lovely, and the apartment felt surprisingly far from the bustle once we shut the door, even though it’s right in the middle of everything. It was spacious, beautifully decorated, and had a really authentic feel. The staff were warm and kind, too. Amazing value. Absolutely outstanding, and not to be missed.

I’m sharing this for future guests: please be aware that our experience in early December 2024 was very bad, despite the high rating. We booked an apartment and a superior room for two nights, and the riad confirmed around 11 in the morning. I messaged at 2:30 to say we were on our way. When we arrived, the two-room apartment was being painted, and we were told it would be cleaned and ready by about 6. We came back around 8:30 and found one room’s wooden walls freshly painted. The smell was extremely strong, and the chemicals gave my son a severe headache that lasted for days; he couldn’t sleep at all. The sheets in the other room had long hairs and lashes on them, despite the bed having just been made. The manager or owner should have told us the apartment couldn’t be rented while renovations were underway. Mistakes happen, but guests shouldn’t be put in that environment. We left very early after just one night. There was also a problem at check-in. They kept our passports and wouldn’t give them back until we paid the full amount in cash immediately. I only had enough cash to pay for one night at the time. I’ve stayed in Essaouira several times and have never been treated this way.

We kept extending our stay, so we ended up in three different rooms. Each time, we felt at home. The hotel is clean and really nice, right in the Medina of Essaouira, and the ocean view from the rooftop is amazing. Sue, the owner, was friendly, welcoming, helpful, and attentive, and so were all the staff, who were women. You can have breakfast wherever you like. Thanks so much, we’ll definitely come back!

We loved having breakfast on the roof terrace and watching the birds, then coming back after a day in the little alleys and at both beaches to rest on the sunbeds. Riad Lunetoile has such a cosy, welcoming feel, and we hope to return one day. Kabira and Latifa were lovely with us and the kids. They made great breakfasts, shared useful local tips, and always greeted us with a smile. The whole team made our week in Essaouira wonderful. Thanks again for creating such a special place. We absolutely recommend it. Antje, Stefan and kids