Riad Villa Margaux

The good parts were the location, the quiet, and the service. We were welcomed with tea while waiting for the receptionist, breakfast was good and enough, and on our departure day they had no trouble serving it half an hour before the usual start. The riad is very well placed in the medina. We booked it as a package with surf lessons, and otherwise probably would have chosen somewhere else. The room, especially, was dark, and the riad's building has no windows. The lighting in the room was poor too, so we wanted to spend as little time there as possible. It smelled musty and stayed damp, and our towels and other things wouldn't dry. One shower door was missing, so water flooded the whole bathroom each time. The bathroom light flickered and made things uncomfortable. Nobody fixed any of it. The receptionist had a bad cough and was clearly sick while we were there. I know it wasn't her fault, but I wish she'd stayed home in that condition instead of risking infecting guests on vacation.

The service was the worst part. The receptionist was unfriendly and dishonest. We checked the room first and were told one was available. After taking just 15 minutes to think it over, we came back to confirm, but she was chatting outside and suddenly said there were no rooms. It felt like she was deliberately misleading us. The rooms were extremely cramped and had no windows, which made them feel claustrophobic. The location is central, but the street was dirty and poorly lit, and we felt uneasy there. A very disappointing experience.

The riad is very quiet, so it feels peaceful inside, and the room was clean and nice. The market street is nearby, right in the heart of the Medina. Breakfast was really good and the wifi worked well. The bed wasn't super comfortable, though.

Our spacious suite on the 3rd floor was blissfully quiet, and the rooftop terrace had great views. We got a warm welcome, and breakfast was lovely. The room had a large, super comfortable bed, beautiful lighting, excellent A/C, lots of closet space, two comfy seating areas, a TV and all the amenities. The bath towels were the best in Morocco! This riad in the lovely medina of Essaouira is gorgeous, charming, immaculate and full of character. I wish we'd stayed more than one night. Highly recommend this beautiful gem of a hotel.