Riad EspritBleu

An arty riad on four floors

Riad EspritBleu occupies a medina house at 52 Rue d'Agadir, in the Ahl Agadir quarter, a seven-minute walk from the beach. It rises over four floors around a central courtyard that draws the light down.

The decor blends riad tradition with a gallery feel: high ceilings, columns, chandeliers, designer furniture and artworks, with temporary exhibitions. The house has only seven rooms and is for adults aged 18 and over: it is a place for couples, in peace, in a medina best explored on foot.

The riad has no shared pool or spa. Its centrepiece is the roof terrace, with sun loungers and an ocean view, and an outdoor fireplace for the cool evenings that are common in Essaouira when the trade wind blows.

A day at the riad

Breakfast is served on the roof terrace or in the patio: local specialities, pastries and fruit, with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Café EspritBleu serves drinks and snacks during the day. The riad also offers a cooking class, and its front desk, open day and night, books excursions and activities.

Which room to choose

The Superior King room, on the patio, is the simplest and least expensive. The junior suites, designed for couples, face the patio or a quiet street; the suite with private pool takes up the third-floor terrace, sheltered from the prevailing winds.

Our advice: for a winter stay, a junior suite with its wood stove; for a special occasion, the pool suite, the only room in the riad with its own pool.

Sabaro's view

Who it suits: couples looking for a simple, quiet and well-kept riad in the medina, close to the beach.

Strengths: adults only; just seven rooms; gallery-style decor; the roof terrace facing the ocean; a Booking.com score of 8.9/10 from nearly 480 reviews.

Good to know: no shared pool or spa; entry-level rooms are 23 m²; spread over four floors, the riad is not accessible to guests with reduced mobility; the tourist tax is paid on site.