Heure Bleue Palais
Post-colonial elegance meets traditional Moroccan riad. African, Arab, Portuguese, and British colonial influences all co-exist — heavy carved wood, stained-glass windows, hand-knotted rugs, leather sofas, and a proper English bar with a fireplace. Quiet and unhurried. No rooftop bar scene, no DJ nights.
Book a Suite or above if you want a bathtub — Classic rooms have showers only
Why It Matters
The only Relais & Châteaux member in Essaouira. A genuinely historic building — 18th century, formerly a pasha's residence — with an on-site hammam spa (open to non-guests), a resident chef running cooking classes, and a rooftop heated pool with 360-degree medina views. Holds a Green Key ecolabel.
An 18th-century riad perched against Essaouira's medina ramparts, Heure Bleue Palais is the town's only Relais & Châteaux property. Originally built on the ruins of a fondouk (travellers' hostel) and once the residence of a local pasha, it was restored by the Azoulay family and opened as a hotel in June 2004. Thirty-three non-smoking rooms and suites wrap around a central fountain courtyard, and the whole place culminates in a rooftop terrace with a heated pool and unobstructed views of the old medina. Chef Ahmed Handour runs the kitchen, cooking a daily-changing menu that tilts toward Atlantic seafood and argan-inflected Moroccan classics.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Classic Room
Fourteen rooms on the first floor, all overlooking the patio courtyard. At 27m² they're cosy rather than spacious — think of them as properly sized for a traditional riad room, not a modern hotel room. Shower only, no bathtub. Twin beds available on request. No extra bed possible.
King or Twin · 27 sqm
Deluxe Room
Five rooms spread across the first, second, and third floors, decorated in warm African, Oriental, or colonial British style. Much more breathing room than the Classic at 45m², with a proper office area, a generous bathroom with separate WC, and — unlike the Classic — a full bathtub. Marble wardrobes in precious woods. Baby cot possible for children up to 4 years.
King or Twin · 45 sqmFamily Suite
Two interconnecting rooms with two full bathrooms and separate toilets. At 105m² it's genuinely spacious and well-suited to families or two couples travelling together. Sleeps up to 5 adults. By day the rooms connect as a large living space; at night you have proper privacy.
2 Double Beds · 105 sqmPremium Suite
On the second and third floors of the riad. The signature feature is a working fireplace that separates the living room from the bedroom — a dramatic touch in a space that already benefits from Oriental, African, or British-colonial decor. Small communal terrace access on some. Marble bathroom with bathtub and walk-in shower.
King or Twin · 60 sqmSuite
Located on the second floor with Arab-Portuguese inspired decor. Generous lounge area separate from the bedroom, marble bathroom with both bathtub and walk-in shower. Sleeps up to three — extra bed available. The step up from Deluxe in space and atmosphere.
King or Twin · 60 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
French and American billiards table in an on-site games room.
On-site home theatre screening classic movies each evening.
Open to hotel guests and non-guests. Includes access to the heated rooftop pool, a sunlounger, towels, and a two-course meal (starter + main, or main + dessert) served on the terrace. Drinks excluded.
The hotel arranges transfers to and from Mogador Golf, one of Morocco's most acclaimed courses (18 holes + 13 holes, between the sea and the land). Available as part of a dedicated golf package or as an add-on. Full golf package is 3 nights at 249€/night/person including transfers and dinners.
Private guide meets you at the hotel and takes you through Essaouira's UNESCO World Heritage medina for roughly 2 hours. Covers the old town's Portuguese-built ramparts, artisan souqs, and historic sites. Returns you to the hotel at the end.
Hands-on cooking class with the hotel's resident head chef. Visit the spice souk together, then cook 2 dishes from the Moroccan repertoire — argan-forward, seasonal, local. Includes dinner where you eat what you've prepared. Must be booked 24 hours in advance. Classes start at 3pm. Groups of 8–12 available at group rates.
Every Sunday evening in the English Lounge: traditional North African kemia (the Moroccan equivalent of tapas — olives, almonds, pistachios, bite-sized savouries) served with aperitif drinks.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Hotel has a lift providing access to upper floors and the rooftop terrace. Not fully wheelchair-accessible throughout, but lift makes the pool terrace reachable.
The hotel hosts private and professional events; teams available to coordinate.
Free wireless internet throughout the hotel.
Buffet breakfast included in room rates, served in the courtyard patio or in-room on request.
Available across all room categories.
Panoramic rooftop pool on the top floor terrace with views over the medina and the Atlantic. Sunloungers and towels provided. Open to hotel guests and day visitors (via Pool & Lunch package).
Certified Green Key property — the hotel actively promotes environmental responsibility among staff and supply chain partners.
Private parking available at the hotel — a genuine rarity for a medina riad.
BUILD YOUR HEURE BLEUE PALAIS PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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