Dar Al Bahar 5*

My friend and I stayed in Dar Al Bahar just for 2 nights (11/09/09-13/09/09) - and we liked this riad a lot. Of coarse we couldn’t find a better place.

The hotel is well located in the medina, on the street that goes along the fortress wall. It was very easy to find it – you just go straight along that street until you see the sigh with the name of hotel. But be prepared that cars and taxies cannot enter the medina (they leave you near the main square) and you need to carry your luggage or hire man with wheelbarrow. This way is not very long - about 6 minutes walk. Near the hotel there is bastion with cannons where tourists and local people like to sit.

What I liked the most was the terrace on the roof with a view to the ocean and the city. The view of the sunset was amazing, we’ve made many beautiful photos.

The breakfast was very pleasant: fruit salad, jam, butter, bread, croissants, fresh orange juice, tea (or coffie/cacao) – it was served on the terrace.

We leaved in room called Aziza, windows opened on the street. I liked the decoration of the room – with paintings, lamps, etc. Everything was fresh and clean. There was +38 on the street, but in room it was cool. There were always bunches of flowers in the corridor and hall. Everything there was made with such kindness and hospitality.

Sometimes there was a little noise in the night coming from the street. Because the streets are narrow and the acoustics is very good indeed. But if you decide to live in the medina you should be ready for that. I suppose that rooms with a ocean view are not noisy at all (only the noise of the ocean).

The stuff and hosts of the hotel were very kind, always trying to help, asking how we liked the city, etc. On the day of check-out we had a late bus at 11:50 p.m. They let us to leave our luggage in the hotel, spend our time in the hall and terrace, etc. Thanks them a lot.

I would like to return to Essaouira and stay in Dar Al Bahar again.