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View from First Floor to Ground Floor dining table.

Dining Table and Courtyard / Dining Room.

Overview
Rooms
Location
Policies

9.8

Exceptional

Popular amenities

Breakfast available

Pet-friendly

Kitchen

Free WiFi

Explore the area

Essaouira, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz

Skala de la Ville9 min walk
Place Moulay el Hassan10 min walk
Skala du Port12 min walk
Essaouira (ESU-Mogador)21 min drive

Most relevant reviews

10/10 Excellent

We had the most amazing stay for New Year at Lisa's riad. The place was spotless and the added bonus of Fatima coming in...

louise c.

Jan 17, 2024

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3 Terrace

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 4 Top terrace

1 Double Bed

1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Outdoor play area

Dining Area

About this property

A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira.

5 Columns is in the ancient medina of Essaouira, Southern Morocco’s favourite beach town. A beautiful 200-year-old house in the authentic and friendly Chbanat area, famous for its textile and craft workshops, and near to the main gate of Bab Marrakech. The house is located at the back of the souks with lots of local shops nearby with helpful shopkeepers on hand to provide all you will need for your stay. Essaouira is a food-lovers heaven, with cafés and restaurants all within walking distance from the house, and the beach just a 10-minute stroll.

The Medina, an Unesco World Heritage Site, and the beautiful fishing harbour are great places to explore. There is a stunning sandy beach, with many beachside cafes and restaurants, and the bustling harbour, all within walking distance from the house. The beach is great for kite and windsurfing, along with camel and horse rides to the famous crumbling fort, Bordj El Berod. If you love fresh fish and seafood, the fish stalls by the harbour offer a wide variety of local produce. Simply choose your fresh fish from the stand and they will cook it and bring to your table. Unlike the big city that is Marrakech, Essaouira is laidback and timeless with sandy-coloured ramparts, whitewashed avenues, French-style piazzas, and a port full of azure blue fishing boats.

The house has been sympathetically restored, retaining all the original features such as the sandstone columns, thuya wood ceilings and the antique tiled floor of the inner courtyard. It is furnished with a mix of vintage & modern European furniture and art, with some beautiful Moroccan antiques and paintings by local artists, alongside works by contemporary British artists. Split over four floors, the house has two garden roof terraces; one with a kitchen and bar - great for outside dining and looking out across the medina rooftops, the other terrace is perfect for late afternoon sun. There are four double bedrooms, all with en-suite wet room bathrooms, and two cosy snug lounge rooms with large open fireplaces, and comfortable chairs. The bright covered courtyard dining area with a large dining table seating eight, is surrounded by mature plants, and is located next to the fully equipped kitchen, ideal for long lazy breakfasts, and dinner at home.

Our housekeeper Fatima will provide general cleaning during your stay and is also available to prepare food on request, at an additional cost. You will be met on arrival by our house manager Rachid, who will also be your point of contact during your stay. On your arrival, you will be taken on a short tour of the medina by Rachid, who can also help arrange excursions, taxis, or anything else you may need.

We offer a minimum 7-night stay, but shorter stays are available on request, and will be quoted based on the number of guests, and the number of nights. The minimum would be 3 nights for shorter stays.
Also available for location shoots on request.

Essaouira airport is a short 20-minute taxi ride to the house. You can also fly to Marrakech airport; the journey time is approximately 2.5 hours to Essaouira. We can arrange taxi transfers from all airports - costs will be provided upon request.

LOCATION: Essaouira, Morocco.

CLOSEST AIRPORT: Essaouira (20 mins drive); Marrakech (2.5hrs drive).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Essaouira has a pleasant temperature all year round with high temperatures from early April, through to late November.

POPULAR EVENTS: The Gnaoua World Music Festival, Essaouira's biggest annual event, is held for three days, every June - early booking is recommended.

ADDRESS: 90, Rue Moulay Ismail, Medina, Essaouira, Morocco.

Property manager

Lisa Burke

Languages

English

Amenities

Pet-friendly

Free WiFi

Breakfast available

Pool

Breakfast included

Spa

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)

Minimum age to rent: 25

Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Safety features at this property include a deadlock

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Essaouira

Located near the beach, this riad is in Medina, a neighbourhood in Essaouira. Port of Essaouira and Essaouira Mogador Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Essaouira Beach and Sidi Kaouki Beach. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Essaouira, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz

What's nearby

Skala de la Ville - 9 min walk
Place Moulay el Hassan - 10 min walk
Essaouira Beach - 11 min walk
Skala du Port - 12 min walk
Essaouira Mogador Golf Course - 8 min drive

Getting around

Essaouira (ESU-Mogador) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

‪Brunch & Co - ‬7 min walk
‪Mandala Society - ‬4 min walk
‪Dar Baba Restaurant & More - ‬7 min walk
‪Le Mechouar - ‬6 min walk
‪Caravane café - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira. pet-friendly?

Yes, this riad allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

Where is A traditional Riad in the Medina of Morocco’s favourite beach town, Essaouira. located?

Located in Medina, this riad is within a 10-minute walk of Mohammed Ben Abdallah Museum, Skala de la Ville and Place Moulay el Hassan. Essaouira Beach and Skala du Port are also within 15 minutes.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

louise c.

17 Jan 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

We had the most amazing stay for New Year at Lisa's riad. The place was spotless and the added bonus of Fatima coming in daily was brilliant. The beds were extremely comfortable and we all slept so well, even during the call to prayer! Well equipped kitchen and lots of hot water. Thank you Lisa!

Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

22 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house, great location

Beautiful house with nice outdoor areas and really comfy beds! Great showers with lots of hot water and good pressure. In a great location and the house manager meets you on arrival and gives you a quick and very helpful orientation to the medina. Lisa is quick to answer any questions and recomends some great places to eat. Recommend.

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gerald B.

17 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect and Quiet Riad

We spend a week in Lisa Riad. It’s a amazing riad with 4 rooms , 4 bedrooms with toilet and a separate toilet . The street is quiet and very close to the Medina Center . We asked for the breakfast ( very typical Morocco ) and it was very good . Perfect place to be if you want to visit Essaouira

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hayley M., London and North Yorkshire!

25 Oct 2018

A fabulous property, with great character, style and flexibility

My partner and I stayed at Lisa’s property in October. The property is exactly as billed on the website and just as quirky and stylish as we hoped. As there were only two of us, we didn’t take advantage of the space the property affords for groups/larger families. We would come back with friends without hesitation. The liaison with Lisa was prompt and informative, and we were very appreciative of her arranging taxis to and from the airport, and a wonderful welcome to the house/medina by Rashid and her housekeeper, Fatima. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Whilst Essaouira is more relaxed than Marrakesh, we were still grateful for this handholding in our first few hours. I would thoroughly recommend this property and Essaouira is a great place to chill and experience a more relaxed Moroccan culture than Marrakech. Thanks Lisa and team! Hayley and John

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2018

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Helen T.

30 Oct 2017

Lovely, spacious, clean, central - everything you could need

We spent a lovely family week exploring Essaouira and enjoying the riad. Everything worked smoothly, Famima who came every day to do the housekeeping was a delight, couldn't have asked for anything more. Recommended :)

Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

fiona b.

31 Aug 2017

Perfect

We all loved Essaouira and we loved this Riad. Rachid was there to meet us at the appointed time and gave us a lovely warm welcome. The house is absolutely beautiful - the use of space, light, original features, furniture, set furnishings and art all work to make you feel like you are literally living in an interiors magazine. We spent many hours as a family around the table (every bit as gorgeous as it looks in the photos), all slept well, enjoyed cooking in the kitchen, which has everything you could need and the (teenage) boys were happy to find there was good wifi. The outside area is pretty private and we loved the bar area, which we stocked up from the local Carrefour. It goes without saying that the property was immaculate and Fatima did a great job of tidying round us every day. Fatima also cooked for us one night - which she dropped off at an agreed time. It was delicious and enough for the whole street. Her Lemon Tart was AMAZIng. And I don't even like lemon tart!! (The cost was 150DH which is about £12. Well worth every penny) Lisa is really quick to get back to you about any queries and gave us some wonderful shopping and eating tips. In fact she cost us a fortune. We took an empty suitcase and it almost wasn't enough! We would definitely visit Essaouira again and definitely stay here. It's a little oasis in a crazy place. Thank you very much Lisa x

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Susan C., London, United Kingdom

11 Apr 2017

Had a great time

Beautiful riad ! Great communication with the owner Lisa , highly recommend

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

anne k.

17 Aug 2016

beautyful, perfectly organized, relaxed,

Dear Lisa, thank you very much for our great stay in your beautyful riad. Everything was organized perdectly, many thanks to Fatima and Rachid, who both did a great job with cooking delicious morocan food and with a perfect housekeeping. We had a very relaxed time (not so dificult in this very special designed ambiance :) )We enjoyed everything: house, sun, wind, ocean, people, food, shops, atmosphere. We´ll come back, so long, anne

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lisa H.

12 Apr 2016

Long weekend at 5 Columns with the girls

Spent a wonderful long weekend with friends at this beautiful riad - hidden away behind a grey door, it was like walking into another world. As we were arriving in the evening, we had arranged with the owner (Lisa) for the maid to prepare dinner for us, which was waiting for us on arrival. A gorgeous tagine with salads and bread, stunningly laid out on the central dining table. Absolutely delicious and welcome after our trip, all set within the 5 columns and the open-plan dining/kitchen area, with an open space above us leading to the top atrium. Decor is a mixture of Moroccan/African and vintage 60s/70s and works really well. The impression was of space and light, with 2 bedrooms on the first floor (one of which was mine - really comfortable bed and lovely accents of colour and soft lighting. Then stairs leading up to the main sun terrace, and then further stairs leading up to the top smaller terrace and the final bedroom. Everything was spotlessly clean and it was really quiet at night, so slept amazingly well (on a very comfortable bed I should add). Being right in the middle of the medina was exciting, because as soon as you walked out of the front door, you were right in the heart of the bustle of daily life. A very short walk to the main shopping area, we felt very safe as people there seemed relaxed and friendly - we managed to get lost a few times, and people were more than happy to steer us back in the right direction (although it was fun getting lost down the narrow streets as you would discover something new). The owner recommended restaurants for dinner for the length of our stay and they were all spot on - when you only have a few days, it is so worth not wandering around not knowing where is good or not, so that was a bonus. She also recommended areas to shop which was really useful. Plus we spent a lovely sunny day at a gorgeous spa retreat recommended by her as well, where we sunbathed and had a delicious brunch - and it was so reasonable! The beach is also only a short walk away, although the day we went down there, the weather was a bit hit and miss, but there are a few beach bars which would be lovely to hang out in the sunshine. It was my first trip to Morocco and I loved it - Essaouira is such an interesting place, and I feel I only scratched the surface, so would love to return and would definitely stay at 5 Columns again. Cannot recommend it and the personal service we received highly enough. Thank you Lisa :)

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Simon S.

27 Jan 2015

Chique Essouira - we loved our stay!!

My wife and I came with two children and our au pair. This house made what would be a good holiday into a great vacation. The house is a cool renovation of a peroid Moroccan riad. Not wanting to sound clichéd but the historic elements have been blended superbly with modern European furniture. The first floor centres round a light filled balcony looking over the ground floor and a long wooden table. The lighting after dark is exquisite and the ambience enchanting. Their are two further floors centred around the patios with two further bedrooms Having tons of space to move around the kids loved playing at home. Also given that the rooms are over four floors the bedrooms on the upper levels have an element of separation and privacy too. The au pair loved that point and I would expect it to work equally well with couples or families with teenage kids who require a little more distance. The art work around the house was cool - I loved the hip prints and spent the first few days inspired to pinch some of the themes for my own home. The service was great too. We went over Ramadam and Lisa helped organise some beautiful bottles of wine for the house along with transfers and a plethora of recommendations of where to eat and visit. We also used on three occasions the dinner services organised by the house keeper. Tasty tajines with sides of salads and aubergine were brought round at an agreed time. It was half way between take away and a delivered banquet. Lisa (the owner) and Rachid (the house manager) are alway on call and the cleaner was there every day but was very discrete. The taxi firm which Lisa recommends was always punctilious and the owner speaks fluent English. Staying in Essouira is a really interesting with many great beaches and choosing this place highly recommended

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Gary W.

27 Jan 2015

Authentic medina living with modern luxury

An authentic, luxury house in a great part of the medina of Essaouira. All (double) rooms are beautifully decorated, clean and highly stylish down to the owner being an interior designer and you can certainly tell by the quality of decor and interesting pieces dotted around. There's plenty of space in this Riad with two sun terraces on the upper levels ensuring total privacy and tranquility. If your looking for a spacious, authentic yet modern Riad experience to share with friends and/or with family then 5 columns is the perfect choice.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ian L.

23 Jan 2015

A beautiful spacious home with comfortable corners

You can warm your bones on the roof as is a great suntrap , The kitchen perfect for those who like to cook , Had no problem sleeping in the comfortable beds , Beautifully dressed with lovely pieces of art, I feel very at home there Recommend the Moroccan food cooked by Fatima

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

caroline t.

24 June 2011

Five Star and Fabulous!

The house is simply amazing and, I’ve been told, one of the best in Essaouria. It is modern, comfortable and stylish as well as unmistakably Moroccan. The location was spot on. The house is located within the heart of Medina, which in our view was the best place to be situated. A few minutes down a couple of winding alleyways brings you to the centre of the Medina where there are many shops and restaurants – staying in the Medina in a 5* riad was more of an exciting experience for us than staying in one of the soulless chain hotels along the sea front. The owners, Rachid and Latifa were very accomodating and arranged everything from airport transfers to dinner on arrival to recommending the best restaurants and things to do, all of which helped to make our holiday go smoothly. Dinner on arrival was perfect as it meant we didn’t have to find somewhere to eat whilst dazed and confused after a long day travelling. As was Rachid’s tour of the Medina, which greatly helped us to find our bearings. We loved Essaouria and can’t wait to return. The locals were so friendly. We shall be returning to Five Columns.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

kezia p.

15 May 2011

A beautiful oasis

This really is a wonderful place to stay. Hidden on a back street of busy Essaouira, through a small grey door you enter into an oasis of light and warmth. It is beautifully and tastefully renovated combining the original old details with a sensitive modern touch. And so well looked after by all. Could not have hoped for a better place to stay. Thank you!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

28 Apr 2011

Beauty + harmony 2 mins from the souks

We feel so fortunate to have stayed at this beautiful house for our first trip to Morocco. It is tasteful, understated, stylish and yet so comfortable it felt like home. Designed with care and attention to every detail it provides the perfect foil to the bustle and noise of the medina. Simple decor with a mixture of sixties pieces and local rugs and furniture let the building speak for itself. Traditional style shower rooms combined with modern plumbing - a rare treat! We had Latifa's chicken tagine on the first night and it was delicious. Freshly baked pastries are available just a step from the front door and the kitchen had everything we needed for catering for ourselves after picking up the spices etc from the souks. Everything was taken care of from the moment we landed at Marrakech airport even though it was late when we arrived. The house was spotless and the owner was extremely helpful and gave us lots of good advice. Rachid's tour of the medina helped us to 'find our feet' and he and Latifa were there to help for the whole of our stay. Nothing was too much trouble. Essaouira is a wonderful place and we will be returning very soon. The souks are manageable and the people are so friendly. Safi beach is spectacular and there are lots of places to eat at very reasonable prices. I would recommend 'Five Columns' to my friends without reservation.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

6 Feb 2011

Understated charm in the ancient walled city

I whisked my girlfriend away to Morooco for her birthday last year. I've been to Morocco many times and decided to spend most of our time by the coast (Essaouira) and then overnight in Marrakech - the ideal long weekend for me. I'd been referred to 5 columns through a friend and it really didn't disappoint. To find such a stylish haven amidst the cacophony of the medina is such a wonderful thing. You can see the owners have really put some love into the interiors - I've ben told they're interior designers and it showed. Although there were four of us. It would comfortably accomodate 8 adults as there's a decent sized roof terrace with a bar and a big round table for al fresco dining. There are four very good sized bedrooms all with en-suites and a lovely open fire in a snug that was nice in the evening when it got a little chillier. In addition, the house was very well maintained with qualtiy white linens and big fluffy towels - nice touches that make such a difference. The housemaid comes in regularly - very friendly and discreet and will offer meals if required. We didn't but actually used the new, quality kitted out kitchen one night and for breakfasts. The owners leave some very useful tips on the best local restaurants - other places just leave business cards, or flyers - which was another nice touch. We tried a couple (after 5 and Taros and they were both a cut above) We'll definitely be going back - this time with a bigger group of good friends. Essaouira's great and we found 5 columns understated and charming

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Heike H., London

25 Apr 2010

Honeymoon in Essaouira

We spent our honeymoon here in February, and had a fantastic time. The house is wonderful, we really enjoyed the food and had a great time soaking up the atmosphere, relaxing on the roof garden or in front of a nice open fire, and walking around the Medina, taking photographs (I bet we have one of every blue door!). Everyone was lovely and really helpful, Emma organised for us to go to a souk on Wednesday morning, which was great, and to a beach on Saturday (with a very cool cafe) and Latifa made some delicious tagines and salads for us. We had a wonderful honeymoon! We hope to visit again sometime and I'd definitely recommend this property.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

15 Apr 2010

5 Columns

What a treat to stay in such a cool house! I'm a big fan of mid 20th century design and I really like interiors, so it was great to stay in a property that has been so lovingly decorated by someone who obviously knows their stuff. There is a real attention to detail and each room has its own personality (I grabbed the coolest one straight away). Throughout the house there are really cool vintage knick-knacks and lamps, lovely massive coffee table books and very well chosen pieces of art on the walls - a mixture of trendy prints and what looks like contemporary african art. I felt at home straight away and didn't get that cold clinical feeling you sometimes get with posh boutique hotels. You feel as though the owners really care about this house. Although this is a self-catering experience the house still has a luxurious feel and there is a housekeeper who comes in daily so you feel welcomed and looked after. She can bring in meals if you order in advance (the dinner she made us was yummy & very reasonable in price) The house is situated within the walls of the historical Medina, so you can jump right in and feel connected straight away, without that distant sanitised touristy feeling you sometimes get when you visit a place. I absolutely adored the Medina, it's beautiful and nutty and colourful. On arrival we were met by Emma who showed us to the house and gave a free tour of the Medina. This was really helpful as it allowed us to get a feel for the place and get our bearings a bit. There's usually a bit of faffing around when you first arrive and it can take a while to get the hang of a place, so this helped us have a more immediate experience of Essaouira. She has an amazing knowledge of Essaouira and helped us to organise trips during our stay. I would highly recommend this house and will definitely stay there again because it is SO stylish and it enabled me to have a genuine close-up experience of the place without having to rough it.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

11 Apr 2010

A great place to relax

My friends and I had a long weekend here for an "occasion" birthday in March 2010 and can thoroughly recommend this property. Apart from the fact that it's beautifully designed and somehow manages to capture the spirit of the town itself, it's also practical and comfortable - very important when self catering! Everything is exactly where you'd expect to find it and the little touches of luxury everywhere help to make it feel homely. It really does feel like a special place to stay. It can be baffling getting to grips with the medina and the prearranged tour of around the locality was a must for us, and I'd recommend the beautiful home cooked meal delivered by Latifa the housekeeper one night - delicious! There are tons of places to eat and drink within a few minutes walk though, and the local shopkeepers are friendly and helpful if you need your own supplies. A great place to relax - Essaouira is very laid back and atmospheric - that's its charm, but once you shut the door to the house it's hard to believe that there's any hustle and bustle going on outside - it can be as peaceful or noisy as you want it, being completely private. A great place to party or relax.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

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11 Apr 2010

Beautiful, hip, relaxing

This riad has it all. It's beautiful, hip, relaxing and was a home away from home. Perfectly located in the medina so walking distance from the markets, beach and town centre. I went with a group of seven, and we were all pleasantly surprised. Each of the rooms has its own distinct character - a chic mix of European retro and traditional Moroccan. The rooftop terrace was divine (spent a few blissful days sunbathing up there) and the dining area and kitchen were also great. I loved going to the market, getting fresh vegetables and fish, coming back to the house and cooking. This house is ideal for a group holiday. The owner Lisa was very helpful and arranged for her lovely housekeeper Latifa to cook us an amazing Moroccan dish upon arrival – I believe it was a Chicken and olive tangine? The house looked impeccable and we immediately felt happy and at ease. Although the house is in the medina, it is remarkably quiet and serene. I loved every moment of my stay here and can't wait to go back.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

10 Apr 2010

GOING BACK FOR MY 5TH STAY AT FIVE COLUMNS!

Yes, I am soon going to stay in this house for the 5th time, that's how much I love it! Essaouira is one of my favorite places ever and Five Columns is one of my favorite houses ever! To walk into its oasis of calm from the winding narrow streets is quite surreal. It is beautifully decorated and has everything you need from log fires in the winter to sun loungers in the summer. The couple who own the house are really friendly and helpful, they will give you loads of ideas of things to do and see and will arrange taxi's etc. I can highly recommend this house!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

4/10 Poor

B0yjMNoT2d04bP99YN9SO6U3ElnBFizV+Hd4vu/ZGYxt5/kytUXot55rlBUHiJ1uCcEoi1SBOhtNTSm0JZlev99QBDb7IinHaA0c B.

6 Apr 2010

Beautiful property shame about the mould

Great riad - stylishly decorated and well located. However, there was an overwhelming damp smell and mould on the walls. This mouldy smell gave the place an unhygienic feel. One of the bedrooms had mould above the bed and caused my friend to wake up feeling wheezy. The housekeeper burnt incense to disguise the stale smell. By the end of our stay the mouldy smell had all but gone through daily airing of the riad. We just wished that the housekeeper had done this prior to our arrival. Our other friends stayed elsewhere in Essaouira and did not have a problem with mould. The owners have said they will address the mould by repainting the walls. Few other minor quibles like the housekeeper not coming on one of the days etc. From the bed of the bedroom on the top floor you can see the toilet as there is no bathroom door - something to be aware of when you make this booking. All things considered I would recommend this property but only with the mould situation addressed.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

3 Apr 2010

Property 421195 , Medina, Essaouira

I stayed with my 11 year old daughter and friends last Easter and had the most fantastic time. The house was not only beautifully presented, in a modern style, it also had a true typical morrocan feel to it. There were places to relax by open fires, a bar and sunbathing area on the terrace. The bathrooms were beautifully designed and the kitchen made it so simple to be fully self contained. The house was a true jewel when we entered from the exciting narrow streets and dark doorways of a truly ancient and authentic feeling Essaouira. Essaouira was full of fantastic places to eat, from the fresh fish market by the harbour to the more exclusive restaurants around the Medina. Lisa Burke, who owns the property was full of helpful tips and hints of interesting places to go, Markets and places to eat, she really helped to guide through this fantastic experience. I felt as though we had really experienced a true taste of Morrocco and have highly reccomended it to all my friends and am planning to go back.

About the host

Hosted by Lisa Burke

I am an interior designer living in London with my partner Liggy who is a Project Manager. Our son Shea is an electronic music producer. We love to travel and fell in love with the charms of Essaouira twenty years ago whilst on our first holiday there with a group of friends.

We love visiting art galleries, museums and live music events and festivals. Liggy is a musician and enjoys playing and recording, which is another reason why we fell in love with Essaouira as music is everywhere!

I am an interiors and architecture obsessive and I had been a long time fan of Islamic architecture and design. Working with clients in London I am also a professional shopper for beautiful interior items, antiques and art. As there are many boutiques and antique shops in Essaouira, I also source items locally and ship them to the UK. Essaouira has some beautiful boutiques and galleries and I always manage to find new, amazing pieces during my trips.

Why they chose this property

We went to Essaouira on holiday with friends in 2004 and fell in love with the magic of Essaouira, the medina, the souks, the beach and the surrounding countryside. We returned six months later and viewed twenty properties and fell instantly in love with the house.

It was a complete ruin but it was so beautiful as it still had quite a lot of the amazing original features, which include the 5 sandstone columns that give the house its name. The other magical detail was the natural light, the house is literally filled with sunshine throughout the day which is sometimes difficult to find in old medina houses.

The location is perfect as its just a short walk to the souks, the beach and the many great restaurants close by. We are also located in the driest part of the Medina, as Essaouira is surrounded by the Atlantic sea, damp can sometimes be an issue with properties that are closer to the sea walls. Living inside the Medina, in an authentic, traditional house will give you a greater feeling of Moroccan daily life and you will be able to soak up the amazing atmosphere within the Medina walls.

What makes this property unique

The original features; which include the sandstone columns and original thuya wood ceilings which are traditional to Moroccan houses. We had the property fully restored which took 2 years of planning and re-building. During this time, as an interior designer, I enjoyed many shopping trips around Europe sourcing all the wonderful vintage furniture pieces and art that fill the house.

The light inside the house and the open plan layout which is great for both large and small groups.

The friendly, local community with the souks just a 5 minute stroll from the house.
The experience of living inside the medina in an authentic Moroccan house. You can easily walk everywhere from the house; to the souks for groceries and supplies or to the many great cafes and restaurants and the beach.

No cars are allowed inside the medina which makes it more pleasant and safe to walk everywhere.