The Hotel

We love L'Heure bleue Palais and are proud to share with you a reference of the Moroccan hotel industry, member of the prestigious association of Relais & Châteaux.

Our charming riad is leaning against the rampart that ends the medina of Essaouira. Authentic Moroccan house, it gravitates around the traditional central patio, vast, fresh and green. Everywhere, the elegant decor marries the European, Mediterranean, Arab and African influences of the city.

Its high panoramic roof terrace offers a swimming pool and a breathtaking view of the old city at sunset.

For me, cooking is sharing. Share knowledge and desires within my team. Share with our guests the pleasure of flavors and preparations, of course those culinary heritage that I inherited with pride, but also those from elsewhere. To marry them in the plate is an enrichment.

L'Heure Bleue Palais is born of a magnificent dream: to give Essaouira a prestigious address worthy of its rich past at the crossroads of African, European and Arab civilizations. The establishment has retained the cachet of a traditional Moroccan mansion and offers all the comforts of a large hotel brand. The living rooms, bedrooms, suites and lounges, converge on the patio, a meeting place where a fountain sings and throbs at the heart of the riad.

Originally built at the end of the 18th century, on the ruins of an ancient ‘fondouk’ - hostel for travelling traders - the ‘sleeping beauty’, as it was called by the locals, initially was the sumptuous residence of the pasha Caïd Mbark Saidi. Later acquired by a wealthy merchant, it then served as an orphanage until the 1960s, before being abandoned. It was then that the Azoulay family – a family with long roots in Mogador - and associates decided to restore this once noble residence and bring it back to life. L’Heure Bleue Palais opened its doors in June 2004 after three years of renovation and reconstruction, now with a new identity as a luxury hotel. Today L’Heure Bleue Palais is the pride of Essaouira to which countless craftsmen and artisans brought their passion and unique know-how.

Relais & Chateaux : All around the world, unique in the world

Established in France almost 60 years ago, Relais & Châteaux has become a renowned reference of excellence in the hotel and restaurant world. With more than 600 properties worldwide under its banner, the Relais & Châteaux logo assures visitors that the establishment is both unique and maintaining the highest standards of excellence.