Heure Bleue Palais

Heure Bleue Palais combines traditional Moroccan design with European and African style to create a luxurious Chic Retreat in Essaouira. It's the perfect place to spend some hedonistic nights relaxing in the spa and hammam, talking with friends on the grand tiled patio or dining in the richly decorated oriental lounge while listening to the evocative music of the lute player.

Located in the Medina, close to the beach, Heure Bleue Palais is in one of the best locations in Essaouira.

The luxurious oriental lounge is clothed in bronze, gold and red with a design influenced by the Byzantine and Ottoman periods and the large windows look out onto the spacious courtyard. Traditional Moroccan cuisine with an emphasis on seafood is on the well-conceived menu and of course traditional tagines and pastilla.

Dinner can also be taken in the English Bar which serves a lighter menu including spider crab and chocolate parfait. Try the sea bass cooked in sea salt for a real classic dish. The wine list is impressive and a good wine can be found to compliment any meal.

There are 33 beautifully decorated rooms & suites in Heure Bleue Palais. A natural palette of beiges, creams, whites and dark wooden furniture creates a traditional feel with luxurious seating and intricately carved furniture. The rooms reflect the converging cultures of Africa, Europe and Africa in all of their glory.

Rooms have large comfortable beds with sumptuous fabrics, internet and CD and DVD players. Bathrooms are impressive with marble fixtures and come with bathrobes and a welcome pack of natural products. Classic rooms have Italian showers, junior suites have baths and senior suites have separate baths and showers. Some senior suites have their own fireplaces for a romantic night in.

It's easy to spend a day or two without even stepping foot out of Heure Bleue. With its own swimming pool, terrace with panoramic views of the area, a home cinema lounge, solarium & relaxation lounge, billiards room and spa with hammam there are plenty of opportunities to indulge within the hotel walls. The hammam, decorated in Moroccan black tadelakt, is a quiet spot to refresh & relax the body and there is a range of massages, facials and body scrubs to try. Treatments can also be taken out on the roof terrace while looking out at the Atlantic.

Visit the numerous lively markets of Essaouria or the lively Medina, certified a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fish markets thrive with boatloads of fish and those in search of the catch of the day. Watersports are a must on the vast beach and for an energetic day out on the sands, take a quad bike for a drive or go for a horse ride. L'Heure Bleu Palais' helpful staff are happy to organise hiking trips, drawing classes, craft tours and 4x4 trips along the coast.

Free Wi-fi is available.