Riad Zahra

Morocco , Essaouira
ESSAOUIRA, Quartier Des Dunes, 90
Show on Google | Website | Map

50 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

29 Oct 2018

Verified traveler

Clean, friendly hotel with some excellent food.

Excellent, friendly staff that made staying there a pleasure. The have 2 restaurants with delicious food and a clean pool.
It's a little walk up to the medina (say 15 to 20 mins) but that it straight up the beach and so was beautiful in itself.
It's right beside the beach so if it's not too windy then that's great to hang out on too.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Sep 2018

Wendy

The proprietors and staff were all delightful, happy to help and always efficient. Facilities were good. Cleanliness an obvious priority. My only complaint - pillows a bit lumpy.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Apr 2018

Miks

Great

Great place where to stay in Essaouira.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Dec 2017

Steve

Best Riad in Morocco!

I spent two nights at this Riad with my Burkinabe. The staff is benevolent; as Imane, Fatima and Imad are truly caring and beneficial. Their incredible level of service is unparalleled. We will definitely be returning.

8/10

Excellent

20 Oct 2017

Rolf Melwin

Great hotel, unless you need air conditioning

Good location. Staff was generally very good and helpful. Pool was good and breakfast plentiful and also very good. Unfortunately they do not have air conditioning which really is desirable in this climate. I recommend this hotel very much, unless you want air conditioning.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2017

Jessica

Wonderful Riad a block from the beach!

Riad Zahra was an amazing place! Wonderfully run hotel near the beach. The owners were incredibly friendly and helpful. Plus it has two of the best restaurants in Essaouira!

8/10

Excellent

18 May 2017

Verified traveler

İt was great location for windsurf vacation
Great hospitality

10/10

Exceptional

23 Dec 2016

Verified traveler

nice hotel close to beach

great people and great food, nice building, helpful for getting tours arranged

8/10

Excellent

08 Nov 2016

Graham

Friendly family run Riad

The French family that run this riad could not be more helpful. Well positioned near the beach and an easy flat walk to the medina. Food was varied and good value. We think the hot water was desalinated, as it tasted very salty, and left our skin feeling a little sticky. Unfortunately a new building on one side of the beautifully kept pool meant it lost the sun at about 2pm when we were there late Oct/ early Nov. However we would have no hesitation in recommending Riad Zahra in Essaouira.

Partner

4/10

Poor

17 May 2016

Verified traveler

Book it if you like hostels!

if you like staying at a hostel-like hotel, then this is the place for you. The room was dark, no view - well, there was a view of a backyard shed. This room should be used for storage, not for a tourist room. They claimed the place was full, I guess someone had to end up with this room, bad luck of the draw. But, I am beginning to wonder whether hotels have 'special' rooms set aside for the discounted online booking services such as Hotels.com's secret prices.

Soap (toileteries) were sparse, old furniture that felt as though it was about to fall apart, bed very uncomfortable, dark hallways and room, poor wifi connection. It has no beach or water view since there is now a new building blocking that view, but then I did mention that the room we had was on the ground floor overlooking a shed area that stored surf boards.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

01 May 2016

Verified traveler

Good location and public spaces, uncomfortable bed

Cons: Rooms: super thin walls, uncomfortable beds, no amenities like safe, tea/coffee service, and the bathroom supplies are meager. Also the window coverings are thin and the room never gets dark. Finally, our tv did not work until I asked at the front desk and someone came to fix it. When I complained about the noise (we could hear noise from the lobby and people showering and using the toilet above and next to us), the female owner told me my hearing was \"sensitive.\"

Pros: good location near the beach and the board walk, a 15 minute walk to the medina. Also, the lobby is pretty, the male owner and young woman who works the desk are friendly and helpful, and the seafood restaurant on the top floor has great views and tasty food and good service. Good breakfast--fresh fruit options and pots of hot strong coffee lots of bread options
They also have a nice pool, but it isn't heated. There are a few turtles who live in the pool area, which was fun.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2016

Hilary

A wonderful oasis!

We had a fantastic stay in Riad Zahra. We initially booked for one night but ended up staying for three! The pool was lovely and the staff were very attentive. We ate in the hotel restaurant and the food was amazing.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

Lovely people, nice food in downstairs restaurant, reasonably priced. Pool is nice, three pet terrapins and two tortoises add a nice touch. Service was attentive and pleasant. Bedroom was a good size, big shower and hot water at all times. We were very comfortable.

Bedroom furnishings were pretty dour, and the sea view is spoilt by building works

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 May 2015

Katy

Amazing - stay here

The family who run this riad are so lovely, helpful, nothing was to much trouble, they gave us advise/ recommendations, drew us maps. We wish we had time to stay longer. Our room was gorgeous and well decorated with comfortable beds. It is a 1 minute walk around the building onto the beach and far enough from the medina to enjoy a 20 minute stroll on the sand which means its peaceful at night. The restaurants served lovely food and it was all very reasonably priced. We would definitely stay again.

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jan 2015

Kim

Basic comfort but old and dated look

Comfortable and spacious room with some interesting artwork, however, the hotel itself is painfully dated and worn-out and could use some remodeling and fixing-up. WIFI was not working in the room. The Free Shuttle to CDG is the main reason to stay there.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Nov 2014

James

lovely place 5mins away from beach

Stayed for 5 nights and were very welcoming from the moment we arrived . All the staff were excellent and friendly with nothing being to much trouble while being very relaxed .the food was very good etc and will be going back .

8/10

Excellent

28 Oct 2014

Conor

Friendly and Welcoming

The hotel staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, the pool area is very nice and the food in both restaurants is top class. The rooms are quite basic and a bit on the small side, and the bed in our room was hideously uncomfortable. Despite this I would definitely recommend Riad Zahra

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

15 Sep 2014

Rasa

Average hotel, felt a little rundown

The hotel appeared quite rundown and although it was clean it felt unpleasant and in desperate need of renovation - shower head was broke and soft furnishings well worn. The only positive was that the hotel was right by the beach. It was about 20min walk to the medina but we didn't mind the walk. We were also entertained by the turtles swimming in the pool although I am generally concerned about the impact of chlorine water on them. Overall, it was quite an average experience and for the price we paid I would look for a nicer place. The place is called riad - don't be deceived, it's not, it's a hotel and if you are expecting to be staing in a riad you will be disappointed. Will not be staying there again.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Aug 2014

Brano

Beautiful little hotel with wonderful hosts

We really enjoyed staying in Riad Zahra. The hotel is beautiful, the hosts and all the staff are super-friendly and it is very short walk to the beach. Definitely recommend!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Aug 2014

Richard

Exquisite cuisine, wonderful family, great hotel

Wonderful food, brilliant mix of Moroccan and Catalan delights. Beautifully decorated and large rooms.

8/10

Excellent

24 Jul 2014

Adrian

Quaint Moroccan riad.

Staff is very helpful and riad is nice. Food is good but hotel could use some soundproofing. Very loud and hard to sleep and night. Loved the experience though.

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jul 2014

Georgi

Great location, short walk to Medina

Easy booking, helpful communication. Booked a taxi for our airport connection. Staff v friendly and helpful.

Family

8/10

Excellent

26 Jun 2014

Nick

Great owners; relaxed family place

Owners were very friendly from the minute we showed up. Clean rooms; good pool layout; close to the beach ; 15 mins to medina; good breakfast.

We underestimated part of our trip and almost missed out bus back to Marrakech but thankfully the owners realized our situation and gave us a ride to the bus station. Definitely above and beyond on the service!

10/10

Exceptional

30 Apr 2014

Chris

Very good!

Good location, superior staff and service, clean and tidy, all you need!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Mar 2014

Caroline

Nice traditional Riad with a great sea view

We spent four nights here and although the hotel is a good 15 minutes walk out of the town, this meant it was quiet, which we appreciated after 3 nights inside the medina in Marrakesh!

6/10

Pleasant

04 Feb 2014

Bod

Staying somewhere else next time.

I'm surprised they have such a high rating. The hotel was at the far end of the beach. They put me in a tiny room with scratchy sheets even though the place was empty. Breakfast was sparce and the restaurant was closed. It has a decent pool which was freezing but I'm sure is nice in the summer.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2013

robandlucy

fantastic food, pool and v friendly staff

great place to relax. Grill restaurant on the top floor was the best food we had in Morocco.

8/10

Excellent

27 Oct 2013

Ariel

Fit our needs

Not right in the Medina but a short walk from beach as well as historic city center. Breakfast was good, staff attentive and pool clean. Good alternative to one of the big hotels.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2013

Cat

Excellent place to stay

We stayed here at the end or Sept/begining of October '13. What a wonderful place...the owners were so friendly and made you feel welcome immediately. The rooms are spotless and have all the items that you require. It is a refreshing change from the noise and hustle and bustle of Marrakech.
The Riad is a 20 minutes easy walk, down the beach (promenade), from the old town. But there are cafes on the way, if the heat is too much and need a break. This is not a negative point - as you are able to spend time unwinding...plus people I know who stayed in the Medina did not venture along the beach to the Dunes - so staying here gives you the best of both.
The pool is small but just what you need, as it is quiet and there are enough sun loungers for all. The added bonus are the turtles and tortoises that hang out there...so fab to watch!
I would definately recommend having a meal at the restaurant at the top of the Riad - it was always busy, even though this is a small place - but people come from other hotels as it is absolutely beautiful.
Would highly recommend this place...great value for money and welcoming people!

10/10

Exceptional

10 Oct 2013

Katherine

Lovely hotel next to beach

We originally booked to stay for 2nights but extended our stay by 2nights as we enjoyed our stay so much. The hotel is in a good location 2mins from the beach and about a 15min walk from the medina.

The hotel staff are very friendly and helpful. The breakfast is really good and very filling! The hotel pool is perfect for relaxing round and the turtles are a unique added extra! The hotels restaurant is very good and there is a good selection of food. I would definitely recommend the hotel and would go back in the future.

10/10

Exceptional

24 Sep 2013

Verified traveler

Homely Riad, kept to a great standard.

We were due to spend 9 nights in Riad Zahra, but didn't want to leave, so stayed an extra night. It is very well kept at all times, and the staff are ever friendly and attentive. Room was basic, but very suitable and adequate, would definitely stay again if we visit Essaouira.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2013

Verified traveler

Family hotel great for couples too!

Nice hotel - xavier the manager is very friendly and helpful. Pity you ant get on the roof or terrace and have a view of the waves for surfing. Breakfast was great too. A little walk from the medina but this is no biggy. They have a turtle hanging out by the pool!

8/10

Excellent

21 May 2013

Verified traveler

Great weak in Essaouria

Friendly staff who assisted booking the quad bikes & restaurant in the medina.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Aug 2012

Verified traveler

Will definately go back!

Extremely friendly staff, always willing to help! located 1 minute from the beach and right next door to a kitesurf/watersports school. food was brilliant and evenings out with others in the hotel were arranged on multiple occasions. really helped bond everybody in the hotel. only a short walk to the centre of town but far enough out to mean evenings/nights were quiet when you wanted to sleep. excelent value hotel that i will definately return to!

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jun 2012

Friendly staff and very nice

Family owned hotel, great location by the beach,taxi to town is less than a euro or you can walk along the beach for 15 min. Would recommend this to all types of travellers

Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Nov 2011

Verified traveler

A good hotel for the price. Free wifi in the public areas and also free car parking The swimming pool area was excellent and very underused. The rooms are just typical hotel rooms you fond around the world but the bed was comfortable and the rooms were quiet. The location is fine if you want to go to the beach, however, if you want to get to the Medina area it is a good 30 minute walk. There is a cafe across the road which serves a good breakfast (cheaper than the hotel) and there are a couple of eating places on the promenade - a 5 minute walk away, however the best places to eat are in the Medina. if you want a Moroccan experience this is not the place to stay however if all you need is a comfortable room to visit the lovely town of Essouira and you don't mind a long walk to the tourist bit of town then it is great value.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2011

Tina

Great welcome and service

A lovely small hotel offering excellent service and friendly staff, particularly on reception. Nothing was too much trouble. Rooms are spacious and traditionally decorated, colourful and authentic compared to other Riads we saw. Everything looked very clean and the pool is well maintained and very pleasant with nice seating areas to relax. Although our room booking details said breakfast is not included - it was, which was a bonus. The location is out of the main area but is a 15 minute easy stroll along the sea front, the advantage of this is that it is quiet and undisturbed by late night noise. Don`t be too alarmed that the street outside looks a little run down and shabby. This seems to be fairly typical of the country in general and did not detract from the hotel at all. If you do not wish to walk, a petit taxi is only about £1 or less from the town. Food is a little limited on the hotel menu but there are so many lovely choices in the centre and by the port to suit all pockets, why would you want to stay in the hotel and eat!

8/10

Excellent

12 Aug 2011

Linda

Riad Zahra Essouira

A lovely hotel/riad a distance from souks and old town but only 20dhm in a petit taxi either way (less than £2) Owners very friendly, food good standard, breakfasts comprised of pancakes, cake, fresh bread with jams, butter etc, teas and freshly squeezed orange juice.Roof terrace overlooking the beach. Pool with interesting addition of terrapins by the side which do take the occasional dip.We managed to get a camel ride on the beach for 50dhm, we didnt go that far but all three of us had a turn and the guide was excellent even taking photos for us. During July and August it is very windy in this resort, although one morning we woke up to find a sea mist with fine drizzle, so expect the unexpected I suppose. Also in Essouira they don't seem to hassle you in the souks like they do in Marrakech.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Aug 2011

David

Quality attentive service

Spent a very relaxed 5 nights at the Riad Zahra. Room 32 was very spacious and very quiet at night apart from the 4.15 call for prayer but hey what else should you expect in an Arab country during the month of rammadam in all added to the atmosphere. We were welcomed as soon as we entered the hotel. The service was exceptionally attentive at all times could not ask for more. Happy hour was good value £2 for a beer and a tapas of choice , (brouant, a type of samosa parcel was gorgeous). Plenty of beds around the pool and beach just across the road is fab if your into kite surfing. Also a couple of beach restaurants across the road. Would reccommend the panaramique for a pizza and coke for couple of pound. Town is fascinating and plenty of restaurants to chose from . Avoid the la tolerance which was abysmal.Book Zahra you will not be disappointed.

8/10

Excellent

11 May 2011

Verified traveler

Riad Zahra - lovely staff!

We stayed at this hotel for five nights in April, and found the staff made this place! they were super super helpful. particularly the lovely girl with braces on reception, where nothing was too much trouble. Even when we had food poisoning from one of the other restaurants in Essaouira she got the kitchen to make simple food for our bellies! Lovely spacious, clean rooms, and a bonus having a swimming pool!

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2019

JuanRamón

el Riad es muy bonito y acogedor. Lo mejor es su restaurant, en la planta alta del edificio. Aspectos como las viejas pantallas de Tv estropea un poco este fanatstico Riad, muy bien llevado por la familia con Miquel al frente. Una experiencia muy agradable.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

14 Feb 2018

Verified traveler

hotel accueillant . petit dej excellent ,

chambre vieillotte mais prix en adéquation . Nous n'avions pas envie d'y trainer

10/10

Exceptional

30 Sep 2017

Verified traveler

Gut geführtes Hotel an idealer Lage

Sehr nettes, hilfsbereites Personal. Geräumiges Zimmer mit Blick auf Meer und Pool.

8/10

Excellent

04 Apr 2017

franck

Hotel proche de la plage

Hotel proche de la plage, personel accueillant, bon petit dejeuner, lit un peu dur en chambre standart et egalement juste une chaine a la tv sinon beau riad

8/10

Excellent

12 Nov 2016

Andreas

Sehr persönliches und geschmackvoll eingerichtetes

Wir haben wunderbar entspannte Tage gehabt.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Oct 2016

Corentin

Proche de la plage, gérants très accueillants

Excellent accueil, chambres spacieuses, grande piscine; les deux restaurants proposent de la cuisine variée. Nous y retournerons bientôt.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Sep 2016

Sylvie

Les proprietaires sont d'une grande gentillesse et ont a coeur la satisfaction de leurs clients.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Aug 2016

ines

Hotel muy recomendable.\n

Buenos servicios, buena cocina, excelente servicio. Muy recomendable para todo tipo de viajeros: familias, parejas...seguro y tranquilo.
Buena localización, agradable piscina con terraza. Exquisito trato, personal encantador y profesional.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Aug 2016

Natalia-Alvaro

Como en casa en Essaouira

Ha sido una experiencia maravillosa por el trato de Javier y su mujer e hijo, la exquisita cocina (Marroquí con toque internacional). Muy cerca de la playa y cerca de la Medina. Se puede ír andando. Todo son facilidades en el Riad, trato familiar y los consejos de Javier son muy útiles.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2016

melanie

Parfait

Séjour court mais agréable , personnel souriant, attentionnné, multilingue et professionnel, prix plus que abordable en vue de la qualité du service.
Chambre spacieuse, bien décoré, propre.
Petit déjeuné service à table .
À recommander