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Heure Bleue Palais
This Relais & Châteaux hotel is a charming riad near the city walls, with a panoramic terrace overlooking Essaouira’s medina. Elegantly preserving the character of a traditional Moroccan home, it blends African, Moorish, Portuguese, British and Oriental influences. At its heart lies the spacious, green courtyard – the patio – with a gently bubbling fountain, serving as the hotel’s central meeting point.
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A Relais & Châteaux Jewel
Heure Bleue Palais is set in the heart of old Mogador, as Essaouira was once known. Located within the UNESCO-listed Medina on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, it lies just two hours from Marrakesh.
With the Medina on its doorstep, gentle dunes to the south, expansive beaches and the Mogador golf course nearby, this luxury hotel is the perfect base for cultural explorers, nature lovers, sports enthusiasts and beachgoers alike.
Hotel Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Meeting room
- Car parking
- Airport transfers
Luxury Living in a Riad
Heure Bleue Palais is a historic property built in the traditional riad style, offering a high level of privacy and comfort. As with most authentic Oriental buildings, its 33 rooms and suites are arranged around a central courtyard, or patio. The spacious interiors reflect a harmonious blend of African, European and Oriental influences.
Moroccan Culinary Treasures
Chef Ahmed Handour and his team in both the hotel’s restaurants take you on a journey of delight presenting Morocco’s culinary treasures in all their delicious variety. The colonial-style bar is the perfect place to unwind by the fireplace with a cocktail, a curated selection of authentic teas or a premium spirit or liqueur.
- Salon Oriental gourmet restaurant
- Salon Anglais – the English lounge
- Terrace Grill rooftop restaurant
- Breakfast and aperitifs in the courtyard
Oriental Spa Experience at Le P’tit Spa
The traditional hammam offers an authentic oriental spa experience, with treatments ranging from classic bathing rituals and body scrubs to massages and a variety of beauty therapies using essential oils and natural products. From the heated rooftop pool, guests can enjoy breathtaking views over Essaouira’s old town and the Atlantic Ocean.
Our Pur Life Maroc concierge service offers tailor-made travel experiences designed around your wishes. Discover the most beautiful and authentic sides of Morocco up close, guided by our local experts and Pur Life insiders. Immerse yourself in your own personal Pur Life Maroc journey.
Heure Bleue Palais
Join Chef Ahmed Handour for an exclusive cooking class and explore the secrets of Moroccan cuisine. Fresh ingredients, including fish and seafood, are delivered daily from the local port. During the class, he welcomes you into his culinary world, shares recipes and offers expert tips on traditional Moroccan and Souiri cooking.
Unwind after your adventures in the surrounding area with time at the rooftop pool or in our Le P’tit Spa. Choose from a wide range of treatments, such as the Sultan’s Ritual, where black soap, eucalyptus, coffee, honey, sea salt and argan oil combine for a deeply restorative experience.
On the rooftop terrace beside the pool, guests can enjoy a selection of light grilled dishes and seafood-focused menus at lunchtime. Set between the terrace and the pool, this is the perfect spot to take in sweeping views of the city and the Atlantic while soaking up the unique atmosphere.
Not to be missed: an evening at our gourmet restaurant, Salon Oriental. Here, a warm and inviting atmosphere sets the stage for refined cuisine inspired by Moroccan and French traditions, crafted to the highest culinary standards. Embark on a flavourful journey through a world of exotic aromas.
Essaouira
Enjoy a guided walk taking in the Skala, the harbour and the city, including the old town with its souks, the consular district and the Mellah (Jewish quarter). Stroll through lively alleyways dotted with shaded squares and traditional Moorish café terraces.
How about a half-day cooking class at L'Atelier, a former warehouse beneath the stone arches at the entrance to Essaouira's medina? Guided by a top chef, you'll uncover the secrets of Moroccan cuisine and learn how to master tajines, couscous, pastillas and gazelle horn cookies.
Looking for the perfect blend of eco-tourism and walking? Choose from guided half-day or full-day hikes, complete with a tea break or lunch in a traditional Moroccan eatery. Discover the natural beauty of the Essaouira region at a more relaxed pace.
A network of trails linking local villages makes the countryside around Essaouira ideal for mountain biking. Your guide will lead you along winding paths to some of the region's most scenic spots. Of course, you're also free to explore on your own, with mountain bikes and e-bikes available for hire.
A quad tour is an exhilarating way to explore Morocco's stunning landscapes. Our off-road routes take you straight into the dunes, with two- or three-hour excursions leading you along rocky tracks to Cap Sim, where you'll get up close to the dramatic sand dunes and Atlantic beaches.
Discover the beaches, sweeping dunes south of Essaouira and unforgettable sunsets on horseback. Setting off from the town of Diabat, your guide and their experienced team will lead you on a one- to three-hour ride, suitable for both seasoned riders and beginners alike.
No trip to Essaouira is complete without a camel ride. A favourite with both children and adults, this experience offers a memorable way to explore the region's dunes and beaches. Our camel guide looks forward to introducing you to these fascinating animals, perfectly suited to gentle journeys across the sand.
Set against a stunning natural backdrop, Golf de Mogador offers perfect conditions year-round to enjoy challenging greens and superb fairways. Designed by Gary Player, this 18-hole championship course (par 72) in Essaouira is a top-class golfing destination.
Experience first-hand how argan oil is traditionally produced by women under fair working conditions at the Marjana Cooperative. Taste premium-quality argan oil and purchase products directly from the source. Afterwards, visit the coastal village of Sidi Kaouki, whose five-kilometre Atlantic bay is considered one of the world’s finest surfing beaches.
Would you like to experience the hippie flair of the early 1970s? Your guide will accompany you to the Jimi Hendrix Café in the village of Diabat as well as to the ruins of the Dar Solatane Palace, which is said to have inspired Jimi Hendrix’s song Castles Made of Sand. The beach of Diabat captivates visitors with its untouched nature, dunes and peaceful atmosphere, connecting Essaouira with the surfer paradise of Sidi Kaouki.
Spend a night in a traditional Berber tent on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Discover the secrets of Moroccan cuisine, enjoy dinner on the beach and warm yourself by the campfire. Look forward to breathtaking views of the surrounding nature with argan and tamarind trees, as well as a spectacular sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
Discover the hinterland of Essaouira on a guided excursion. The route takes you through impressive landscapes, past a traditional weekly market and into a village where you will enjoy an authentic lunch in the home of a Berber family. Afterwards, take part in a traditional Moroccan tea ceremony.
A special half-day excursion takes you to one of the largest and most authentic souks in the hinterland of Essaouira. Far away from classic tourist routes, you will experience a lively weekly market where farmers, fishermen and local traders offer their goods — from fresh fruit and vegetables to spices, olives, livestock and traditional handicrafts. Accompanied by a local guide, you will gain fascinating insights into the daily life and culture of the region. Afterwards, enjoy a classic tagine lunch in a traditional Moroccan restaurant.
