Dar Ettaki

Dar Ettaki is a small budget guesthouse in the Cité Portugaise, the historic walled quarter of El Jadida on Morocco's Atlantic coast, in the Casablanca-Settat region. The Cité Portugaise, also known as Mazagan, was built by the Portuguese in the early sixteenth century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with ramparts, bastions, a vaulted cistern and narrow lanes that make it one of the most atmospheric places to stay on this stretch of coast. The guesthouse's position inside the old town means that the cistern, the Church of the Assumption, the ramparts and the waterfront are all reachable on foot within minutes. El Jadida lies about 90 kilometres south-west of Casablanca, a drive of roughly an hour and a half, or a train and taxi combination. The property is a traditional dar, a house arranged around a courtyard, with a modest, homely character rather than hotel-style facilities. Rooms are Doubles and Triples, which suits couples and small groups, at about 400 to 600 MAD per night. Amenities include Wi-Fi and breakfast, which typically features Moroccan bread, olive oil, jam, eggs and mint tea. There is no pool, spa or restaurant, so guests dine in the old town or along the beach promenade, where fresh fish and seafood are the local speciality. Service is personal and informal, with the hosts usually able to offer local tips and help with parking or directions. The guesthouse suits travellers interested in history, photography and a slower pace, as well as those using El Jadida as a base for visiting Oualidia and Azemmour. Streets in the old town are narrow and sometimes uneven, so light luggage is helpful. The quarter is quiet in the evening and busiest on summer weekends, when Moroccan families visit the beach.