Heure Bleue Palais

Heure Bleue Palais is set on Rue Ibn Batouta within the walled medina of Essaouira, a few minutes' walk from the ramparts, the fishing port and the beach. The hotel occupies a converted historic building reworked with a blend of Art Deco detailing and traditional Moroccan craftsmanship — carved cedar, zellige tile and wrought iron combine with a more streamlined, 1930s-inflected design than the typical riad aesthetic. Rooms and suites are individually furnished, several with sea-facing views or private terraces, and the standout feature is the rooftop pool deck, which looks out over the medina's blue shutters and rooftops toward the Atlantic. The hotel's restaurant has a strong reputation for refined Moroccan and French-influenced cuisine, complemented by a cozy bar and a spa offering hammam treatments and massages. Service leans toward a quiet, attentive style suited to couples and travelers seeking a boutique base for exploring the medina's galleries, souks and seafood restaurants on foot. Its combination of pool, spa and restaurant inside the medina walls makes it one of the more full-service options in a town where most riads offer breakfast only. A small fitness corner and a cozy library lounge round out the amenities, supporting a calm, slower pace than the city's larger resort properties.