Patio de la Luna

Patio de la Luna is a boutique guesthouse on Avenue Imam Al-Assili near the medina of Asilah, a whitewashed Atlantic coastal town in northern Morocco about 45 kilometres south of Tangier. The location places guests close to the ramparts built by the Portuguese, the Bab el Kasaba gate, the harbour and the murals and craft galleries for which Asilah is known, and the main beach is within walking distance. The Asilah railway station and bus terminal are a short taxi ride away, and Tangier is reachable by train in under an hour. The property follows the courtyard house tradition, with a patio at the centre that provides a quiet, shaded space, and its style blends Moroccan tilework and Andalusian touches that match the town's Spanish and Portuguese heritage. Accommodation is in Double Rooms and Suites, with WiFi available, and the suites give more space for families or longer stays. Breakfast is included and generally served in the courtyard, with Moroccan bread, pastries, eggs, fresh juice, coffee and mint tea. There is no pool, spa or large restaurant, so evening meals are taken in the seafood restaurants of the old town and harbour, where grilled fish, calamari and tagines are typical. Service is personal and friendly, with hosts able to recommend beaches, arrange taxis to Tangier or Cap Spartel, and suggest times to visit the art festival that fills the medina's walls with murals. Rates of roughly 500 MAD in low season and 900 MAD in high season offer good value for a boutique stay. Asilah is busiest in July and August, when Moroccan and Spanish holidaymakers arrive, and quietest in winter. Advance booking is recommended for summer weekends and during the cultural festival period.