The friendly French owner and cheerful Moroccan staff at this intimate six-room riad hotel make you feel more like a houseguest than someone occupying a hotel room. Accommodations are individually decorated with a mix of Moroccan and French-colonial-style pieces, and spacious bathrooms have hand-hammered brass sinks and tadlekt soaking tubs. The lounge has a wood-burning fireplace, there's a charming bar just beyond a fifteenth-century stone archway, and the excellent restaurant specializes in seafood fresh from Essaouira's bustling port.
When to go: September and October are best for the beach.
Which room to book: Splurge on the Mogador, which affords the most space and best views