Riad Mumtaz Mahal — Hotel in Essaouira

Like Staying in a Palace -

It had been 10 years since we previously visited Essaouira and we knew we had to return. It was a 50th birthday celebration as well - what better spot to spend a couple of weeks than a palace. We received a warm welcome from the team and the manager Fatima and also NouLeila, Zuher Fatima Zahra, Karima looked after us very well for the duration of our magical stay. Finally Fatiha did an amazing job keeping our palatial room (at 40sqm+ we will say suite) pristine. All other staff were unfailingly helpful as well. We enjoyed a traditional Moroccan breakfast spread delivered to our room each day (though you can also enjoy it on their breezy terrace with a view of the ocean). They even surprised me with a birthday cake. We visited the onsite Hammam twice for a hammam/scrub/massage package and the two women who took care of my husband and I were wonderful - truly top of the game Naima and Sihamm (as with all spellings - apologies if not correct). The bed was comfortable, the bathroom with massive tub sublime and the hot water copious. We could definitely return the next time we are in Essaouira. The riad is only a short walking distance from the closest parking lot - but it is 100% worth it to spend 20 dirhams - less than 2 euro on a hard working porter to wheel your bags in. Even if they have wheels, even if you always wheel your stuff everywhere, even if your bag is really tough and can manage it - because aside from keeping these men working - it’s peaceful - their trollies/chariots have soft tires and whisper over the ancient cobbles - making Essaouira a better place for...

The riad is beautifully ornate and from the outset extremely luxurious- the rooms are spacious, the bed was comfortable and the shower pressure was good. The location of the riad is close and walkable to local restaurants, streets and the beach. However, noise levels were extremely loud. The noise started at 08:00 with cleaners and continued until 22: 45 hours. There was never a point when the riad was peaceful. I appreciate it was Ramadan and a huge religious and cultural celebration. But the staff never addressed loud guests and screaming children.|If you cannot bare door slamming BEWARE!!!||On one occasion I had to go to reception and ask them to ask a family to silence their screaming child at 22:30 hrs! I appreciate riads echo and have poor sound proofing but this was at times unbearable. When you've committed to stay somewhere for 4 nights, to celebrate a week away- why would you not want peaceful, harmonious surroundings??|| The breakfast was so disappointing- considering there was a restaurant in the riad for guests, the options for breakfast was bland. Multiple options of dry bread, boxed jam and a fried egg which is advertised as an omelette. The only pleasant part of the breakfast was the fresh juice. The coffee was poor and luke warm too. On two consecutive days I had to ask for pepper to be put in the pepper shaker, then got gaslit by the waiter who shook it upside down and tried to tell me there was pepper in it!!?? The apathy of staff was very obvious- most looked incredibly bored and tired. This doesn't inspire...

I wanted to treat my daughter to her first hamman so booked the upper price range hamman at Riad Mumtaz Mahal. After changing we were taken to the steam room which was filthy with black mould crawling up the walls. We were told to shower ourselves, had oil slapped on us which took roughly 10 seconds each and left for half an hour in a steam room listening to women chatting and laughing down a hall somewhere. Finally I called for someone. A lady turned up and told us to shower again, then another joined her and they both scrubbed us down with water, again this took maybe two minutes at the most, and then were told to shower again. We were then led out of the steam room, at which point I thought we were going to have a clay mask, or a massage or a deep exfoliation scrub as everything up until that point had felt like the preparation, but instead we were taken to our changing room and told to get changed. I was so shocked. And so disappointed for my daughter. When we walked out through the dark passage and massage room past the massage beds to the reception area, one of the girls lay on a massage bed staring at us. Reception didn’t care at all when I explained to them what had happened. My advice is avoid this place. What a shame. The rest of our trip to Essaouira was magical. It felt like a warm and inviting city, investing in itself, welcoming tourism, with so many kind and lovely people proud of their businesses, trading and offering their services. Riad Mumtaz Mahal is just out to take your money and...