Dar Beida — Local services in Essaouira

After an amazing stay at the luxury boutique Yurt on a farm that overlooks the ocean owned by Emma and Mo a short ride south of Essouria, we thought a medina experience would be a good way to see Essouria its self and hang out with our friends in town.

What better way to experience the medina then a stay at Dar Beida. A super cool riad in a quiet part of the medina yet close to everything you need. Getting around the medina is a fun and unique experience. Dar Beida's location was practical and not far away from all the shops, cafes bars, restaurants, fishing port, ramparts and beach.

When taking a break after discovering the medina, Dar Beida was a haven of peace and tranquility. We enjoyed listening to music, reading magazines, and poking around and inspecting all the interesting design features and artifacts of the riad which are many.

I was in the mood to cook dinner for our friends but didn't want to spend the whole night slaving away in the kitchen, Emma was amazing and arranged everything to make it super easy, deliscoius and fun.

The next day we went to a family owned bakery and patisserie (recommended by Emma as the best in Essouira) for our daily bread and pastries. The breads and pastries were top notch and delicious and also to a really nice organic food market for a few supplies for lunch and dinner and some amazing honey for the cupboards back home. Back at the riad, the fully equipped and spacious kitchen made light and fun work preparing our simple food and enjoyed sitting on the roof terrace taking in the medina.

Emma was a really helpful and friendly host. She made a genuine effort to make sure we were as comfortable as can be and had everything we needed from the moment we arrived in the car park a porter was arranged to transport our luggage to the riad and back again on departure to recommending the best places to shop, eat and drink. This is a completely different experience to have someone guiding you when you have only a few days to discover a place you don't want to waste time and money on tourists traps.

We all fully recommend Dar Beida and hope to see...

What better way to kick off 2020!!! After a brutal December of work parties and a hectic Xmas and New Year, my best mate and I booked a week at Dar Beida in Essaouira to decompress and prep up for the year ahead. It was a mega trip from start to finish.

I have stayed with Emma and Mo on several occasions in the past, their properties and hospitality are second to none. They know everything there is to know about the area and what to do while visiting and they are always available to help with the most trivial of enquiries.

The house itself is a stunner. Although close to the medina, it is out of the hub bub of the busiest streets and is a place of sanctuary during the day. I spent a couple of hours reading in a hammock on one of the roof terraces each day in total peace and quiet. Dar Beida is a large riad with serious style, the decor throughout has featured in loads of magazines and coffee table books over the years.

Essaouira is a great place to visit, it is very laid back and the locals are really friendly, leaving you to relax and wander the streets at your own pace. The food is great and the weather is reliably good all year round.

If you are looking for an authentic Moroccan getaway in 5* surroundings and with great hospitality drop Castles In The Sand, you will love it. I cannot wait for...

I've been fortunate enough to stay at Dar Beida a few times now, most recently 3 weeks ago. On every occasion, in every season it's been a sanctuary- the detail and personality throughout create complete calm and comfort. Emma the host, is wonderfully generous with her time and information and can organise an incredible seafood lunch at nearby sidi kaouki, or have an authentic moroccan dinner brought to the riad.. Dar Beida is beautifully positioned right in the heart of the medina but with little foot traffic. It's a 10 minute easy walk to bring your bags in, 10 minutes walk to the beach and there's a hanout ( convenience store) just across the lane. The kitchen is ample and stocked with all necessities to prepare an easy meal- there's an abundance of the freshest seafood and vegetables available to buy everywhere close by.. Everything you need for a serene and comfortable stay has been...