Hotel Riad Ben Atar

I cannot believe how bad our experience was at this hotel. They had just painted many of the floors with a very smelly paint. Our door was still tacky. Our room smelled unbearably. I spoke to our tour leader and told him it was unacceptable and that If I were paying for it on my own (and not as part of a tour) I would have demanded my money back and gone elsewhere. We suffered the smell that night and had bad headaches the next morning. To add insult to (almost) injury, when my wife opened the wardrobe to hang our jackets, it started to fall on her. Fortunately, I caught it. We changed rooms the next day, and they started to paint right outside our door. Note that there were no outside windows to vent the paint smell in either room. This was a total lack of consideration for their clients and I would not recommend this hotel. They should have waited until the smell had dissipated before renting the rooms. Common sense.

Well-located but rather tired and unkempt. Beds and bedding comfortable. An excellent local breakfast on a rooftop with a view of the sea. Female receptionist very welcoming but the place cries out for proper management of what could be a lovely hotel.

Our stay at Riad Ben Atar was wonderful. This is a special place for many reasons. Firstly, the welcoming staff, particularly Anwar on reception (who is the type of top quality manager you would see in much bigger luxury hotels). The real sign of a skilled hotel manager is someone who takes the time to engage warmly in conversation with their guests, without making them feel they are keeping him back from something more important. Anwar was able to do this but at the same time organising everything else in the background like clockwork, a rare thing! Also Youssef on breakfast duty, both very efficient and professional, yet always smiling and never hassled. Very valuable people. The location is just off the main thoroughfare of the Medina at the fishing port end, in a quiet alley which also has 2 very good restaurants. The friendly ladies who prepared breakfast and cleaned the room were also very good at their jobs, everything was spotlessly clean. Breakfast itself, which is served on the sunny rooftop overlooking the sea, was something to look forward to. Freshly squeezed orange juice, coffee, fresh mint tea, a range of freshly cooked pancakes, omelette, crusty bread with dips...delicious! Also served with a smile. We had a truly memorable time here in Essaouira, and staying at Riad Ben Atar was a big part of that. Highly recommended.

Pros and Cons of this place for sure. They did help me alot by providing a last minute room when Hotel Merchour cancelled my booking the same day I was to check in. However I was told one price on arrival then showed a room for a higher price. The room they originally quoted was a musty dark room on the top floors. I wouldn't have paid that. After some heated discussion I got the better room for the original price. It was annoying they didn't just agree as it was 4pm on the same night and I was only staying one night - who else was going to take that room? I was going to leave then they agreed. Room was nice and light and breezy ad spacious, was good value for money at the price I paid. I was just questioning the cleanliness a little. Floors could've done with a sweep, dirt/sand in corners, mouldy shower curtain and a couple of hairs in the sheets - but for a budget hotel, sometimes you have to expect this. Was a little difficult to find inside the Medina, so I recommended having a Moroccon Sim or global roaming so you can access maps. Looks very different in the night than day too! Location isnt too bad though, walking distance to the finishing port and all the restaurants/food/shops you could ever want. The breakfast staff were super friendly and made a very delicious breakfast. I said I had to be quick and they made it super fast for me. Amazing fresh breakfast with fresh orange juice and some hand made Moroccon options. Not to mention the amazing view from the roof terrace. Was pleased with this immensely and made me alot happier with my experience in Essaouira.