48 Best Hotels in Agadir and the Southern Atlantic Coast, Morocco

Enjoy ample space and amenities like nowhere else in the medina at Essaouira's most prestigious lodging, a meticulously designed, luxurious property that evokes a colonial ambience in decor that includes cream tones, granite, and dark wood. There are few other places in Essaouira where evening entertainment options include an in-house cinema, billiard room, spa, bar, and a heated rooftop swimming pool with some of the best views in town. The restaurant and bar are open to nonguests if the hotel is just beyond your budget.

Nestled among the mountains and occasional almond blossoms of the Ammeln Valley 2 km (1 mile) from downtown, Chez Amaliya is a great base for hikers, climbers, and the less active. There are views straight onto the mountain face, and you can relax poolside with a drink as the sun sets and "Le Lion," a lion-shape rock formation, comes into focus. The excellent bar and restaurant are also open to nonguests, and the on-site shop sells handicrafts made by a local women's co-op. Two large family suites are available. Be sure to say hello to the friendly owner Liesbeth van Woerden if you see her on the property: She moved to Morocco from the Netherlands and is always happy to chat about her love for the country and what inspired her to move here.

Set on the edge of the Souss-Massa National Park, within easy reach of Agadir, Dar Maktoub is a gorgeous, modern boutique hotel with a beautiful garden. Accommodations are in single-story bungalows dotted around the property and feature the designer touches of a classy riad. There are plenty of spaces around the lounges, bars, terraces, and pool for relaxing, eating, working, or simply admiring the work of the gardeners. In summer, the restaurant moves from the main building down to the poolside for alfresco dinners.

Design lovers will appreciate this gorgeous guesthouse that's been lovingly restored by owners Zahia and Marc. Hidden behind an unassuming door at the end of an alley, this unique property is an oasis in the bustling city. The design is inspired by traditional Amazigh dwellings, with pisé (mud) walls, little niches, traditional earthenware, rugs, and tapestries. There are lovely gardens, a Jacuzzi, and a roof terrace for relaxing. For groups of friends or a family who don't mind a lack of privacy, there are four rooms across two stories that share bathrooms. Otherwise, it's well worth paying a little more in to have one of the more spacious three rooms that comes with its own shower and toilet.

Located just outside Taroudant, Dar Zitoune is a wonderful retreat from the bustling town. Bungalow rooms are spaced out in a fragrant garden of roses and orange trees, with outdoor patios ideal for breakfast. An "Amazigh village" of 10 luxury tented rooms, with full bathrooms, air-conditioning, and Wi-Fi, has been added around one of the three pools (one of which is heated in winter). The breakfast and meal menus offer something different from the usual fare, and the service of the English-speaking staff is of a high standard.

In the heart of Taroudant's medina, this luxurious boutique hotel has been beautifully renovated from an old riad. The interior decor has a colonial feel and features an elegant palette of dove gray, sage green, and beige. There's a cloistered patio garden with a swimming pool, a bar, gym, and Jacuzzi. Some rooms have fireplaces, and some bathrooms have full-size tubs. Excursions, guided walks, car rentals, tennis, and horseback riding can be organized.

The countryside sister to Villa Maroc, this peaceful retreat is home to 11 sustainable ecodomes and a three-room home, all surrounded by argan trees. The property also boasts two pools and serves fresh meals, all made using local ingredients. It's the perfect place to experience slower-paced, rural life in Morocco. If you feel like going into town (Essaouira's medina is just a 20-minute drive away), the hotel offers a complimentary morning and evening shuttle between the two.

Moroccan former pro surfer Mounir Bouallaq and his Swiss partner, interior designer Gabriela Matti, have created a whimsical boutique hotel that perfectly captures the magic of Taghazout. Driftwood salvaged from the beachfront has been transformed into chandeliers, doors, pillars, and tables used across the property. Every room is different and one even contains a retired fisher boat that’s been converted into a bed. You can find plenty of cozy nooks for sunbathing or lounging with a good book—although you might have to share with one of Matti's pampered rescue cats. The cheerful staff are eager to please and the food is great. Munga is home to two restaurants: on the rooftop, Favela serves Mediterranean-style cuisine and in the lobby, Munga's Kitchen is known for its pizza and pasta. Both have a full bar and get very busy at night, so it's best to make a reservation ahead of time regardless of whether you're staying in the hotel or not.

The design of this luxury riad, hidden behind nondescript walls in the medina, was inspired by the Andalusian and Moorish architecture of grand old residences. Large arched colonnades surround beautiful gardens, and there's an inviting swimming pool at the center. The rooms are decorated with charm and comfort, and have air-conditioning and en suite bathrooms. The hammam offers yet another path to relaxation. The hosts, Aby and Priya (who speak eight languages between them), can organize tours and activities in the town and region.

An elegant boutique hotel—the first of its kind in Agadir—Riad Villa Blanche feels as though it has been plucked from the chicest Marrakesh address and dropped at the edge of the ocean. Rooms are individual masterpieces, each with a subtle theme bringing together Moroccan, African, and Asian design. The restaurant (open to nonguests) extends into the garden and offers a first-class Moroccan/Mediterranean menu. The focus is on personal luxury, with impeccable service from a team of cheerful staff. Built using traditional finishes of the highest quality, the riad has a central marbled courtyard with armchairs and potted palms, ideal for afternoon coffee or reading. The garden has a lawn, an outdoor veranda, and a heated pool. There is also a sumptuous spa and massage center with an indoor swimming pool.

A former merchant's house and later a consulate building, this historic 18th-century riad now operates as a high-end boutique hotel and boasts one of the most popular rooftop restaurants in the city. British designer Helen Howat says she fell in love with Essaouira the moment she stepped out of a taxi on her first visit and knew she was meant to be there. Her passion for design and Morocco is evident in every detail. There are floor-to-ceiling walls made of vibrant zellige (Moroccan tilework), artisan-molded copper bathtubs, and furniture from India. Even the toilets are cast in copper and come from England—a nod to Howat's home country. Some of the rooms overlook the water and although pricey for the area, are well worth the splurge.

If luxury is important to you, or total relaxation and detox, this Sofitel in Agadir is for you. Full of twinkling lights, sparkling crystals, and slick black tiling, it's superchic and supermodern. Staff members are everywhere, ready to cater to your every whim, and there are three restaurants to chose from. The icing on the (low-cal, gluten-free) cake is the award-winning Thalassotherapy and Spa Institute, with an array of pampering treatments.

This sparkling-new seafront resort has breezy blue-and-white rooms and suites with views of the Atlantic Ocean, the gardens, or the pool. There are six restaurants on-site, including Italian and Moroccan. If you want to take your pampering to the next level, the hotel spa, Amanya, is the best in town. Despite it having such a modern look and feel, the View also exudes laid-back beach vibes thanks to its friendly staff, many of whom are from Agadir.

Embodying much of what international travelers seek in a Moroccan hotel, the intimate Villa Maroc is delightfully decorated to epitomize a traditional Moroccan style. The first riad-type accommodation offered in Morocco, it actually consists of four connected 18th-century riads. A lot of white paint keeps the look fresh, and the place is adorned with Moroccan textiles, metalwork, and ceramics. The restaurant serves a different sophisticated three-course dinner each day in secluded salons around the first floor, and breakfast is taken on the sunny terrace upstairs. Ask for a day out at their garden and pool property, set in an olive grove.

The Atlas provides beachfront five-star service with all the facilities you would expect from the Moroccan brand. The marble atrium with its designer chandelier is elegant and contemporary, but the farther into the hotel you go, the more austere the place feels. It has a huge outdoor pool with sun terraces and an underground spa. Rooms are spacious and bright; some overlook the beach.

This luxury boutique hotel is a true eco-lodge, located in the countryside 8 km (5 miles) from Taroudant; it was built using local materials and traditional techniques but offers all the modern conveniences. The rooms are individually designed and decorated with local rugs, tapestries, and earthenware. The water from the bathrooms is recycled into the surrounding designer gardens with exotic plants from around the world. Two swimming pools, a spa, library, restaurant, bar, and sundeck with panoramic views of the Atlas Mountains add much to the comfort and pleasure. The hotel has been awarded a "Green Key" in recognition of its responsible and sustainable operations.

Tucked away south of the main square, Dar Dzahra is full of surprises, starting with the unassuming entrance that leads into a house that is in fact two separate buildings: one over 300 years old and the other just a few years old. The restoration was a labor of love, and owner Yves is happy to share his passion for Moroccan architecture and his expansive knowledge of Taroudant and local Amazigh culture with guests.

Actually two properties combined, this riad in the medina has been remodeled to ensure that the atrium and bedrooms are flooded with light. Each room is bright, with primary colors and rustic furniture. Some corner rooms have windows on two sides and others interconnect for families. You can enjoy sea views all around while breakfasting on the roof terrace. To get here, enter the medina via Bab Marrakech and walk straight ahead. Make your third right onto Rue Ibn Khaldoun and then take your first right. From here, the hotel is down the second alley to the right. 

With only five rooms but plenty of communal spaces, every inch of Dar Maya is designed to perfection, creating an elegant boutique experience in Essaouira. The decor features calming grays, whites, and beiges, and the suites have private balconies. There is a hammam on-site and a hot tub on the roof with sea views.

Outside Tafraoute, this modern, kasbah-style guesthouse offers comfortable accommodation in a quiet rural setting. Built from local stone, it is decorated with style, incorporating local rugs and furnishings. All rooms are en suite, and there is a separate house that can sleep up to six. The pool is clean and inviting, and you can relax with views to the mountains. The restaurant menu fuses Moroccan and Mediterranean flavors, something a bit different from the norm.

The first luxury resort to open in Taghazout, this property sits right on the beachfront promenade and many of its rooms have balconies with ocean views. The three pools have everybody covered: there's an adults-only pool, a family pool, and a kids' pool. Guests have four restaurants on-site to choose from. Morimoto (Japanese) and Paper Moon (Italian) are two of the finest dining experiences in town and you'll need a reservation to get a table as they're just as popular with visitors who aren't staying on the property.

If you're not desperate for beach views and don't mind a 20-minute walk to get there, then El Bahia is a central and good-value option. It's popular with families, Europeans, and Moroccans alike thanks to comfortable rooms with air-conditioning and satellite TV; some rooms also have small terraces. There's a multilevel central patio for eating breakfast or resting in the sun or shade.

This large, budget-friendly hotel caters is the only option in town for accommodation other than a small guesthouse. The marble lobby has a winding double staircase and an enormous, five-tier brass chandelier handcrafted in Fez. Rooms are superbasic, but the hand-laid tilework, marble, and carved plaster in the public areas make for a unique blend of fine Moroccan craftsmanship and modern technology. The English-speaking staff are happy to arrange onward travel and excursions.

If you don't need to be near the beach, this affordable option in downtown Agadir is pleasant and airy and offers consistently decent value. There is also a lovely pool. Roadside rooms are cheaper but may be noisier.

This former officers' mess of the French protectorate is a piece of Moroccan postcolonial history as well as a hotel that dominates the town, providing panoramic views of the mountains that surround it. You can still find some original French Art Deco elements in the decor. Rooms are furnished simply and have spacious bathrooms, phones, and TVs, and many have views of the mountains or the ever-expanding town. The large pool with views across the town is one of its best features.

One of three Riu resorts on the beachfront, this one gives you value for your money as all-inclusive options go (drinks are also included), and although rooms are nothing special, the huge complex as a whole is well designed. The lavish gardens and pool areas are great for kids, with nightly entertainment for children and a miniclub making this a family favorite. Spa treatments, telephone calls, and laundry are not included in price, but almost everything else is.

A favorite with groups and right in the center of town, the Salama overlooks the busy area around the market, where old men sell dates and local women bring their homemade argan oil. The comfortable public lounge on the roof has panoramic views of the town and rocky mountains beyond.

This English-speaking, family-friendly guesthouse, which doubles as a cultural center, has been certified by Green Key for its sustainable operations and environmental responsibility. The house is the focal point for U.K. tour company Holidays with Heart, which emphasizes responsible and ethical travel. The hotel arranges a variety of cultural activities in the region.

The closer to the medina of the city's two beachfront five-star hotels, this Accor property has a location and facilities that are second to none. As the name implies, the hotel has a luxurious thalassotherapy spa for massage and beauty treatments as well as a heated pool, a private beach, and a beachfront restaurant. Most rooms have a balcony overlooking the beach or pool.

Only 500 yards from the beach, the "Blue Sea Le Tivoli" is a less expensive option than many of the Agadir behemoths. Rooms are cooly decorated in mint green, pale blue, or ocher yellow, and all have a private balcony. Half-board options are available, and there's an on-site snack bar.