Essaouira: Dar Liouba (Guesthouse)

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Address: 26-28 impasse moulay ismail, Bouakhir, Medina , Essaouira , Morocco
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Lonely Planet review

Light, airy, peaceful and elegant, just about sums up Dar Liouba's tranquil qualities. Maria, an internationally renowned designer, bought this old house, knocked it down and rebuilt it again to stunning effect, with simple Islamic arches, cedar-wood screens and plasterwork details.

The spacious effect is no mean feat considering the limited and awkward shape of the house. It's designed as an octagon, the six rooms encircling an enclosed central patio, which fills the open-plan spaces with light. It certainly isn't massive and the rooms are smaller than most but everything around you speaks quality and attention to detail. For a start, the windows close properly, sealing you in to perfect silence. The sprung mattresses are fit for trampolining, the bed linen is silky soft and the night lights, screened through plasterwork, cast swirling shadows around the room. The template is a soothing symphony of white and beige accented with splashes of hot colour on cushions and coverlets, creating an artful and elegant look. Maria is a vivacious hostess and Peter, her partner, provides the perfect sanguine counterpart.