Essaouira, MoroccoSidi Kaouki
Villa Laba
Candlelit stone guesthouse
Sidi Kaouki Essaouira, Morocco
Opened
2023
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Local WellnessOutside the door
Candlelit stone guesthouse
Evenings run entirely on candlelight and lanterns, with no electric lighting or bedroom screens to break the quiet.
What it’s good at
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Guest rooms are stylish but slightly rustic with a soothing, natural palette and layers of tactile furnishings crafted by local artisans.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Douar Ichaouine is a quiet Berber hamlet on a coastal dirt track, looking down toward Sidi Kaouki beach.
The rooms
Rooms have vintage cedarwood doors and woven palm mats, opening onto private terraces by the garden or pool.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The freshwater lap pool sits beneath rustic log pergolas, flanked by sunbeds and a pool house serving fresh juices.
The spa
At the table
Guests dine under the thatched veranda, sharing charcoal-grilled fish at lunch and a set three-course menu each evening.
How it began
Filippa Knutsson and architect Thomas Fourtané spent four years hand-building the guesthouse alongside local masons, digging foundations with spades.
Essaouira
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.