We stayed for three nights at the Riad l'Ayel and couldn't have wished for better. This white washed riad the Riad far exceeded our expectations: the owners, Jean Paul and his wife Christine, and the staff (Lachen and the sweet Nisrine) could not have been nicer. Nisrine produced every night wonderful Moroccan meals for us and every dinner, jowing with Christine and Jean Paul, was a pleasant moment, followed by a delightful mint tea and biscuits.
The Riad was positioned just off the centre of the medina, and was a great base from which to explore Essaouira. We stayed in the Berbère Suite which was charming furnished in Berber style and very clean, with a gorgeous bath room. All was perfect so, really highly recommended!!

A great place to stay. Very clean and comfortable and felt very homely. The staff were extremely kind and helpful, and we enjoyed really good home made Moroccan cooking in the riad which can be arrange each morning. Room was very clean and comfortable - not too hot even in the middle of August. Located right inside the old medina easy walking distance of pretty well everywhere. which means you can explore various parts of Essaouira in the morning and then come back and have a peaceful afternoon on the rooftop terrace!! We spent our 25th wedding anniversary there and it was really great. Overall highly recommended.

First of all, don't rely on google maps for the location, because the riad's marker is a few streets off from the actual address (bad google!). Just pay one of the cart guys 20 dhm and save yourself the hassle of trying to find it (the riad's emailed directions aren't helpful, either).
My room, the Mogador, was really small, but I didn't mind since it was clean. Interestingly, noise was less noticeable in this riad than in most others because the walls are about a foot thick! As with most riads, the rooms face into the courtyard, so noise echos around. Service was ok, neither special, nor bad. About the wi-fi, you can only get it in one spot on the ground floor.

A friend and I have just returned from a week long trip to Morocco, with three days/2 nights in Essaouira both here. This Riad is very beautiful, run by a lovely family and right in the heart of the Medina.

We received an email in advance with some directions on which were very helpful and finding the Riad straight forward. On arrival we were given mint tea and cakes while we filled in a quick form with passport details etc. We were asked whether we wanted to have a nerby Hammam booked for us which was a nice touch.

We were taken to our room which I forget the name of but it was the first on the left once you go up the stairs. Our room was very large (could of slept 4), well decorated, very clean and smelt of a lovely incense from downstairs.

Breakfast was up on the lovely terrace roof and was really enjoyable; strawberry/apple/banana slices, freshly squeezed OJ, coffee and crepes and bread.

All in all, we found a website which had an offer on meaning we paid £25 per person for the two nights which made this an incredible find and out of this world value for money!!

I thoroughly recommend visiting Essaouira and you must stay here.