Maison Flamingo

Traditional and New: Beldi-chic Vibes

Traditional Moroccan elements combined with contemporary comforts and styling make up this newly built home situated in a calm village outside hip Essaouira. It’s casually elegant and big enough for families, groups, or work retreats, built using authentic handcrafted construction materials—local stone, traditional clay tiles, and wood—for an inspiring new take on Moroccan tradition.

The passion project of a couple seeking serenity and a low-key, unplugged getaway, this newly built home is set charmingly in a typical small village where sheep and mules can fill the streets. Perfectly located between Essaouira, with its traditional medina, and easygoing stretches of dunes and open ocean, this villa for rent in Morocco was thoughtfully created to be a haven of peace.

Traditional Moroccan elements combine here, offering a new take on the use of authentic, handcrafted building materials. There are walls of soothing, sand-toned local stone, handcrafted, unglazed clay tile floors underfoot, wood ceilings overhead, and authentic zellige tiles lining the inviting heated swimming pool.

Wide windowed doors create an indoor-outdoor living style, and the luxuriously long pool fills the palm- and cactus-dotted, manicured garden. There’s a staff for meals, gardening, and the enchanting lighting of the nightly fire, plus simple, beautiful décor touches and textiles reflecting the owners’ travels in a style they’ve dubbed “beldi chic.”

The home is spacious, with a large open living area with a fireplace and traditional Moroccan banco seating. The open-plan living/dining area spreads out to shaded, comfortably furnished terraces set around the well-tended garden. Five bright bedrooms, each with queen beds and en-suite baths, feature local textiles and have a sweet, boho vibe.

AROUND

Situated some 15 minutes outside Essaouira, in a small Moroccan village with easy access to beaches and the area’s big dunes, this villa for rent in Morocco offers respite from the buzz, and is perfect for unwinding indoors, or around the stone-terraced pool.

Nearby Essaouira is an Atlantic port city, with picturesque seafront ramparts dating from the 18th century and a bustling, historic center. It’s a favorite of surfers—wave, wind, and kite, and has a wide beachfront with lots of activity. Essaouira and its surroundings are also a favorite haunt of wellness seekers and yogis, and the location offers lots of opportunities to unwind and unplug surrounded by beauty. Authentic artisanal boutiques, as well as restaurants, cafes, and markets are abundant.

LOCATION

El Gazhouane, Essaouira, Morocco. Nearest airport: Essaouira.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: June to August