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— Paolo: “It’s not really an active place to go museum hopping. It’s more of a place where you just go around and on every street you turn, you will see something that catches your attention.”
Interview By: Welcome Beyond
— The house used to be a police watchtower. Please tell us a bit about the history of Dar 91.
Paolo: “It was built by the Gendarmerie Forestiere, the police, to keep an eye on tribal raids from the forest — the forest used to come up to the wall of the house — and to monitor houses within the medina. This explains why the house is so tall. We have fantastic views across the rooftops to the sea.
The architecture of the house is actually more French than Moroccan. It has a big French window looking out onto the street, the opposite of Islamic architecture. It gives you the opportunity to observe day-to-day life unfolding. You’re part of the Moroccan culture. You can see kids playing on the street or women carrying water from the fountain.
One thing that was pretty amazing during the renovations was that we ended up finding a couple of cannon balls in the wall, hailing back to when the house was used as a watchtower.”
The architecture of the house is actually more French than Moroccan. It has a big French window looking out onto the street, the opposite of Islamic architecture. It gives you the opportunity to observe day-to-day life unfolding. You’re part of the Moroccan culture. You can see kids playing on the street or women carrying water from the fountain.
One thing that was pretty amazing during the renovations was that we ended up finding a couple of cannon balls in the wall, hailing back to when the house was used as a watchtower.”
— Dar 91 bedroom
— What was your inspiration to buy Dar 91 and rent it out?
Paolo: “To tell you the truth, we wanted a place to escape the rainy English Manchester weather. We’d been looking around for ages in different countries. Then we went for a really short break in Morocco. We spent two days in Marrakech where it rained all the time and two days in Essaouira, and when we got there we actually fell in love with the place and bought the house.
When we started doing the renovations, a friend commented on what a nice space we had created and told us that we should start renting it out. We thought, why not, so we’ve been renting the house for five years now.”
When we started doing the renovations, a friend commented on what a nice space we had created and told us that we should start renting it out. We thought, why not, so we’ve been renting the house for five years now.”
— Dar 91 sitting area
— I love the interior. How would you describe the style of Dar 91?
Paolo: “I’ve always been into design. Creating Dar 91 has especially been an enriching experience. It is an eclectic mix of old and new. The house is a handcrafted house, and when it’s built in that way, you can be more creative.
Most of our furniture is designed by us or has been reclaimed. Sometimes we brought stuff in from abroad. For example, we got an Italian bath from Fatima and some designer fabrics, but a lot of the furniture came from scouring the junk markets of Morocco. That’s why you’ll find an original French 1960’s light fixture or an antique door or chairs.
When we renovated the house, we tried to keep it simple. The result has really been a house that’s very comfortable yet at the same time very quirky. There are plenty of objects to capture your attention or make you smile. When people come, they get kind of bombarded by various objects that are around.”
Most of our furniture is designed by us or has been reclaimed. Sometimes we brought stuff in from abroad. For example, we got an Italian bath from Fatima and some designer fabrics, but a lot of the furniture came from scouring the junk markets of Morocco. That’s why you’ll find an original French 1960’s light fixture or an antique door or chairs.
When we renovated the house, we tried to keep it simple. The result has really been a house that’s very comfortable yet at the same time very quirky. There are plenty of objects to capture your attention or make you smile. When people come, they get kind of bombarded by various objects that are around.”
—
— Please tell me a bit about the facilities and the rooms.
Paolo: “The main apartment at Dar 91 is a two-bedroom flat with two bathrooms, a kitchenette and a lounge area. There are also two terraces, a small one and a bigger one. This apartment was the first one we renovated.
At the back, we created an apartment. The first apartment is a one-bedroom apartment, created more for a family or a couple wanting an extra space. The second one is more of a romantic nest for a couple. It’s kind of perched up on the second and third floor and there’s a terrace that is the highest in the house, offering amazing views.
Under it on the first floor is a studio. We rent it, but also do artist exchanges. We encourage artists to come to Essaouira and exchange their artistic experience. We don’t charge the majority of them. The idea is when they come there, they produce artwork they can leave with us.”
At the back, we created an apartment. The first apartment is a one-bedroom apartment, created more for a family or a couple wanting an extra space. The second one is more of a romantic nest for a couple. It’s kind of perched up on the second and third floor and there’s a terrace that is the highest in the house, offering amazing views.
Under it on the first floor is a studio. We rent it, but also do artist exchanges. We encourage artists to come to Essaouira and exchange their artistic experience. We don’t charge the majority of them. The idea is when they come there, they produce artwork they can leave with us.”
— Dar 91 living room fireplace
— What would you describe to be the essence of Dar 91 and your philosophy?
Paolo: “We really believe in responsible travel and responsible ownership, so we’re going to open a shop that we want to run as a social enterprise. A lot of the artwork donated by the artists will be sold and the profits will go to a charity that we just set up in Morocco called Project 91.
In the last five years, 10 percent of our profits have gone to charities in this area. We want to build on that, which is why we started Project 91. It supports the employment and development of young people here, particularly by helping families support their children’s education and professional training.”
In the last five years, 10 percent of our profits have gone to charities in this area. We want to build on that, which is why we started Project 91. It supports the employment and development of young people here, particularly by helping families support their children’s education and professional training.”
— Dar 91 living room
— How would you like your guests to remember their stay at Dar 91?
Paolo: “I want my guests to come back loving the house and loving Essaouira. Essaouira is a very tolerant and friendly place. People are welcomed with open arms. The vast majority of our guests really get the cultural differences of Morocco. They fall in love with the place.
People can come here to recharge their batteries so for example we don’t have television in the house. Essaouira is a city where the pace of life is still slow compared to the mad life in Europe, and that’s what we want our guests to experience when they come here.”
People can come here to recharge their batteries so for example we don’t have television in the house. Essaouira is a city where the pace of life is still slow compared to the mad life in Europe, and that’s what we want our guests to experience when they come here.”
—
Paolo's favourites:
Dar 91
Transportation
Eat & Drink
Activities
SightsInterview By: Welcome Beyond
— Please tell me a bit about the location of Dar 91. What made you fall in love with Essaouira? What is life like?
Paolo: “Essaouira is a feast for the senses. Morocco is a visually amazing country, and when one falls in love with Morocco, one falls in love with the differences. Everywhere you turn, you see something that catches your attention. It’s a colourful place. It’s an exotic place with fantastic weather.
Life in Essaouira remains rooted in a past long lost in Western Europe. Everyone rises late and gets busy by afternoon and evening, and then fades into a gentle slumber. If you turn your head, you feel you’ve gone back several centuries. The fact that Essaouira is a long way from the more sanitised resorts of the Mediterranean is something to shout about.
It has fantastic long beaches, about five kilometres and is famous for its relaxing charm, but also for amazing water sports—wind surfing and water sports, in general. The medina is pretty small. You can walk from one side to the other in about 50 minutes.”
Life in Essaouira remains rooted in a past long lost in Western Europe. Everyone rises late and gets busy by afternoon and evening, and then fades into a gentle slumber. If you turn your head, you feel you’ve gone back several centuries. The fact that Essaouira is a long way from the more sanitised resorts of the Mediterranean is something to shout about.
It has fantastic long beaches, about five kilometres and is famous for its relaxing charm, but also for amazing water sports—wind surfing and water sports, in general. The medina is pretty small. You can walk from one side to the other in about 50 minutes.”
— Dar 91 terrace
— What would you recommend not to miss in the area?
Paolo: “You shouldn’t miss a fantastic sunset. We are lucky enough to have fantastic skies. It turns from pink to purple. A lot of people go onto the bastion, onto the wall, and gaze onto the sea and watch the sunset.
It’s not really an active place to go museum hopping. It’s more of a place where you just go around and on every street you turn, you will see something that catches your attention. Mingle with the people, spend time looking at the craftsmanship. We’re still lucky enough that we have people working with wood, making carpets and blankets, something that has disappeared in Europe for a long time. It’s a good time to reconnect to the simple pleasures in life.
Essaouira was put on the map in the ‘60s and ‘70s by the hippies. It’s a very relaxing place. You don’t have to do a lot. You can be active, going on camel or horseback rides or water sports, but it’s more of a place to sit, relax, and soak up the atmosphere.”
It’s not really an active place to go museum hopping. It’s more of a place where you just go around and on every street you turn, you will see something that catches your attention. Mingle with the people, spend time looking at the craftsmanship. We’re still lucky enough that we have people working with wood, making carpets and blankets, something that has disappeared in Europe for a long time. It’s a good time to reconnect to the simple pleasures in life.
Essaouira was put on the map in the ‘60s and ‘70s by the hippies. It’s a very relaxing place. You don’t have to do a lot. You can be active, going on camel or horseback rides or water sports, but it’s more of a place to sit, relax, and soak up the atmosphere.”
— Dar 91 kitchen
— To you personally, what has been most rewarding about running Dar 91?
Paolo: “It’s rewarding when people come back and tell us they love the house, and give us really good feedback, but they also enjoy the Moroccan culture and people. The best gift is for people to have a fantastic time and relax completely.
Our part of town is mainly residential, so you live surrounded by Moroccan families. We get a lot of families and I want people to come back telling me stories about their kids playing football on the street with the Moroccan kids.”
Our part of town is mainly residential, so you live surrounded by Moroccan families. We get a lot of families and I want people to come back telling me stories about their kids playing football on the street with the Moroccan kids.”
— Dar 91 terrace
— When is the best time to come for a visit?
Paolo: “Nowadays where the climate is changing everywhere in the world, I’m not sure. The thing with Essaouira is that it has its own microclimate. For example, if you go in July and August to Marrakech or another city in Morocco, the temperature can be 45, 48 degrees. Essaouira is normally 38 degrees maximum.
But I think the best time to come is November, December, January, and February, if it doesn’t rain. If it does rain, it’s a completely different experience. The winter is normally around 20 degrees.
There’s also a big difference between the day temperature and the evening temperature. In the evening in May you might need a woolen jumper. The temperature drops quite a bit at night, but during the day it is blue sky and around 20 degrees.
Overall, though, I would say it’s really an all-year-round destination.”
But I think the best time to come is November, December, January, and February, if it doesn’t rain. If it does rain, it’s a completely different experience. The winter is normally around 20 degrees.
There’s also a big difference between the day temperature and the evening temperature. In the evening in May you might need a woolen jumper. The temperature drops quite a bit at night, but during the day it is blue sky and around 20 degrees.
Overall, though, I would say it’s really an all-year-round destination.”
— View from the terrace
— Is there anything else that you think I missed?
Paolo: “A lot of people when they travel the streets of Morocco complain of street vendors, but one great thing about Essaouira is how much quieter it is. You don’t get much of the street vendor hassles. People are really relaxed. They leave you alone.”
—
— Thank you, Paolo!
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Service
Self-catering
Accommodation type
Holiday / Vacation rental
Location
Beach / Coast
Special requirements
Children welcome
No pets allowed
Not suitable for wheelchairs
No smoking, please
Transport
Car not required
Paid parking available
Good public transport
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Bedrooms
0 Single bedroom
2 Double bedrooms
0 Twin bedroom
0 Room w. multiple beds
Additional:
0 Sofabed
0 Extra bed (on request)
0 Air mattress (on req.)
0 Baby cot/crib (on req.)
Bath/shower rooms
2 Bathrooms (ensuite)
0 Bathroom (shared)
0 Shower room (ensuite)
0 Shower room (shared)
0 Toilet (ensuite)
Additional:
0 Toilet (shared)
Other rooms
1 Kitchen
0 Kitchenette
0 Cooking area
1 Living room
0 Dining room
0 Other rooms
Prices for 2 sharingperson
Lowest price
Highest price
Price per night (2 people)
€ 65
€ 75
Price per week (2 people)
€ 455
€ 525
Price per night (4 people)
€ 105
€ 125
Price per week (4 people)
€ 735
€ 875
Size: 120 square meters. 1 units available.
Dar 91 is a funky, airy and light two-bedroom house. Set over three floors, it has two roof terraces with panoramic views and has French windows overlooking characterful Rue Chbanat. The two bedrooms sleep four people comfortably. One of the rooms also has a single bed (1.55m long) suitable for older children. We charge £12 for children aged 5-16, under-fives stay free. Prices include breakfast and daily maid service.
We offer:
- a free guide with ideas about places to visit, eat and drink in and around Essaouira
- home-made Moroccan biscuits and a free bowl of fruit, olive oil and spices (for week-long bookings only)
- the kitchen is stocked with coffee, tea, milk, sugar, jam and butter. Oven-fresh bread and/or croissants and yogurt is delivered to the bottom of the stairs every morning.
Stay at Dar 91 and donate your wardrobe to Project 91
When you pack for your holiday, bring some clothing you won’t mind leaving behind. Then shop to your heart’s content, and when you pack for your return, hand over the stuff you no longer need to the Project 91 shop. The shop will sell it with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the charity.
Best rates
You pay the same rate as booking with the property directly. There are no booking fees or extra costs to you. That’s guaranteed!
Direct owner contact
Use the ‘Contact’ button on the left to get information about availability and rates from the owner directly — and also receive the link to the property website with further details.
Our helpline
If you need help, call us on +49 163 737 2509 (Mo-Fr, 10am-10pm CET)
Outside these times leave us a message and we’ll call right back.
Outside these times leave us a message and we’ll call right back.
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