La Sultana Oualidia

Location

Oualidia, a small fishing village on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, is famed for its shocking pink flamingos and bountiful oyster farms. The hotel itself, perched on the edge of the ocean, is ideally positioned for a relaxing escape off the beaten track. Settle into a grass-roofed cabana on the beach to enjoy the hotel’s landscaped grounds and boundless ocean views drenched in sunset reds every evening. Thanks to its lagoon topography, temperatures in the summer rarely exceed 26 degrees while, in the winter, they never drop under 12. The hotel is just over two and a half hours’ drive from Marrakech, two hours from Casablanca and two and a half hours from Essaouira.

Accommodation

All rooms are decidedly opulent. Each has been carefully designed with natural materials effortlessly blending with the surrounds. The ceiling is formed from oleander timber, the walls from stone and the floors from ancient marble while private terraces feature seawater Jacuzzis. Painted wooden furniture and architectural detailing finalise a distinctly Moroccan feel while complimentary non-alcoholic mini-bars, free WiFi and plasma TVs ensure that guests are not without creature comforts.

Dining

Thanks to its location, La Sultana enjoys first pick of the region’s excellent seafood. Specialties include sea perch cooked in a salt crust, lobster and Oualidia’s famous oysters. The Bouillabaisse is particularly good. However, this being Morocco, expect a full complement of expertly grilled meats. There’s also daily cooking class where guests can learn traditional Moroccan culinary techniques. Alternatively, escape for a private lunch on the hotel’s pier to the backdrop of the lapping waves.

To celebrate its tenth year in 2016, La Sultana opened The O Bar, an oyster bar situated at the end of the pier extending into Oualidia's lagoon. Both local and international oysters, paired with a careful selection of surprisingly good Moroccan wines, are available, but the standout is the house speciality: the Pied de Cheval. Grown in the south of Morocco before maturing in Oualidia's lagoon, this is absolutely the local delicacy of choice.  

Facilities

With just 12 rooms, guests enjoy an intimate atmosphere throughout the hotel. There’s a private beach and an outdoor pool complete with five seawater Jacuzzis while back inside there’s a billiards room, library and gym. La Sultana’s carved stone spa centres around a swimming pool with columned offshoots including hammams, massage rooms, a sauna and even a hairdressing salon.  Please note that La Sultana Oualidia closes each year from early January to early-February - please contact us for details if you plan to travel over this period.

In-house review

In late 2016, Wexas's David Warne visited La Sultana Oualidia – you can read his review here.