La Maison de Tanger is French hotelier Vincent Brochot’s celebration of the fabulous Art Deco villas that were fashionable in Morocco in the 1920s and 30s. Luminous floor tiles and slim-line steel-framed windows flood all the rooms with that famed Tangier light.
Tucked away in a residential neighbourhood below the Kasbah and the Marshan district it feels a little off-the-beaten path, but in a good way. All bird-song and butterflies despite being just a short walk to people watching on the Grand Socco, mooching in the Kasbah and shopping in the souks of the Petit Socco. Taxis will drop you at the door.
True to the building’s heritage, assertive interiors ooze Art Deco style. There are carefully placed artefacts, like the jet black panther prowling an ottoman – a gift from a former guest – and some fun details like the twin, lipstick red leather armchairs flanking the fire. An exuberant garden shaded by orange trees conceals a jade-green, tiled pool with a whimsical in-built sofa at one end.
The team here want you to have a good time and seem dedicated to making it happen. Generous with tips on where to eat, drink and shop, as well as what to avoid, they’ve attained that elusive quality of making it seem easy, which makes the urge to stay in all the more compelling.
All five rooms and three suites are pared-back, subtle-filled and spacious with huge beds, crisp cotton sheets topped with hand woven throws, and in most cases, access to a secluded terrace or balcony, though bathrooms err on the small side. But it’s the extras that really swing it. All have writing desks, ambient reading lamps and easy chairs, as well as those Brit essentials – kit and caboodle for a cup of tea when you need it.
There’s no bar or restaurant as such, but you can order a cheeky beer poolside in the afternoon and a GandT or a glass of wine in the evening.
Breakfast is so good – fruit platters and yogurt, farm fresh eggs and home baked bread – that it will probably persuade you to pre-book dinner at least once to sample top-fsubtle Moroccan home cooking including seasonal hot and cold soups and delicately spiced fish tagines.
Not ideal. There are no ground-floor bedrooms, and lots of stairs through the house and into the garden.
Better for romantic weekends – it’s a popular choice for honeymooners – although it is possible to rent the whole house for a party. It’s also become popular among business travellers looking for a home-from-home.
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