Sofitel Tamuda Bay Beach & Spa

The Mediterranean coast of Morocco, to the east of the Strait of Gibraltar, is relatively under-traveled, compared to Atlantic destinations like Casablanca and Essaouira. But it’s not without appeal. One of the attractions, in the town of M’Diq, about twenty miles to the east of Tangier, is the Sofitel Tamuda Bay Beach & Spa. As you’d expect from a Sofitel in Morocco, it’s got more than a little bit of a French accent. It’s to the local firm GM Architects, though, that the buildings owe their very pronounced modern Moroccan style.

The interiors inherit the royal-and-white color scheme and the mixture of neo-Moorish and modern European design languages, and add colorful murals to the mix, in the process elevating them above ordinary boutique-luxe minimalism. Between the multiple swimming pools, the lavish Sofitel spa, the idyllic Mediterranean beach, and the well-equipped fitness center, guests’ needs for physical relaxation are quite well satisfied, while the food and beverage options include a swanky cocktail bar and Le Marche des Saveurs, which presents a succession of Moroccan, French, Italian, and Asian flavors in a dining room that’s almost as colorful as its cuisine.