There’s Marrakesh and there’s Casablanca, but Taghazout has been patiently waiting to be discovered. This small coastal village has golden beaches, year-round sun and a calmer, more relaxed pace. It has been pulling in a surfer crowd since the 1970s, and now it’s becoming the sunshine escape for people in the know who want to swap Agadir’s crowds and the hustle of Marrakesh for a proper reset.
The waves are the big draw. The variety means there’s something for every level, and Taghazout’s own Ramzi Boukhiam has done plenty to put the region on the surfing map. But you don’t need a board to enjoy it here.
If you’re after top-tier beachfront luxury with a Moroccan accent, the Taghazout Bay Marriott Resort should be on your radar. It’s the first Marriott hotel to open in Morocco, which is a major moment to be celebrated, and it has certainly arrived with a bang. Just a short drive from Agadir, it sits on a 4.5km stretch of beach in the quieter north of the village, with an array of swaying palms behind it and the wind-whipped Atlantic in front.
First glimpse: checking in at Taghazout Bay Marriott Resort
From the moment you step out of your transfer, you’re struck by the spectacular view and the smell of the sea in the air. It’s almost wow-worthy. You’re greeted by the attentive and welcoming team with a house green juice smoothie while you sink into one of the deliciously cosy seating areas. There’s no standing in queues at reception either: check-in is a relaxed, sit-down affair as you eye up the décor and your home for the next few days.
The rooms: contemporary Moroccan coastal style
You won’t be left disappointed when it comes to the rooms. Unlike some hotels, where the grandness and detail are saved for the facilities, it carries through here. There are 221 rooms and 29 suites, many with private pools, panoramic terraces, resort views or garden views. Don’t expect the colour explosion you might associate with Morocco. Instead, the look is clean, contemporary Moroccan coastal style, with Cycladic lines, natural stone, wood, Moroccan marble and woven fibres, in tones that complement the landscape. There are light, large windows and a balcony with ridiculously comfortable seating.
The bathrooms are stocked with This Works toiletries, and the shower is certainly roomy, with its own marble bench inside. There’s ample room for unloading all your toiletries if you don’t pack lightly when it comes to skincare.
Beach, pools and spa time
Days here are as relaxed or as active as you want them to be. The beach is a few steps down from the hotel, and the vibe is carefree surfer crowd, camels strutting about and the occasional horse rider silhouetted at sunset.
When you’re not sipping cocktails at one of four pools (one an Olympic-sized beauty ringed with planting), there’s the Sarray Spa, a peaceful wellness sanctuary with a sauna, hammam and jacuzzi. Book a couples massage or facial, then unwind in the relaxation room, where mood lighting sets the scene for a post-treatment tea and a power nap.
The gym is kitted out with top-spec Life Fitness equipment, and there are padel courts and a kids’ club too. A supersized 450 sqm ballroom, which holds up to 540 guests, covers large-scale weddings and corporate events.
Where to sip and dine: restaurants at Taghazout Bay Marriott Resort
Dining is something to get excited about at Taghazout Bay Marriott Resort, with three very different experiences.
Salt & Lime, the poolside restaurant, serves fresh Mexican food. The shrimp ceviche with zesty lime juice, diced cucumber and jalapeño, is the dish you’ll order twice. If you’ve eaten the freshest Mexican food in Tulum, this nails the flavours and transports you straight back.
Braze is all about open fire and smoky, aromatic charcoal flavours. Menu highlights include the wood-fired beetroot and goat’s cheese mousse and the octopus, grilled to perfection and served with homemade pickles. For mains, go straight for the sea bass fillet with a tarragon butter you’ll want to scoop up to the last drop. Desserts are a real showstopper. Enjoy a gazpacho? Well, at Braze there’s a dessert version that you absolutely must sample: a mix of sweet and savoury flavours, with red pepper and raspberry sorbet, a combination that shouldn’t work but does. Plus, the crockery will have you snapping photos and hunting for the brand so you can stock up your kitchen at home.
The cocktails follow the theme of smoke and fire, crafted and presented in unique ways. One spiced rum cocktail arrives in a treasure chest, with smoke over the ice. There are also nostalgic offerings, like the fruity Care Bear cocktail.
Last but by no means least is Rivage, serving Mediterranean flavours with a French Riviera twist. It’s also where breakfast happens, and the buffet is on a different scale, with quality at the forefront. There’s homemade almond butter, an array of preserves, a yoghurt station, fresh pancakes, omelettes and every bread you can think of. The sweetest freshly squeezed orange juice is so good a second glass is practically compulsory, and the Moroccan coffee is great. Best of all, though, is a Moroccan mint tea to start the day.
Beyond the resort
The hotel can arrange surfing and bodyboarding lessons, plus there are horse and camel rides along the beach. Further afield, there’s an argan museum, and the argan forest running alongside Taghazout is worth a look. Cutting down an argan tree is illegal here, with fines or even prison for offenders. You’ll learn how the precious oil is made and why it’s so loved in the beauty industry. Angelina Jolie is among those believed to have started the argan oil beauty craze.
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, try quad biking in the Timlaline (Morocco’s best kept secret), or stick to the surf theme with sandboarding across the dunes. It’s quite the experience, but brace yourself for the climb back up the dune. There are many championship golf courses nearby too, and a bike ride along the seafront takes you into Taghazout village.
After dark: sunset views on Morocco’s Atlantic coast
The resort changes completely in the evening. Light flickers across the pools, the moon washes the stone, and the sunsets are spectacular.
The crowd is an affluent, adventurous mix, from die-hard surf fans to locals looking to recharge, then swapping wetsuits for linen and loafers.
Do you have to be a surf fan? Absolutely not. Do you have to love flavoursome food, outstanding accommodation and views you’ll struggle to leave behind? Absolutely.
Taghazout Bay Marriott Resort, Km 16, Essaouira Road, Taghazout Bay 80750, Morocco
marriott.com/en-us/hotels/rbatb-taghazout-bay-marriott-resort | @Taghazoutbaymarriottresort
