This month, I fell in love with Tagazhout, a small, surfer town located in Morocco. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed scoffing down £3 tagine on plastic chairs, the options for a luxury dining experience in Tagazhout were harder to find. But, after a casual stroll along the beachfront promenade, I stumbled upon Hyatt Regency Tagazhout, and knew I had to taste their menu.
Tagazhout, Morocco, is quickly becoming the hottest destination for travellers and holidaymakers. Its mountainous landscape towers over a seaside beach front that stretches miles. Hyatt Regency Tagazhout is slap bang in the middle of where you want to stay.
Located directly on the seafront, Hyatt Regency Tagazhout holds a hat-trick wonder of a holiday destination. It’s just far enough out of town for those looking for an idyllic retreat, but it’s also a pleasant 20 minute walk to Tagazhout town for those looking to experience a little more of local culture.
It balances Bali beach vibes with affordable luxury. And I mean affordable – you would be hard pressed to find a similar dining experience in Europe. Considering the hotel and restaurant’s proximity to the sea (you can practically taste the salt in the air), it’s no surprise that their fish surpasses any I’ve tried in premium London establishments.
Upon arrival, I received a selection of Pintxos; truffle, octopus and prawn topped each one. In Morocco, it’s custom to always receive free bread with your meal. I tried to avoid carb-loading, but alas, if I’m presented with a mouthful-sized bite of fresh octopus, I’m going to eat it all, leaving no crumbs.
As I’m suffering the self-inflicted pain of dry January, it was soft drinks only for me. Luckily, Morocco’s majority Muslim population means alcohol isn’t easy to come by. Whilst Hyatt Regency Tagazhout most definitely sells alcohol, I urge you to taste at least one of their mocktails, simply for the flavour if nothing else. A booze-less Pina Colada may seem a little defeatist, but it takes on a fresher, lighter flavour profile, unburdened by processed syrup.
For starters, we opted for the Seafood Salad and the Salmon and Seabass Ceviche. Light, delicate, fresh – the perfect start to a meal. For 180 MAD (around 15 GBP) you get a bowl swimming with octopus, plush prawns and fat, juicy mussels. The Ceviche was a similar price and, when paired alongside some fresh crispy bread and extra virgin olive oil, this was a dish nothing short of heaven.
It was a good idea to start off light. My Seabass was over-generously portioned, offering the meatiest, flakiest piece of fish cooked to perfection. The steak was also superb, buttery and soft with some rather tasty potatoes to accompany, and a sweet, velvety peppercorn sauce to pour over.
It would be easy to bask your days away at Hyatt Regency Tagazhout: taking a long lunch in the sun is without doubt one of life’s simple pleasures.
Review and Images by Ella Mapes @lrmapes
Feature image and some images supplied
