"You have watches, we have time"
- locals in Tangier
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The View from the Front of the GHVDF Hotel
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One of my top three places - a perfect happy mix of chaos and energy, orchestrated in a seamless manner that truly makes you feel, taste, smell and experience life as it should be. The beauty comes in the international mindset, where you are asked which language you would prefer to converse in, where a church stands peacefully next to a mosque, and where people build on each others' differences vs destroy them. The sea adds a sense of calm and serenity that blends away most of the harsh edges whilst keeping it rugged and messy and authentic - a mecca for artists, diplomats, poets, partiers, wanderers and everyone in between. A lovely blend of right + wrong, with some of the best wine I have ever had in a mostly dry land - not to mention the tagines and endless olives.
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Room 35 With A View - as painted in 'Room with a View'
Matisse's hotel room at the Grand Hotel Villa de France
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The Essentials
Hotels: Although the Minzah is the place to stay in Tangier, it is closed for renovation so the sister property at the Grand Hotel Villa de France is lovely colonial substitute, set high on a hill for a lovely view of the marketplace. And also the home of Matisse for awhile.
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| Beauty + Sustenance |
Food deserves its own dedicated blog but in the essence of time will simplify with Tagine, Couscous and Medallion wine of any kind. You will not go wrong, and can only get better with the soups, desserts and endless amounts of mint tea. And to top it all off the plates, linens and glasses are displays of art themselves - colourful, vibrant like everything and everyone in Tangier.
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| Beautiful markets galore |
Restaurants: rooftop resturant at Hotel Nord-Pinus right outside the Kasbah for beautiful lunchtime views, Hammadi for a more authentic dinner with live music and the restaurant at the GHVDF hotel for a mix of cuisines that includes belly-dancing. Orange juice and Harira soup also key to try.
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| View from the Hotel Nord-Pinus restaurant - lovely spot for lunch |
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| Hotel Nord-Pinus |
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| Restaurant Hammadi |
Markets and Shopping: the markets are lovely to roam around in, for spices and home goods, but haggling is expected and respected. Saffron and cumin are good to buy here, as are the Berber rugs and ceramics//glasses, mostly brought in from Fes. Las Chicas is a modern boutique that sells good quality clothing and homegoods - and the rose water from Madini.
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| Best Bread of all time |
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| Sunset tea at Cafe Hafa a la Stones |
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