Tangier is about to get its most polished place to sleep. Four Seasons and Royal Resort Cap Malabata, a development company backed by GFH, have announced Four Seasons Resort Tangier, a waterfront property planned for the city's Cap Malabata district. It will be the brand's fourth hotel or resort in Morocco, joining a collection that already spans Marrakech, Rabat and Casablanca.

The setting does a lot of the talking. The site sits on Morocco's northern coast where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, with more than 260 metres (850 feet) of waterfront and clear views across the Strait of Gibraltar — on a clear day you can see Spain. The architecture comes from Arjitec, with interiors by Goddard Littlefair, a Edinburgh- and London-based studio known for hotel work across Europe and the Middle East.

The resort will be a manageable size rather than a mega-resort: 99 rooms and suites, plus 27 standalone villas for guests who want their own space. Amenities lean family-friendly as much as romantic — four restaurants mixing Moroccan and international cooking, a full-service spa, a fitness centre, big pool and waterfront lounging areas, and Four Seasons' Kids For All Seasons programme. There are also indoor and outdoor event venues, so expect it to court weddings and corporate retreats as well as holidaymakers.

Practically, the location is strong. It's roughly 15 minutes from Tangier's high-speed rail station — the Al Boraq line puts you under three hours from Casablanca — and about 45 minutes from Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport. That makes it easy to pair with a wider Morocco trip, or even a hop across the strait.

Tangier itself has been on an upward swing for years: a refreshed medina, the Koreisch-era Kasbah Museum, the American Legation, beach clubs along the coast and a growing cafe and gallery scene shaped by the city's artistic expat history. Until now, its luxury hotel scene has been thinner than Marrakech's, so a flag like Four Seasons landing here is a real signal of where the market is heading.

No opening date or room rates have been announced yet, so early birds will want to keep an eye on updates. But for travellers who love the idea of Morocco with a sea breeze — tagines at lunch, paella views of another continent at sunset — this one goes straight on the watch list.

Story via Breaking Travel News.