One house, many lives

Our Vizier’s Palace was designated a historic monument by UNESCO in 1982.

19th century Palace with unusual architectural style, where Arabic-Moorish features mix up with an Art Deco villa, Mayfez embraces the characteristics of the city: a mixture of cosmopolitan historical grandeur and gentle lifestyle.

Bought in 2006, the Riad, has undergone 10 years of refurbishment; 5 years of heavy work, 5 years of embelishment and design , to become Riad Mayfez Suites & Spa.

AN ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY

Before becoming Mayfez, the riad belonged to one of the most distinguished families of Fez and Morocco. The Tazi family gave the city its renowned Pacha Tazi, as well as numerous governors and mendoubs (viziers) who, over several generations, wielded considerable influence throughout the Kingdom. Among them was Haj Omar Tazi, Grand Vizier to the Sultan in Rabat and the eldest member of the family.

Yet the soul of Mayfez is above all embodied by Lalla Tam Tazi.
In the Morocco of the early twentieth century, few women would have dared not to follow their husband when he was called to one of the Kingdom’s highest offices. Lalla Tam chose otherwise.
When Haj M’hamed Tazi was appointed Mendoub of Tangier, she decided to remain in Fez.
Within the Arsa (farm), surrounded by orchards, she commissioned the construction of a villa in the 1910 style, reflecting her own vision of comfort and elegance. There she lived for more than twenty-five years, surrounded by her household and attendants, receiving family, friends and visitors with the quiet confidence of someone who had never waited for others to make decisions on her behalf.
It was often said that a single glance from Lalla Tam could carry as much authority as a Vizier’s decree. One is inclined to believe it.

For much of the twentieth century, the Tazi family occupied a unique position in Morocco’s political, economic and administrative life. Their story mirrors that of a nation in transformation, balancing centuries-old traditions with reform and new aspirations.

Among the children of Lalla Tam and Haj M’hamed Tazi, Ahmed Tazi would play a particularly significant role. After joining his father in Tangier during the 1920s, he became his closest collaborator before eventually succeeding him as Mendoub of the city.

DEATH & REBIRTH OF A PALTIAL HOME

Like many of Fez’s great family estates, the Arsa was not immune to the tides of history or the complexities of inheritance. A leading force in Morocco’s political and administrative life for much of the twentieth century, the Tazi family saw its influence wane after Independence. Closely associated with the established order during the Protectorate, it found itself facing a new political landscape that profoundly reshaped the fortunes of many of the Kingdom’s great families.

Following the passing of Lalla Tam Tazi, the property was gradually neglected before leaving the family’s hands and passing to the Laraqui Houssaïni family, another distinguished lineage of Fez.
Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, the estate endured a long period of abandonment. Time took its toll on the property until Moulay and Dominique Laraqui Houssaïni chose to give it a new future by acquiring it from one of the family’s heirs.

Initially intended as a private residence, the property has since undergone an ambitious restoration and a patient process of reinvention. Over the years, its décor, facilities and personalised service have been continuously refined, giving rise to Riad Mayfez Suites & Spa and its distinctive vision of creativity, exclusivity and the art of living.

Learn more about Mayfez’ history.

A FAMILY STORY

Riad Mayfez Suites & Spa was and remains a family story, the story of the Laraqui family. But on the spot, it is with the strong support of the Manager, Houda El Khadir, that Dominique Laraqui officiates as lady of the house, thanks to a team entirely dedicated to the comfort of her guests.

Mayfez is the product of Dominique’s imagination and of the cultures that have shaped her throughout her life. Above all, it represents the culmination of a long-standing love story with Morocco.

Cosmopolitan and well-travelled, the Laraqui family lived in several European capitals before eventually settling in Cairo in 2018.

Today, Dominique divides her time between Morocco and Egypt.

Their passion for architecture, culture and the arts is woven throughout Mayfez, where cultural discovery and artistic expression lie at the heart of the experience offered to guests.