Search results for

A quick drive from the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens, Chez Tante Athalie prepares memorable Creole cuisine in an idyllic setting. The restaurant only offers lunch, served Monday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Whether you order from the prix-fixe or limited à la carte menus, you’ll get a traditional taste of Mauritian cooking. The airy dining space opens onto a garden that displays vintage cars and features a quaint stone patio; the setting is so picturesque that it’s been the backdrop for multiple photo shoots. Chez Tante Athalie has also become a community gathering spot for local book launches.

Port Louis isn’t very big. It’s the perfect size for a good walk. And if you find you need sustenance on that journey—but don’t want to stop exploring—you can’t go wrong with picking up a bite from a street vendor. Mauritian street vendors have a little something for every palate, and there is plenty of spicy and sweet. Pick up a freshly made samosa or some Chinese noodles. Nosh on some dhal puri or fresh veggie fritters. And don’t forget to leave room for dessert. The merveilles, French pastries that are slightly reminiscent of the Mexican churro, are to die for.

Expats Lionel Maitrepierre and Joëlle Jean Louise drew inspiration from traditional Cambodian rice spirit, which is potent and medicinal-tasting and not always safe for foreigners to drink, and the fruit-infused rums from Joëlle’s home Mauritius, when they developed Sombai. The Siem Reap-based couple started producing their range of quality rice spirits, which they infused with Cambodian fruits, herbs, spices, and roots, in 2012. You’ll see Sombai’s distinctive hand-painted bottles all over Siem Reap, and many bars offer cocktails made with Sombai’s rice spirits, however, it’s much more fun to visit their tasting room and infusion workshop, where you can taste the full range of eight blended flavors (for free), before buying the beautiful bottles with Cambodian cotton kramas tied around their necks. The spirits can be sipped straight as aperitifs, combined with spirits to make cocktails or drizzled over ice-cream or cake to create a heady dessert.

This small beachside hut may not seem like a dining destination, but don’t be fooled by its humble appearance. Located just off the water, Cabane du Filao serves the freshest seafood caught the same day right in the Indian Ocean. Run by a couple (one the fisherman, the other the cook), the cabana serves beautifully grilled lobster, king prawns, and fish to emphasize the seafood’s freshness and natural flavors. You’ll also find octopus salad, crab curry, and flatbread on the menu. Dine at one of the outdoor tables, or have a picnic on the beach.

Both of Waikiki’s Outrigger hotels are a good value, but this one is a little bigger and a little quieter. It’s right on the beach, just north of the main resort cluster, and though a short walk to the middle of the action, far enough to feel out of the fray. The hotel itself is a quintessential Hawaiian family resort—big and friendly, with an unmistakable good-time vibe, old-school Polynesian decor throughout, and any number of activities on offer. The pool is set back from the beach and nothing fancy (no waterslides, no swim-up bar, and up against a giant wall), but it’s large enough for a serious game of Marco Polo, and there are plenty of lounge chairs to go around. Perhaps the best reason to stay here is the beach—a fairly narrow but sparkling white strand with more elbow room than its sister beaches; the rocky bottom may have something to do with that, but it’s a good place to learn to surf and a great place to catnap in the sun. One warning: the hotel lobby may feel overly commercial to some, what with a row of gift shops and a hard-to-miss timeshare desk, but it’s easy enough to ignore, if you wish.

Opened in 2014 as the third outpost of Accor’s SO/ brand (following Bangkok and Mauritius), this boutique hotel brings a bit of glam to a staid part of Singapore. Set in the heart of the financial district, in a Neoclassical limestone heritage building that once housed advertising giants Ogilvy & Mather, the 134-room property counts Karl Lagerfeld among its designers (he was responsible for the library, front-house staff uniform, and hotel emblem). The SO/ doesn’t take itself too seriously, displaying a kind of Ian Schrager-meets-Philippe Starck postmodern whimsy and flair: think chairs with antlers protruding from the top, curvy couches in bright shades, and blingy, crystal-beaded light fixtures. Rooms meld France and Singapore—the former via high ceilings, crown moldings, and small statues of the Eiffel Tower, the latter via a country map on a mirrored table, or a coffee-table book of Lion City history—and come with iPads for controlling the lights, heat, and curtains. The rooftop 1927 bar borders a criminally underused gold-tiled pool, while the vibrant Xperience Restaurant serves an all-day menu of modern European and Asian-accented fare, plus a popular afternoon tea.

For a taste of local Mauritian life, make your way to the Crown Lodge. Opened in 2002, this high-end facility overlooks the Champ de Mars, a horseracing track. Horseracing is one of Mauritius’s most popular sports: Champ de Mars hosts more than 20,000 spectators every week. When you arrive at the Crown Lodge, buy an all-inclusive package (the only entrance option) that covers an open bar and snacks throughout the afternoon. You’ll have unobstructed views of the finish line, as well as the opportunity to meet the trainers and horse owners. Betting information, including handicaps and odds, is available for those who are feeling lucky. Whether or not you win, you can at least pretend to be a local for a day.

Mammamia Che Gelato serves the coolest treats in Mauritius. The shop offers a number of traditional gelato flavors that you can get in a cup or a waffle cone. There’s also a selection of ice cream bars and superb sundaes. If you’re not feeling something frozen, Mammamia Che Gelato also sells colorful macaroons and a selection of artistic, mousse-filled cakes that could easily pass muster in any French patisserie. There are locations in Port Louis, Grand-Baie, and Moka.