Part of the fun of settling into a new country is learning about the culture, and lifestyle, and discovering the spots the locals love off the beaten track. We share more of our agents’ insider tips about what to do and where to go on the west coast of Mauritius for swimming, sundowners, restaurants, street food, and outdoor sports.
Natasha Lauderdale, Foreign Sales & Projects Consultant for Pam Golding Properties (Mauritius), lives on the west coast. She gets the best of both worlds when she visits La Mariposa Residence, located on La Preneuse Public Beach facing Le Morne mountain, a UNESCO heritage site and former shelter for runaway slaves. La Mariposa is a family business that employs staff from the local community. Their Le Korail Rouge restaurant is at the beach’s edge, sheltered by a “magical tree”, and offers an array of authentic dishes from ingredients sourced from local fishermen and suppliers of fresh produce. “That’s one of my favourite haunts,” says Natasha.
La Preneuse Public Beach
“If we get out of work before dark, we go walking at La Preneuse, and often end up at The Bay Hotel on the beachfront in Black River. It’s indulgent because you can get drinks cheaper elsewhere, but the vibe there is superb.”
La Preneuse has a white sandy beach with a coral reef and clear blue water that invites exploration. It’s a tranquil location but can get crowded on the weekends. “We often pack a bag and go down to the beach with our beers or drinks. We go hiking or snorkelling, watch the sunset when we come out of the water, then go home and braai,” she says.
Sales Manager Jonathan Davis, who also works from the Pam Golding Properties (Mauritius) office in Tamarin Bay on the west coast, seconds that. He enjoys going to La Preneuse beach for a swim or snorkelling around the reef to see the beautiful corals. La Prairie Beach is another popular spot. Situated on a beautiful bay, with Le Morne in the distance, it has a massive lagoon separated from the open sea by a reef. With the typically white sandy beach and a few boats here and there, it’s a lovely relaxing spot. Jonathan also loves the piña coladas at La Mariposa – they’re a refreshing drink in the summer heat, delicious with local rum.
Phoenix beer
“As much as Mauritius is tiny, it offers a lot. From various restaurants and local haunts to beautiful beaches and diverse landscapes, we love it all. The Mauritian rum is lovely, and a cold beer (either Phoenix or Blue Marlin) after a mountain bike ride is always welcome,” he says.
Foodwise, you can’t go wrong with a curry at Happy Rajah, one of the most popular Indian restaurants on the island with additional outlets in Grand Baie and Phoenix. Another is Nasi Goreng, an East Asian dish with fried rice, fried egg, and chili. Expect it with plenty of heat and flavour if you try it at Aloha restaurant in the fishing village of La Gaulette, about 4km from Black River. Natasha calls it “a hole in the wall. The only thing is it faces the road. If you could turn it around, it would face Ile aux Benitiers (Benitiers Island),” she adds.
A word of warning about the chili, however. Locals love it, but it can sting and be tough on those with an untrained palate.
Street food
Try a bite of whatever it is first until your system adjusts. Street food like chili bites (gato piments), prepared with yellow split pea flour and deep fried, is a well-liked snack. Look for queuing patrons at food vendors; always a good recommendation for their fare. The rotis are delicious, and some advertise things like biryani for sale out of the back of their car. Is it safe to eat? “Yes, it’s delicious,” according to an expat who has been married to a Mauritian for almost 10 years. The meal is cooked in their home, in one big pot, and sold the same day.
Some expats recommend exercising caution when buying local fruit and vegetables at the side of the road, because of the pesticides used in the fields. Fruit such as papaya is a good bet as it grows high up in a tree with a palmlike trunk, ripens quickly, and doesn’t need pesticides.
As far as drinking water is concerned, it’s best not to drink water straight from a tap. Either boil it first or buy a water filter to attach to your tap for the best eco-friendly option.
