A wandering spirit with a love for storytelling, Neera has 250+ articles in her travel playbook. She’s currently working on her latest insider guides from a secluded Mauritian beach.
It’s no secret that Mauritius has an amazing food scene, but did you know the island is also home to some cool bars?
Whenever I fly back home to Mauritius, one of my favorite things to do is catch up with friends and family over drinks.
(Credit: Neera Ramdhonee)
Grand Baie – being a major tourist hub – is home to some of the best bars in Mauritius (as well as some excellent restaurants). You’ll also find some bars in the coastal village of Flic en Flac on the west coast. Surprisingly enough, you’ll notice that the best bars in Mauritius are found in the (many) shopping malls clustered around the center of the island.
Bars in Mauritius are more about catching up with family and friends over drinks than wild partying – but first, let’s take a look at how bar culture evolved on the island.
Mauritius may be known for its beaches but it’s also got a decent bar scene (Credit: Neera Ramdhonee)
Mauritius may be one of the richest African countries, but it wasn’t always the case. Back in the 60s and 70s, life wasn’t easy for many. People would work for long hours in the sugar cane or tea plantations, and there was very little in terms of entertainment.
To unwind after work, some locals used to buy arak (fermented sugar cane rum) from their neighborhood shop. Because very few people could afford to buy the whole bottle, they’d ask for a topette (shot) or a grog (quarter bottle). They’d then gather right in front of the store to chat and drink.
The local rum is cheap and popular – perfect for taverns! (Source: Sandokan Shop)
This eventually gave rise to what Mauritians call ‘tavern’ – tiny and unnamed hole-in-the-wall drinking spots that would eventually become the very first bars in Mauritius.
In the 80s and 90s, it was common for people to bring their own flask (locally known as ‘flash’) to their neighborhood tavern. The tavern owner would fill it up with arak rum. Everyone would then gather under a tree to enjoy a game of cards right under the stars.
Some taverns also serve Mauritian nibbles like fried chicken innards, eggplant chutney, and poison corne which is the most iconic bar snack in Mauritius. It’s just a whole fried fish coated in turmeric, but it always goes down a treat alongside an ice-cold glass of the local Phoenix beer.
Fried fish and ice cold Phoenix beer – classic bar fare in Mauritius (Source: Badory Bar)
As the tourism industry expanded though, these establishments were gradually replaced by more modern Mauritian bars. The few remaining taverns are like fiercely guarded secrets on the island. If you search hard enough, you might still stumble across one in a nondescript neighborhood. Forget about fancy drinks though: these taverns exclusively serve the cheapest local beers and rum. Oh, and I should point out that the owners often water down the rum – all part of tavern culture!
A dying establishment on the island, taverns were especially known for their affordability (Source: Badory Bar)
But tavern or not, rest assured that there are some great bars in Mauritius, so let’s check out the best ones.
5 best bars in Mauritius
1. Strike City
If you’re exploring bars in Mauritius, I cannot recommend Strike City enough.
Oozing British bar vibes, Strike City’s got darts, a bar area, and pool tables. Basically everything that you need for a fun night. While some Mauritian bars can be overly glitzy, Strike City keeps things quite informal. As such, it’s not uncommon for locals to rent it out for birthday parties and similar celebrations.
If you’re a footie fan (like most Mauritians), you’ll be glad to know that Strike City regularly hosts football evenings. There’s even an eight-lane bowling alley right in the middle of the bar.
Okay – on to the drinks. This bar in Mauritius has a surprisingly decent selection of maltwhiskeys and beers that you can order by the bucket.
Strike City does occasionally offer live entertainment. It’s also got private karaoke rooms that you can rent out. You’ll find a branch at Bagatelle Mall in Moka and another one in Flacq.
This is easily one of the most romantic bars in Mauritius – no surprise here given its decadent location between the ocean and a river. Located off the regular tourist trail, this spot is something of a hidden gem in Mauritius, so you won’t be facing huge crowds either.
As soon as you step into the bar, you’ll notice the scarlet piano that lies under a terrace, right in front of a stone courtyard. They do have indoor seating but I always like to kick back on one of the poolside sofas outside. From there, you can take in lush views of the Tombeau River. This outdoor bar is particularly inviting at night with fairy lights above the seating areas and large stone firepits speckled all over.
The piano isn’t just decorative either: you’ll enjoy live performances every night – although Friday and Saturday evenings tend to be far livelier. Piano Rouge regularly hosts themed evenings like 70s Nights. They’ve got all sorts of drinks, but their wine and cocktail menu always stands out to me. And if you feel peckish, rest assured that the place has a great selection of tapas as well.
Local tip: Piano Rouge may be one of the best bars in Mauritius, but this area can get pretty scorching in the summer. I suggest that you grab a seat close to the water to enjoy a cooling breeze from the lagoon.
3. Banana Beach Club
As you can probably tell by now, bars in Mauritius are somewhat westernized. If you’re looking for distinctively tropical vibes though, head over to Banana Beach Club in Grand Baie.
Because the bar is set in a courtyard, there’s plenty of lush greenery around and even a towering Flamboyant – the national tree of Mauritius which blooms bright red and orange in December.
A Tikki-style bar area, a sandy floor, and wrought-iron furniture only add to those delightful tropical vibes. Located smack dab across from Grand Baie Beach, it’s hard to beat the location if you fancy a sundowner after a day of sightseeing.
As far as the drinks are concerned, this is definitely one of the best bars in Mauritius for rum-based cocktails.
4. Flying Dodo Brewing Company
If you’re a beer aficionado, be sure to check out the Flying Dodo which is found right in a brewery. This place is known as the island’s very first craft brewery – not to mention one of the coolest bars in Mauritius. After all, it’s got a pretty edgy interior with open brewing tanks and metal ductwork running across the ceiling.
While Flying Dodo has plenty of cocktails and wines to choose from, you may also wish to check out their extensive beer menu. It is an artisanal brewery after all! To keep things fresh, they only brew 500 liters at a time.
Their beer is also unfiltered and unpasteurized. What I love about this place is that they’re constantly inventing new brews so there’s always something that you haven’t tried before. One of my favorite drinks to get there is the Belgian Wit which features orange peel as well as Cascade, Saphyr, and Perle hops.
You can even buy some bottles to bring back home (Source: Flying Dodo)Dodo’s famous beer sampler (Credit: Neera Ramdhonee)
Oh, and if you’re not quite sure what to get, you can always order a sampler which comes with a selection of beers served in smaller glasses. For larger groups, they usually set a wooden barrel on the table so you can pour your own drinks from the tap.
The Flying Dodo may be one of the best bars in Mauritius, but you’ll find that, unlike their delectable beers, the food can be hit or miss. They do have a decent selection of Mauritian street food-style snacks, but their mains don’t always deliver. Then again, people mainly go there for the beer and live music on Friday nights.
5. The Irish Pub & Restaurant
One of the things I love the most about The Irish is that the food is pretty bangin’ too! It’s all pub fare of course. Think sliders, beer fish and chips, chicken wings, and the like. They’ve also got classic Irish offerings like Irish Stew and Shepherd’s Pie.
True to its name, the bar has plenty of Irish vibes, with a warm, wood-paneled interior and a delightfully rustic décor. They also have outdoor seating on a terrace (standing tables, bar stools, and sofas). If you ask me, these are the best seats in the house for enjoying those balmy tropical evenings.
Drinks-wise, this is one of the best bars in Mauritius for sampling Irish stouts and whiskeys, Mauritian beer, and handcrafted cocktails (my favorite!). You can also order beer by the bucket. Personally, I’m partial to the Stingy Nut cocktail made from gin, cucumber, syrup, and grapefruit juice.
It’s pretty small though and Friday nights are notoriously packed. It’s always a good idea to head there early to snag yourself a nice spot. Like many other bars in Mauritius, The Irish is found in a shopping mall, so parking is rarely an issue.
The Stingy Nut Coktail (Credit: Neera Ramdhonee)(Credit: Neera Ramdhonee)
(Credit: Mark Zanetti)
Local tip: As far as cool bars in Mauritius go, the Irish certainly delivers, but their drinks are undeniably on the pricier side. You may wish to take advantage of Happy Hour which runs from 5 pm to 8 pm daily.
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