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A bustling seaside village perched on the north coast of Mauritius, Grand Baie is the main tourist hub on the island – and for good reason. Not only is the village awash with scenic sights, but it’s also a hotspot for all sorts of nautical activities. Best of all, you’ll find plenty of restaurants in Grand Baie where you can relax over a scrumptious meal after sightseeing.
I always make it a point to spend a few days in Grand Baie whenever I fly back to my home in Mauritius. Being the foodie that I am, my first priority is to munch my way through all those amazing restaurants speckled across the village. Believe me when I say the offerings are pretty diverse!
From succulent Chinese hotpots to tropical island-style meals, Greek cuisine, pub fare, or even old-school Mauritian dishes that you probably won’t find anywhere else on the island, this village is awash with great eats. More importantly, Grand Baie is found right by the ocean; seafood lovers will definitely be spoiled for choice.
But enough chatting and let’s take a look at the best restaurants in Grand Baie – plus one that you may wish to skip.
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1. Ti Kouloir
Specialty: Classic Mauritian cuisine
Here’s the thing about Ti Kouloir: it’s as no-frills as it gets. So much so, in fact, that I walked past this place without even noticing it. Well, at least until the amazing aroma of mine bouille and boulettes made me take a closer look.
Ti Kouloir literally translates to ‘little corridor’ and that’s exactly what you can expect. This is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall eatery that’s located in – you guessed it – a corridor between two buildings.
As far as the best restaurants in Grand Baie are concerned, this place is something of a hidden gem. While not all tourists know about this place, it’s always packed with locals. You may need to wait a bit if you visit at lunchtime because seating is seriously limited.
Ti Kouloir is completely devoid of airs and graces. While they do have a ‘proper’ dining area, it’s always full. As such most people simply sit on the plastic stools that have been haphazardly arranged on a patio overlooking the busy main street.
Like most places in Grand Baie, you’ll find this restaurant right across the beach. Personally, I like to get my food to go so I can cross the road and plop on the warm sand to eat while watching the ocean.
Some of Ti Kouloir’s most popular dishes include vegetable fritters, boiled noodles, dumplings, and grilled seafood platters. No reservations needed – just show up and wait for your turn.
2. La Kaza Restaurant
Specialty: Fresh seafood platters
Another great restaurant in Grand Baie, La Kaza claims to have the best seafood on the island, which is not so outlandish a claim given you’ll find them right by the water’s edge on Sunset Boulevard. The restaurant has an ocean-to-plate concept so that you can pick your own lobster or fish. It doesn’t get any fresher!
Full disclosure: I’m allergic to crustaceans, so I can’t personally vouch for their lobster platters, but I do know they’re insanely popular among locals and tourists alike (including everyone I take who eats them in front of me).
Even despite that, what makes this place special (other than the exceptionally fresh seafood) is its uniquely tropical twists. Think seafood curry with coconut milk, fish in kaffir lime-flavored tomato sauce, and the like.
La Kaza regularly hosts themed evenings with live music, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Like most restaurants in Grand Baie, La Kaza has a kid-friendly menu with classics like mac and cheese, fries, and fried chicken. Walk-ins are welcome, but I recommend that you book ahead, especially if you’re going there for dinner.
3. Little Sichuan Xiao Sichuan
Specialty: Traditional Chinse cuisine.
If you’re a fan of East Asian cuisine, you’ll be glad to learn there’s no shortage of authentic Chinese restaurants in Grand Baie.
At least three percent of the island is made up of descendants of Chinese migrants. For this reason, many of the restaurants are family-owned establishments passed down from generation to generation.
One of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Grand Baie is Little Sichuan Xiao Sichuan (also known as Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant). This spot is found in the Richmond Hill Complex, just a few minutes’ walk from the public beach.
I absolutely love the restaurant’s traditional décor with red and gold Chinese charms hanging everywhere. In terms of the menu, you can expect classic Sichuan offerings served with bold flavors and a distinctively Mauritian flair.
Popular options include mung bean noodles and prawn claypots, hot and sour soup with mussels and oysters, and of course, the legendary Kung Pao Chicken. It wouldn’t be a Sichuan restaurant without it, right?
One of my favorite things to get at Little Suchuan is the spicy hotpot, which just so happens to be the restaurant’s specialty. Owing to its popularity, you’ll find a whole section of the restaurant dedicated to hotpots. This section looks identical to the hotpot spots I visited in China, with hollowed-out wooden tables to keep the food warm and benches instead of straight-backed chairs.
While you can always walk in for a weekday lunch, I suggest that you reserve your table several days in advance for dinner (especially during the weekend) because this is one of the busiest restaurants in Grand Baie.
4. Karai Creole
Specialty: Vintage creole-style Mauritian dishes.
Okay, I just can’t make a list of the best restaurants in Grand Baie without mentioning Karai Creole. After all, this is the spot to visit if you’d like to go back in time and experience vintage Mauritian cuisine. I’m talking about the kind of food you probably won’t find anywhere else on the island unless you’re invited to a local’s house.
For starters, the food is served in an old-fashioned karai which is a sort of deep cast-iron cooking pot that you’ll find in every Mauritian household. For me, eating at Karai Creole always stirs up memories of Sunday lunch at my grandma’s house.
The food is as local as it gets, with unique offerings like salmi tang which is basically a stew made of tanrec, a mammal that’s also known as the ‘lesser hedgehog’. I know, I know. It doesn’t sound super appealing and, honestly, I haven’t been adventurous enough to try it myself. My Mauritian friends and family always rave about it though.
Tanrec stew is deeply rooted in the island’s history. It used to be a staple way back then when the island was still an impoverished colonized nation. You’d be hard-pressed to find another restaurant that serves this dish.
Karai Creole is no doubt among the top restaurants in Grand Baie for old-fashioned, island-style dishes. And the best part is, it’s always changing: it doesn’t have a set menu since dishes change seasonally, just like you’d expect in a local home. You don’t need to reserve a table but bear in mind that the restaurant is only open for lunch.
5. The Trojan Horse
Specialty: Greek cuisine.
Not only is The Trojan Horse reminiscent of classic Grecian restaurants, but it’s also found right opposite the public beach. No wonder it’s hailed as one of the best restaurants in Grand Baie.
With Mediterranean-inspired accents, this restaurant is led by head chef Ilias Kontos from Athens.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Grand Baie for a fun night out with friends and family. After all, the restaurant specializes in mezze-style spreads that you can share with a group.
On Friday nights, it’s not uncommon for locals to gather at The Trojan Horse for a drink after work. Best of all, the restaurant offers a prime seat for enjoying those dazzling Mauritian sunsets.
You may wish to make reservations because the restaurant is always busy for dinner. I can also vouch for their classic Greek brunch during the weekend.
6. The Beach House
Specialty: Pub-style fare.
Before we get into the food, let me just rave about the location for a minute. I’m sure by now you’ve realized there’s no shortage of oceanview restaurants in Grand Baie. The Beach House is smack dab on the beach. It’s got outdoor seating, too, so you can literally munch away with your toes buried in that gloriously warm sand.
Another great thing about this spot is that it’s one of the few (if not the only) restaurants in Grand Baie that actively supports PAWS, the local animal welfare society.
Okay, now on to the food. You’ll enjoy classic pub fare, with burgers, steaks, and tapas. You’ll also find authentic Mauritian dishes like octopus curry with eggplant, stewed deer, and fish in creole sauce.
On Friday nights, this place turns into a super fun cocktail bar, complete with live music and entertainment. You do need to book ahead.
And 1 that you may wish to skip
La Pagode. Let me start off by saying that La Pagode used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Grand Baie. Growing up, we always went there for special occasions and this place holds plenty of great memories for me.
Unfortunately, I have to admit that La Pagode is no longer what it used to be – and I’m saying that with a heavy heart. Over the past few years, the quality of their meals and service has consistently gone down and now, they’re subpar at best.
I do need to add that the restaurant has splendid views of the Indian Ocean. As such, I’d say it’s still a great spot for relaxing over a drink.
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