The Royal Palm has one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
While the multicultural paradise of Mauritius, set between Africa and India, has plenty to offer away from the beaches like scrumptious food and dynamic art and music scenes, visitors flock to the island for dips in its pool-like waters lined by ribbons of the softest sand. So, if there’s one thing the island knows how to do, it’s hotels, making choosing where to stay in Mauritius no slim feat. Being half-Mauritian helps though, so here’s my curated list of the best hotels in Mauritius, from luxury beachfront resorts to secluded villas tucked in its hilly interior, for the perfect getaway.
Northwest Coast, Grand Baie: The Royal Palm, Mauritius’ Understated Luxury Gem
The restaurant of the Royal Palm Beachcomber in Mauritius, which overhangs the deep blue ocean.
One of the most storied hotels in Mauritius, the Royal Palm has been a symbol of quiet luxury since it first opened in 1952, back when the island was still an under-the-radar destination only talked about in whispers among the well-traveled elite.
As part of the Mauritian Beachcomber group, it has held onto its local soul, resisting the allure of international chains that have reshaped much of the island’s hospitality landscape. Here, despite being steps away from Grand Baie’s busting nightlife, calm and authenticity reign. The Royal Palm exudes an effortless charm that many resorts old and new, struggle to capture.
The immaculate rooms carry a sense of timelessness that’s reflected in the service—discreet and yet deeply personal. This is a place where attention to detail and tradition are woven into every interaction, and it’s what keeps the Royal Palm top of the list for the hotel’s roster of guests who come back here year after year.
The open-sided, thatched-roof pavilions, with their breezy walnut interiors, echo the relaxed elegance of Mauritian island life. The main restaurant, perched on a deck that extends over the water, is a dreamlike setting. Once a week, guests here get to have an open-air dining experience on the beach below, with a barbecue spread laid out right on the sand at the water’s edge.
At the heart of the property is the Valmont spa, where personalized treatments and private training sessions are elevated to an art form by its passionate director. There are two pools—one near the spa, the other steps from the beach—and it’s the beach that commands the spotlight.
This is one of the most beautiful coves on the island, with soft white sand and water so brilliantly turquoise that it seems to glow on the clearest days. The 69 sea-view rooms are designed with intimate touches—your own letterhead stationery, personal business cards with the hotel’s address—making it feel more like a second home than a hotel. For those who appreciate quiet, unflashy elegance, the Royal Palm is a true sanctuary. And with its own helipad, airport transfers are a seamless 20-minute journey.
West Coast, Balaclava: Oberoi, An Oceanfront Garden Paradise With An Asian Touch
The villas are spacious and often come with private pools.
The gardens at the Oberoi, 23 years in the making since the resort’s debut, are reason enough to step beyond the luxury of the private villas here. Designed by renowned landscape architect Bill Bensley, these 20 acres of palm and banyan trees and exotic brightly colored flowers, dotted with secluded villa retreats, are among the most striking on the island.
Located near Turtle Bay on Mauritius’ rugged west coast, just north of capital Port Louis, the dramatic setting puts a twist on the traditional image of the island. While the beaches are rocky, the sunsets seen from one of the two infinity pools and framed by the silhouettes of distant mountains and palm trees are a high point.
This resort, under the wing of the prestigious India-based Oberoi hotel group, blends an eclectic mix of Indian, Balinese, and Indonesian influences, in its design and leans more towards India in its cuisine (some of the best on the island). Asian artefacts are peppered throughout and lend a sense of spirituality to the space—whether it’s the stone fountains that ripple through the pools or the subtle nods to its cultural roots.
A huge banyan tree at the center of the property hums with birds just before dusk, marking the start of the evening. Nearby, the open-air pavilion adjacent to the main restaurant hosts nightly music and dance performances after sunset where guests congregate pre- and post-dinner.
Thatched-roof villas with private pools line the estate, each with floor-to-ceiling windows, four-poster beds, and gabled roofs, draped in a palette of creams and deep reds, lending the rooms a local tropical charm.
Paths wind through the property, connecting sea-facing restaurants with views that feel endless. Though families are welcome, the mood skews toward romance—this is the kind of place where couples escape to bask in the tranquility of their surroundings, lulled by the sound of the waves and the island’s sense of calm.
Southwest, Chamarel: Dazzling Views In The Wild Hills At Lakaz Chamarel Lodge
One of the villas with private pool and spectacular ocean and mountain views.
A personal favorite, Lakaz Chamarel is a hidden gem of a lodge tucked away in the lush, jungly hills of Chamarel, near the Black River Gorges National Park—a must-visit for nature-lovers. While it’s not beachfront, the location more than makes up for it with an abundance of experiences, from exploring Chamarel’s famous Seven Coloured Earth to sipping local rum at nearby distilleries and discovering the vibrant dining scene, like at the laid-back Barbizon restaurant.
Lakaz Chamarel itself is a picture of tranquility. Wooden pavilions are scattered throughout centuries-old gardens, originally part of a banana plantation, still lovingly tended by local gardeners who know every inch of this paradise. The hotel offers a range of delicious buffets—don’t miss the Creole and Indian nights, which feature some of the best food in the region.
Centered around a serene pool shaded by palms, the property boasts plenty of outdoor nooks perfect for lounging, with fantastic hiking trails just steps away. Be sure to head to the hillside bar before dinner, where local rums are poured with pride, and the panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding mountains are unbeatable. Arrive early to snag a prime spot for the sunset—it’s well worth it.
For something extra special, consider booking one of the exquisite hillside villas, some of which come with their own infinity-edge pools, offering the same sweeping views as the bar. Lakaz Chamarel is perfect for a two- or three-night stay, a sublime retreat that allows you to split your time between Mauritius’ hills and iconic beaches which are just a 10-minute drive away.
Southwest Coast, Le Morne: LUX* Le Morne, A Beachfront Paradise In The Shadow Of A Mountain
The unique location with Le Morne mountain in the background.
When it comes to beaches, Le Morne in Mauritius is hard to beat. This idyllic south coast stretch features bright white sand that meets crystalline waters, against the backdrop of the majestic Morne Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For beach lovers, this corner of the island is a true paradise, and being just a 10-minute drive to my favorite part of the island, the Chamarel hills and Black River Gorges National Park, it also attracts hiking enthusiasts eager to explore the nearby landscapes.
In the early mornings, a veil of mist envelops the mountain, lending the area a mystical ambiance that dissipates as the sun’s rays break through the clouds. The hotel blends in with this stunning setting, setting out hammocks and bean bags placed on the beach near the infinity pool, inviting guests to unwind while gazing out at the water or the island interior.
LUX* Le Morne is a serene retreat with 149 elegantly designed rooms and suites set amid tropical gardens. Accommodations range from superior rooms with views of the shimmering pool to ocean junior suites styled as Balinese chalets, featuring polished wooden floors and private terraces. The first-floor sunset junior suites elevate the experience with gabled ceilings and Jacuzzi baths, just steps from the ocean.
There’s plenty to keep guests busy like weekly cocktail shows featuring fire eaters on the beach to intimate private cinema nights and yoga sessions in a treehouse overlooking the sea, and more, bookable on the hotel app.
Guests can tuck into a tasty buffet at the main restaurant showcasing live Mauritian cooking, sundowners at the newly remodeled bar, and sip coffee with cake at the coffee shop. The hotel’s exceptional Thai restaurant offers exquisite dishes while guests soak in the breathtaking views – it’s worth booking dinner here even if you’re not a hotel resident. Homemade ice cream by the pool and toasted marshmallows over a brazier by the beach round out the experience.
South Coast, Bel Ombre: Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort, A Heritage House Close To A Nature Reserve
The sumptuous main lobby at Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort is reminiscent of colonial … [+] architecture.
First mentioned by author Bernardin de Saint-Pierre in his 1773 novel Paul et Virginie, Bel Ombre has long been part of Mauritius’ cultural fabric. Once a bustling sugar plantation, it is now a sprawling estate that has reimagined its colonial past into a carefully curated luxury retreat. The estate spans a golf course, a nature reserve, a seashell museum, a bed and breakfast and two five-star hotels, with the stately Château de Bel Ombre as the culinary centerpiece.
Once overseen by the Irish botanist Charles Telfair, the plantation closed its sugar factory in 1999 after more than 200 years of cultivation. Since then, the estate has pivoted towards a more sustainable future with aspirations of becoming a carbon-neutral destination. In fact, the Bel Ombre nature reserve, which you can visit, comprises over 2,500 hectares of protected land, 1,300 of which are recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, sheltering 80 percent of Mauritius’ endemic species.
Le Telfair is one of Mauritius’ most exclusive addresses, and greets guests in a light, open-air reception loosely inspired by Mauritian colonial plantation homes. The 158 rooms follow suit, featuring polished wooden blinds and four-poster beds, lending an air of relaxed elegance to the space.
The heart of the resort is the main pool and its beachfront restaurants, each offering panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. Even if you’re not a guest, a stop for a casual lunch at Infinity Blue—overlooking the water—makes for an easy escape.
Neighboring the Telfair, the more accessible Awali resort draws families, while inland, the Casa Lala bed and breakfast offers a quieter, more intimate experience. The estate’s nature reserve and the Château de Bel Ombre restaurant stand out as essential experiences, regardless of where you stay on the island.
Just a five-minute buggy ride from the resort, Château de Bel Ombre transports diners to the 19th century, when sugar was Mauritius’ main lifeline. One of the last remaining Creole-style plantation houses on the island, the Château de Bel Ombre, with its wraparound stone veranda is a must for dining al fresco on breezy evenings, with the estate’s banyan tree and manicured gardens as a backdrop.
Inside, polished wooden floors creak underfoot, and tables dressed in crisp white linens are scattered throughout the space. The menu draws on French-Creole traditions, offering dishes like palm heart salad and chicken cari, prepared with ingredients sourced from the island. The château’s wine cellar, with bottles reaching to the ceiling, is the pride of the house.
For a truly immersive experience, you can even book the upstairs suite—after the last diners have left, the quiet grandeur of the house deepens, and it feels as if time has stood still.
South East Hills: Ferney Lodge, A Boutique Nature Hotel
The African hunting lodge style living space at Ferney Lodge with views of the rolling hills.
Tucked away in the forested hills off the southeast coast of Mauritius, close to Vieux Grand Port, close to where the first settlers arrived on the island, Ferney is a lush estate brimming with fruit trees and a botanical garden on the grounds of a former sugar plantation. It’s alive with lots of wildlife, including the Mauritius kestrel.
In 2022, a proposed highway that would have cut through the valley was halted by the local community’s successful efforts to preserve this natural haven. Visitors can explore a small garden near a quaint white house that serves as the estate’s office, offering free access. From there, you can still see the faded name of “Ferney” on the old sugar warehouse. For a fee, you can hike the estate’s hills, which are being carefully restored to their former glory by a dedicated team of gardeners. Ferney is a popular spot for hikers and botanical enthusiasts alike.
Recently, a four-room lodge was added to the estate, offering sweeping views of the grassy hills that drop off a cliff to the sea. The lodge boasts an infinity pool and a safari-themed living area with wrap-around windows. It’s a peaceful spot, even during mealtimes, and in the winter, a fireplace adds to the cozy atmosphere, making it ideal for curling up on one of the sofas with a book.
For dining, several casual restaurants offering fresh fish are located a short drive away, like la Case du Pêcheur, but the highlight is Falaise Rouge, a fine dining restaurant led by local chef Gerald Richard. Set on a red cliff overlooking the bay of Vieux Grand Port, where a significant naval battle between the British and French took place in 1810, the restaurant showcases the valley’s local produce, minimizing imports to highlight the flavors of Mauritius. It’s a destination worth the stop, combining exceptional cuisine with a rich historical backdrop.
East Coast: Beachfront Bliss In Mauritius At Shangri-La Le Touessrok
One of the hotel beaches at Shangri-La Le Touessrok.
Perched on an east coast promontory in the local village of Trou d’Eau Douce, the buzzy Shangri-La Le Touessrok is a timeless icon of Mauritian luxury that’s been around since the eighties.
Sprawling across multiple beaches, it feels like discovering a new stretch of sand each day. A true standout though is Ilot Mangénie, a private island retreat reserved exclusively for hotel guests. Just a 10-minute electric boat ride away, it delivers a secluded, castaway experience with pristine beaches, cabanas tucked under local filao pine trees, and attentive staff catering to guests’ every whim. Accessible on foot from here, the renowned island of Île aux Cerfs beckons with its crystal-clear waters and an 18-hole golf course designed by Bernhard Langer.
Back at the main property, Le Touessrok has a lively resort atmosphere while maintaining a peaceful ambiance in its coastal chic style rooms. Some of the 200 rooms even feature their own private beaches, and the high-end pavilion accommodations feel more like private villas.
Dining options come in stunning surroundings, from modern Indian cuisine at Safran to live sushi and Yakiniku at Kushi. They are among the best on the island, making the drive over for a meal, a worthwhile experience. In the evenings, the buzzing atmosphere at Republik Beach Club invites you to relax with a cocktail as the sun sets over the horizon.
East Coast: One&Only Le Saint Géran, A Secluded Island Paradise
La Pointe beach at One&Only Le Saint Géran, which looks out onto mangrove islands.
A legend of a hotel on the island since its debut in 1975, the Saint-Géran remains unrivaled in its exclusivity and allure. It gets its name from an East India Company 1744 shipwreck just off the coast, which inspired Paul and Virginie, the 18th-century novel that has since become a cornerstone of local folklore—so much so that many on the island still believe the story of the doomed lovers it tells to be true.
Part of the One&Only collection, the hotel is not just a place to stay; it’s somewhat of a fortress of luxury where access is a privilege. Don’t expect to glide through the gates without a reservation, and you might want to arrive in something sleeker than your average rental—perhaps a well-polished Mercedes-Benz. Situated on the island’s quieter eastern coast, the property occupies a narrow stretch of palm-studded white sand, ringed by a still, lagoon-like expanse of water that creates the illusion of a private isle.
On the far shore, a fringe of mangroves marks the edge of the mainland where ther. Evenings unfold here, at La Pointe, the hotel’s waterfront bar, where the sunsets are framed by the silhouette of one of the island’s most iconic Hindu temple, Sagar Shiv Mandir, a revered pilgrimage site for Hindus in Mauritius and beyond.
The hotel’s breezy interiors feature expansive all-white rooms with understated pastel accents, that open onto views of the beach just meters away. Along the shimmering shoreline, smart cabanas with white curtains flowing in the wind, are perfectly aligned as though part of a scene from a postcard.
Meals are served oceanside in elegant, open-air restaurants, where the service is attentive but never intrusive. For all its high-end polish, the hotel strikes a balance with an easygoing, family-friendly vibe. One of the best family-friendly hotels in Mauritius, the Saint Géran has one of the best kids’ clubs on the island. There’s plenty to keep guests of all ages busy, from guided mangrove tours to impromptu fishing trips over the island’s coral reef. There’s even the option to have breakfast on a boat, drifting across waters that are so calm they might as well be glass.
East Coast: Constance Prince Maurice, In A Peaceful Cove With An Off-The-Grid Atmosphere
The Barachois bar and restaurant overhangs the water at Constance Prince Maurice.
Nearby is another east-coast gem: the Prince Maurice, which transports you to a tranquil paradise that feels a world away from everything. One of the resort’s standout features is its stunning location on the banks of a serene lake that reaches out to sea, surrounded by lush mangroves.
Enjoying a drink at the enchanting Barachois bar, with its private open-air tented pavilions hovering above the water, is truly magical. A winding path leads you through mangrove islands to this idyllic spot, enhancing the sense of escape.
The resort’s 89 suites are understated yet elegant. For those seeking an extraordinary stay, a few rooms on stilts provide breathtaking lake views and have become favorites among returning guests. The majority of accommodations are housed in charming thatched-roof pavilions, with both ground and upper floor options available, several boasting picturesque sea views. Inside, polished wooden floors, bamboo-lined gabled ceilings, and wooden blinds evoke a refined colonial charm.
The resort’s private white sand beach, a stretch of land bordered by the island’s turquoise waters, is scattered with deck chairs adorned in bright orange towels—an homage to Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, the pioneering figure in the spice trade in the Indian Ocean and the Dutch landowner after whom the island is named.
Nearby attractions, such as Bras d’Eau National Park and the lively Flacq Central Market, offer a taste of local culture and atmosphere, that mustn’t be missed. Set in the wilder east coast, Prince Maurice blends luxury, natural beauty, and historical elegance, making it an unforgettable retreat.
