Fun and entertainment Mauritius

Judging by the number of people in the place as soon as the sun goes down, this is one of the HQs of the North, one of those trendy places where it's hard to find a place to eat at the weekend. Its success is based on three key factors: a friendly owner, a conceptual decor (here in red and black with cans recycled as tables and chairs, and cheerful lanterns) and, above all, a SITE - facing the sea, in the open air, in rooftop mode. The kitchen concocts small dishes at all hours, but the main attraction is the salsa evenings on Wednesdays, the blind test on Thursdays and the DJ nights at weekends.

Facing the harbor, the boats and the Caudan, set on the water's edge in chic, trendy fashion, this is the capital's hippest lounge space: a place that's sometimes zen, sometimes convivial, depending on the mood and the day of the week, and where Mauritian golden youth willingly loosen their ties in a spirit of sharing that's reminiscent of the Pink Socks movement. Buoyed by an ambiance that's both seaside and urban, the shakers get busy, the conversations liven up, the bartenders mix sultry cocktails... and the evening melts like crushed ice.

The red lacquered grand piano, a major decorative element, is the icon of this place, and also the "border" between the outside part of the bar, very lounge under its stretched canvas, and the inside section, design and fun, with its flat screens and its red billiards. It is one of the trendiest places in Mauritius, quite busy on weekends, more cocooning the rest of the time, with a fire-breathing fountain and large sofas where you can lounge on the terrace. Nice selection of cocktails and wines, and a small menu of dishes to nibble without necessarily sitting down.

With its 30-meter-long infinity pool set in a semicircle on the lagoon horizon, it's the most beautiful rooftop in Mauritius! As magnetic by day, when it plunges into a panoramic view of the blue bay and the northern islets, as it is at sunset, when the music swells, the shakers get busy and the night shimmers like a glittering, glamorous, musical clamor (DJ). Semi-submerged tables and deckchairs, lounges with sound systems, everything is state-of-the-art, not to mention the decor and the Indian and Levantine cuisine.

It is an institution of Port Mathurin and our eternal favourite: a place where all the generations of the island, all the social categories, all the families, have met and still meet, and where you can immerse yourself in the holy of holies of the local culture. Take a ticket, cross the courtyard and immerse yourself in the authentically offbeat décor and atmosphere of this unlikely dance hall, both on Friday and Saturday nights when it's the young people who come to party until late, and on Sunday afternoons for the senior citizens' ball.

Impossible to miss the thematic entrance, in the shape of a ship's bow, of the most touristic casino in Port Louis! Located in the harbor, in the heart of the perpetually vibrant Caudan Waterfront shopping area, the machine room, devoid of any natural lighting as if to blur the space-time markers, welcomes players as early as 10 am. To play bigger and more "strategic" games, wait for the poker room to open in the evening and the gaming room which offers black jack and roulette. Bar on site.

It's one of Grand Baie's must-see institutions. For 30 years, its music scene has been attracting locals and travelers alike, in a clever mix of styles, ages and nationalities. Partly in the open air, under a giant flamboyant, in the tempo each evening of live bands and/or DJs, we sip exotic beverages (great cocktail menu) in a cool cosmopolitan atmosphere. Upstairs: Blue Note, a more intimate jazz club. Adjacent: The Grill restaurant for the hungry, otherwise a tapas menu on site.

It's not just a traditional casino with a wide choice of slot machines and the usual gaming tables that welcome addicts from 10 am in a subdued atmosphere where no daylight is shining. It is also a local institution whose reputation extends beyond the borders of Mauritius thanks to the poker tournaments that are organized there and in which some of the great players of this world sometimes participate. Nota bene: for players at an advanced stage of addiction, casinomauritius.mu is operational 7 days a week and 24 hours a day!

The Shotz nightclub features a stage for live concerts, a dance floor, a large terrace, themed evenings and a varied musical program. The Oasis Beach Bar is more of a lounge, with an outdoor dance floor, swimming pool, bar with pool tables and table soccer, and a terrace restaurant serving Mauritian and international cuisine, including mixed salads, curries and duck confit.

For several years now, it has been the leading disco in the north of the island: high-tech soundproofing system, top-notch sound system orchestrated by top-notch DJs, nice clientele in the prime of their lives (20 - 25 years old on average - selection at the entrance). We appreciate the lounge area where you can have a drink or a cocktail "in peace", and the 2 dance floors flanked by their respective bars (one indoor, the other outdoor) with a different musical program. Theme nights and live bands. At its best from midnight/1am!

You're immediately drawn in by the decor, the energy of the team and the energy of this huge, danceable, multi-space resto-bar-lounge, which aims to be a place of sharing and pleasure, cool during the day and festive on weekend evenings when the music scene blazes to the rhythm of the shakers. More than just a restaurant, N'Joy is a platform for young artists and headliners. The quality programming is as eclectic as the clientele, with travelers and locals mixing in a great musical atmosphere - live concerts and DJs.

In Labourdonnais, in a retro-vintage atmosphere that evokes the time when people enjoyed the art of conversation and letter writing (yes, the real ones, the ones on paper that were written by hand), The Post Box is a chic and warm lounge bar where you can smoke a cigar, sip wine, champagne, and deliciously collectible cocktails... to be accompanied by high quality snacks. Distinctive sign: a bright red mailbox where you can post gracefully and anywhere in the world one of the postcards waiting in the pile!

Even if you have to enter the Shanti Ananda hotel to access it, the Rum Shed is camped at the back, a bit like those village rum sheds where Mauritians meet at the end of the day. We find the bricks and mortar side in a bohemian chic version: tables and chairs made of recycled objects, walls made of salvaged wood, floor made of planks or sand. You sit on a burlap sack, grab a handful of peanutsand explore the rum menu with some 250 references from 36 countries! For dinner, a variety of dishes including good grilled meats.

On the coastal road, the one for mid-week and weekend revelers, this is the other trendy club in Grand Bay with Insomnia, cosmopolitan and quite crowded on Fridays and Saturdays - especially late when the bars close. One of the few clubs also open during the week. No standard musical program, it varies according to the DJs in residence and those invited, including some names of the international night. On Facebook, you can catch the program and the dates of the theme nights. Several bars on the spot.

This was the first bowling alley to open in Mauritius (others have since followed, notably in the Bagatelle and Cascavelle malls). It features eight lanes, four pool tables and a large lounge bar serving a choice of drinks and cocktails. Rain or shine, it's a great place to meet more Mauritians than travellers. The musical atmosphere and lighting effects give the whole place a festive air. The friendly staff are always on hand to offer service and advice. Very busy at weekends.

It's not just one of the few restaurants willing to serve late on weekends, but also a bar-lounge in a pleasant setting, set back from the busy road and partly in the open air - wooden tables and chairs under umbrellas, decor made from salvaged objects, sand in the outdoor areas... it's like a piece of "beach" just a stone's throw from the beach! The menu offers a choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, wines, shooters, spirits... to accompany salads, pizzas, Creole dishes and more. Happy Hours from 4pm to 8pm, 7 days a week, and live music on Friday and Saturday.

The harbor area is home to two cinemas showing the latest international releases: Mciné Port Louis with its three brand-new screens (2 of which can show 3D films); Star Caudan, also with three screens, including a Premium room. This is reserved for 24 VIPs per screening, who enjoy excellent comfort conditions: a lounge for a pre-screening drink, deep seats that can be converted into beds with comforters and pillows on request, and a selection of treats and snacks to enjoy during the film.

This impressive bar is the highlight of the Anno 1743 restaurant, itself the nerve center of the restored Balaclava ruins. Staircases and a stone wall lead from the old powder mill to the adjoining distillery, where a majestic "rum library" backs onto the walls of yesteryear. Wherever you look, on either side of the sublime copper distillation column and high up to the ceiling, you'll find the largest collection of local rums, exclusively from the 6 active distilleries in Mauritius. Tasting sequence.

Equipped with the latest technology in terms of layout, connectivity, acoustics and lighting, this superb auditorium can accommodate 430 spectators in a modern, elegant and comfortable venue. In the heart of the active and vibrant area of the harbor and Caudan Waterfront, it is THE venue for shows and events in Port Louis. Several conference and exhibition spaces that can be fully modulated complete the ensemble and can accommodate groups for various receptions. Also on site: restaurant-bar l'Entracte.

In a style that oscillates between Irish pub and African lodge, this is the liveliestSportsBar-nightclub in the area, as convivial indoors as in the garden. Equipment and soundtrack in symbiosis, for festive customers: dance floor, light shows, giant screen... On weekends when there are themed evenings or major sports broadcasts, it's packed! You can hum along on Wednesdays, swing till late on Fridays and Saturdays, listen to a live band, or grab a beer from the Beer Garden's vast selection.