If you’re eager for an immersion into Mauritian culture, even if just for a day, a visit to Port-Louis is essential. As the island’s capital, Port Louis serves as the economic, administrative, and above all, cultural hub. So, if you’re keen on delving into the lively atmosphere of Mauritius’ capital city, here’s a detailed Port-Louis travel guide covering what to see, cultural experiences to embrace, culinary delights to savor, and much more!
Best eateries and restaurants in Port-Louis
Port-Louis is undeniably the food capital of Mauritius. One can find a diverse culinary landscape ranging from street food to upscale dining establishments in the capital city. Serving as a microcosm of Mauritius’ food culture, the city offers a variety of typical Mauritian dishes. Additionally, Port-Louis is home to popular food vendors who not only contribute to the food scene but also enrich the cultural fabric of Mauritius. So here’s what to eat in Port-Louis as a traveller.
Street food
The street food scene in Port-Louis is unlike anywhere else on the island. Here, you’ll find an array of street food options such as dholl puris, rotis, noodles, dumplings, and many variations of typical Mauritian street food in the same city. Below are some best street food spots in Port-Louis:
For one of the best places for dholl puri and roti in Port-Louis, make your way to Victoria bus station and seek out ‘Chapeau La Paille’. If you are at the Port-Louis market around lunch time, another option is to try out the dholl puri and roti available in the market’s food court.
Another essential stop in Port-Louis is Alouda Pillay, located within the Port-Louis market. Alouda is a thick milk drink infused with basil seeds, available in various flavours like almond and vanilla. Usually served with a scoop of ice cream, it is perfect on a hot day in Port-Louis.
Snacks (small eateries)
You will find an abundance of small eateries in Port-Louis catering to those seeking a quick and satisfying lunch. Among these, a select few stand out. Here are the best snacks in Port-Louis.
Jim’s Snack is a locals’ favourite, Jim’s Snack is arguably the best noodles and dumplings place in Port-Louis. Here, you can indulge in a variety of dumplings, known as boulettes in Mauritius, along with fried noodles as well as noodle soup with an array of toppings.
A hidden gem in Port-Louis, Banana Leaf specialises in traditional Tamil cuisine. One must-try dish is the 7 kari’, which translates to ‘seven curries’. It comprises an assortment of vegetarian Tamil delicacies, including tomato sauces, tamarind rice, and a selection of vegetable preparations served alongside rice and ‘panacon’, a spiced lemon drink.
Singer Snack, a fixture in Port-Louis for decades, is renowned for its Sino-Mauritian cuisine. Indulge in a variety of dumplings, noodle dishes, and rice noodle specialties. Don’t miss their signature dish, the ‘Magic Bowl’, which according to many is one of the best bol ranverse in Port-Louis.
My take on this:
If you’re only in Port-Louis for a day, definitely opt for street food rather than a restaurant. The experience is not only culinary, it is cultural. You will find yourself eating dholl puri or roti standing in the sun with the locals or enjoying Jim’s Snack’s steamy dim sum in the heart of Port-Louis, surrounded by locals enjoying a quick meal during their working day.
Restaurants
If you prefer a leisurely sit-down meal, Port-Louis boasts an array of restaurants to satisfy your cravings.
For one, the city is home to the island’s only Chinatown, where you’ll find several restaurants offering incredible meals at reasonable prices, perfect for enjoying a relaxed lunch. Among the notable options in Chinatown are Canton, Lai Min, and First, among others, all offering delightful culinary experiences worth exploring.
There are several other restaurant options in Port-Louis, depending on what you want to eat.
The best place for Indian food in Port-Louis would be Namaste in the Caudan Waterfront, Mystic Masala in the Port-Louis Waterfront foodcourt, Sangam Taj in Edith and Namo India for a taste of South Indian food in Sir William Newton street.
If you fancy bistrot food in Port-Louis, you will find Cafe de la Presse, l’Entracte, or l’Artista are some locals’ favourites.
My take on this:
If you’re looking to enjoy quality, affordable food, I totally recommend Chinatown. Once again, the whole of Chinatown is a cultural experience. Most of Chinatown’s restaurants have been run by several generations of Sino-Mauritians. Canton is a local’s favourite. Don’t be disheartened by the restaurant’s unassuming facade, it has been around for a few decades and its food never disappoints.
Historical landmarks in Port-Louis
Port-Louis was the second harbour in Mauritius after Mahebourg and it quickly became the main centre for trade and economic activities. As a result, Port-Louis is home to a plethora of historical landmarks that can help you better understand the history of Mauritius.
Aapravasi Ghat
The Aapravasi Ghat is a UNESCO World Heritage site as it was an immigration depot for indentured labourers. In Mauritius, indentured labourers came primarily from India. This has greatly contributed to shaping what today’s Mauritius looks like. You can visit the site and you can also visit the museum that relates the story of the 2.2 million indian indentured labourers that went through the Aapravasi Ghat under British colonial rule.
Intercontinental Slavery Museum
The Intercontinental Slavery Museum (ISM) was opened in 2023 on the site that hosted the Military Hospital during French colonization, the oldest building of the island. The ISM aims to memorialize the history of slavery and give an insight into the colonial slave trade to Mauritius as well as the lives of enslaved people during and after slavery as well as of their descendants.
Blue Penny museum
At the Blue Penny Museum, you can observe two of the rarest and the most expensive stamps in the world, namely theBlue two-pence and the red one-pence stamps. If you are wondering which museums in Mauritius are worth visiting, the Blue Penny Museum is a strong contender even if you are not quite the philatelist. The Blue Penny museum offers much more than that, it allows visitors to delve into the historical narratives of Port-Louis and Mauritius under colonial rule through photographs and works of art.
My take on this:
If you are a bit of a history buff and museums are your main reason for visiting Port-Louis, do consider visiting on the weekends. It might even be impressive to just walk through the Place d’Armes opposite the House of Government. There are several statues along this walk that will give you a glimpse of Mauritius’ history. The Jardin de la Compagnie, named after the French East India Company, is also historial, cultural and natural must-see spot in Port-Louis.
Cultural experiences in Port-Louis
Port-Louis market
The Port Louis market is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Port Louis, offering a quintessential cultural experience for anyone looking to understand how locals live. Walk through the colourful fruits and vegetables market or the busy food court, catch a glimpse of locals going about their shopping, chatting with each other or with vendors and enjoy a quick Mauritian dholl puri or roti.
The Port-Louis market is one of the best places to shop for a souvenir for yourself or your loved ones. Whether it’s spices, local t-shirts, hand-woven baskets, tea, you will definitely find a keepsake to remember your Mauritian adventure in the Port-Louis market.
My take on this:
When visiting the craft market stalls in the Port-Louis market, do not hesitate to respectfully haggle with the merchants as they will try and sell their products at the highest price possible.
Also, do stop by the food court to try out the famous Alouda Pillay complete with an ice-cream scoop. It is a locals’ favourite and a great way to keep cool in Port-Louis’ scorching sun.
Chinatown
If you are keen to experience sino-mauritian culture, a visit to Chinatown is a must. It is the only Chinatown in Mauritius and it is home to an array of Sino-Mauritian restaurants that not only offer great food but have also been around for decades and have become an integral part of Mauritian folklore. You can also find traditional and contemporary Chinese shops selling all kinds of Chinese sweets, natural medicinal remedies for all ailments, spices, ingredients and an assortment of other Chinese treasures.
Beautiful religious architecture
Port-Louis could rightly claim the title of religious capital of Mauritius as the Catholic Cathedral, the Anglican Cathedral, the Kwan Tee Pagoda as well as the main mosque are all found in Port-Louis and all bear exquisite architecture.
The Catholic Cathedral St Louis stands as the island’s oldest church, dating back to the 1700s with a construction history spanning several periods. It was notably destroyed by a cyclone and subsequently rebuilt.
Similarly, the St James Anglican Cathedral dates back to 1850 and showcases beautiful architecture adding to Port-Louis religious tapestry.
The Jummah Mosque also originating from the 1850s, showcases a fusion of Indian, Creole and Islamic architectural styles. It is the primary mosque in Mauritius and it welcomes visitors during designated hours.
The Kwan Tee Pagoda, the oldest in Mauritius as well as in the Southern Hemisphere, boasts not only stunning architecture but also a serene outdoor space.
The great outdoors in Port-Louis
Jardin de la Compagnie
Okay, so the Jardin de la Compagnie might not offer expansive natural landscapes but its greenery does help to find respite amidst the bustling city. You can enjoy lounging on the benches of the Jardin de la Compagnie shaded by towering centenary trees and indulge in a warm roti or your take-away meal.
The garden dates back to the French colonial period and was named Jardin de la Compagnie after the French Indian Company (Compagnie des Indes). It is a focal point in Port-Louis as thousands of people cross the garden everyday. It also holds historical significance as a site of numerous protests.
Fort Adelaide
Built in the 1830s to safeguard the harbour of Port-Louis, Fort Adelaide, better known to Mauritians as La Citadelle, is strategically perched atop one of the surrounding hills. This position was meant to allow for surveillance over incoming vessels although it was never used.
Today, Fort Adelaide offers the perfect vantage point over the City of Port-Louis and is a local’s favourite to soak in the night view of the city while enjoying an ice cream.
My take on this:
Do not attempt to reach Fort Adelaide on foot during the day, especially in Port-Louis scorching sun. It is preferable to visit by car during the day, or in the afternoon or evenings.
Hiking Signal Mountain
While not the most challenging hike, Signal Mountain is an accessible option for outdoor enthusiasts in Port-Louis. A paved pathway, popular amongst locals, facilitates the ascent. Depending on fitness levels, the hike typically spans between 30 minutes and an hour. The reward? A breathtaking view of not only Port-Louis, but also the West coast of Mauritius and surrounding mountains.
My take on this:
I do not recommend walking up during the day, especially if it is sunny as the pathway is not sheltered, especially if you’re visiting during the summer months. Afternoons are the best time to visit because they are cooler and Signal Mountain is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset from. In November, December and January, the pathway is lined with colourful flamboyant trees making for a truly dreamy hike up.
Conclusion
For anyone looking to experience a little of Mauritius’ culture, Port-Louis is an absolute must. With our list of top restaurants and food vendors, historical and cultural landmarks not to miss and nature spots to find some rest from the busy city, you now have everything you need to make the most of your trip to Port Louis and discover all the best things to do as a traveller. So pack your walking shoes, your adventurous spirit, an empty stomach and get ready to make some memories!
