IT’S an East African island discovered by the Arabs where they speak French.
The locals celebrate Chinese New Year, and there are as many churches as there are mosques and temples.
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“It’s a fruit salad of culture,” my driver Rouben tells me as I arrive in the tropical paradise that is Mauritius.
And that’s reflected in everything from the music to the architecture — and, of course, in its food.
Yes, Mauritius has breathaking beaches and warm weather.
But there is so much more to this Indian Ocean gem than the beautiful coastline.
Rise from your sunbed long enough and you’ll discover how centuries of immigration have created mouthwatering cuisine.
Arab and Malay sailors visited Mauritius as early as the 10th century, but it wasn’t explored properly until the Portuguese arrived 500 years later.
It was then settled by the Dutch before becoming a French colony, then British, when labourers from India, China, Mozambique and South East Asia arrived to work in the sugarcane fields.
One of the most popular delicacies is gateaux piment, or chilli bites.
These small, fried balls contain yellow split peas, onion, green chillies, fresh herbs, dried spices and salt.
They taste a bit like falafels, though hotter and less dry, and they’re downright delicious.
I get to sample how Mauritians make them at the home of Concita, who invites holidaymakers into her house several nights a week as part of Attitude Hotels’ experiences that connect guests at their eight hotels with locals.
After plying me with home-brewed rum cocktails, she showed me how to knead the mixture by hand.
To get the perfect crispy texture you need to punch your thumb into the ball before dropping it into bubbling hot oil.
Another must is salmi poulet — a stew of chicken marinated in cinnamon, clove, chilli and red wine. It’s unlike anything I’ve tried before, with a deep, almost Christmas-like flavour and meltingly tender meat.
The global influences continue in boulettes.
Similar to dim sum, these steamed dumplings are made from tapioca flour.
The most common is packed full of chayote — a green, pear-shaped vegetable.
And one of the best places to get boulettes is Cafe Shanghai in the capital Port Louis.
The no-frills joint is so full of locals on their lunch breaks I can barely get a table, so it’s best to visit off-peak if you can.
Continue on your street-food tour of Port Louis and grab a refreshing cup of Alouda for as little as 50p.
This creamy, milkshake-like drink is an uber-sugary treat.
Those with a sweet tooth should also check out the Chinese bakeries.
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I highly recommend Mister Chu for the Chu Chong Gao.
These chewy rice cakes, made from rice flour, sugar, sesame and whatever flavoured jelly centre you choose (from strawberry to pineapple), are a bit like mochi and incredibly moreish.
Wild turtle
All this eating is thirsty work, so leave time (and room) for a trip to Takamaka Boutique Winery, which overlooks Mare aux Vacoas — the largest reservoir in Mauritius.
Despite its French influence and production methods, there are no grapes in sight. Takamaka actually makes its vino using lychees (picked, peeled and pitted by hand), and is one of the only places to do so worldwide.
Chinese in origin, the lychee flavour is subtle, but definitely present, with a bit of peach and apricot thrown in.
One of the most popular delicacies is gateaux piment, or chilli bites
Of course you can’t go to a tropical island like Mauritius and not enjoy the water.
Snorkelling from the beaches of Lagoon Attitude Hotel on the north coast of the island, I watched as a wild turtle explored the coral reef just a few feet beneath me while parrot and trumpet fish surrounded me on all sides.
Hours later, as I kayaked further down the same northern coast from the Zilwa Attitude Hotel, flying fish leapt over the tip of my boat.
At one stage, there must have been hundreds of them jumping three feet out of the water in what looked like a choreographed show just for me.
While they were the ones that got away, fish should definitely be on the menu at some point — specifically dorado, or mahi-mahi, which I tried at the Zilwa Attitude’s private island.
It couldn’t have been further from the spicy stews that I’d tried previously, but it was just as tasty.
Simply barbecued with a light char, the sweet, flaky white fish was some of the best I’ve ever had.
The pineapple salad served alongside it was the perfect accompaniment — though I suppose the fact I was eating it on a sunny beach with my feet in the sand certainly helped too!
GO: MAURITIUS
GETTING / STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ half-board at the 3.5H Friday Attitude hotel is from £1,017pp including flights from Gatwick on June 2, 2026.
The same dates at the 4H Sunrise Attitude cost from £1,200pp.
Includes British Airways flights with 23kg baggage and transfers.
MORE INFO: See hotels-attitude.com
LOADS OF ATTITUDE WITH TOP ECO CRED
WITH scores of luxury hotels, Mauritius is a honeymooner’s dream – but it serves every budget.
Attitude has eight sustainable hotels on the island, ranging from the family-friendly Friday Attitude (from £130 per night) to the mega-luxury Paradise Cove (from £300 per night), so there really is something for everyone.
I had my own villa with a private pool at the 4H Sunrise Attitude (from £150 per night) – an adults-only hotel with great eco-credentials.
And at the 4H family-friendly Zilwa Attitude (from £175 per night) I enjoyed an impressive suite with a stunning garden view.
Not only is there zero single-use plastic, more than 50 per cent of the food served is local and the spa products are all natural and vegan.
Almost all the furniture, art and items on sale in the shop are made on the island, and there is free, reef-safe mineral sunscreen available.
Guests are also encouraged to “experience the real Mauritius” and support the locals financially.
From self-guided street-food tours in Port Louis to having dinner with a local family and sega music nights, Attitude has numerous Otentik (authentic) activities for couples, families and solo travellers.
