The Residence Mauritius

The Residence Mauritius at Belle Mare is among the Indian Ocean's enduring classics — a property that opened in 1996 and has continued to define a certain vision of colonial-era luxury reinvented for the 21st century. The architecture is explicitly Edwardian colonial: whitewashed facades, wrap-around verandas, dark-teak furniture, ceiling fans in every room, and a sense of ceremony in the public spaces that feels genuinely earned rather than affected. The beach here is a prime section of the Belle Mare lagoon, with the resort occupying a 25-acre estate that extends from the reef to the inland coastal forest. Dining is a genuine highlight: The Dining Room, the signature restaurant, serves French-Mauritian cuisine that has received more awards over the years than any other east coast kitchen. The Plantation is the more casual option, a terrace of tables under mature mango trees. The spa — The Sanctuary — is housed in a separate colonial-style pavilion and offers a thalassotherapy programme alongside Ayurvedic treatments. The Residence attracts a loyal, returning clientele of European and Australasian guests who come for the combination of serious food, a perfect beach, and a hotel that feels like an old friend rather than a product. New guests discover quickly why those guests keep coming back.