Kaz'Ameublement – La Table de Chamarel

La Table de Chamarel sits on a clifftop terrace above the Chamarel waterfall valley in the Black River district, and on a clear day the view extends from the waterfall below to the coast at Baie du Cap on the horizon. It is, without question, the most dramatic setting for lunch on the island's mainland. The restaurant is attached to the Chamarel Rum Distillery, and a tour of the distillery before lunch is almost obligatory — the agricultural rum made here is among the best in the Indian Ocean, and the tasting session primes the palate beautifully for what follows. The menu is traditional Creole: wild boar curry (sanglier) slow-braised with island spices, smoked marlin with pickled vegetables and cassava chips, octopus vindaye made with turmeric and mustard seeds, and a dessert plate of Chamarel chocolate truffles and vanilla ice cream using the estate's own extraordinary vanilla. The rum punch on arrival, made with the distillery's agricultural white rum and fresh lime, is the best on the island. La Table de Chamarel is busy at midday with tour groups coming from the Seven Coloured Earths nearby, so book early or arrive when the groups depart around 2pm for a more peaceful experience.