Places to Eat in…
Madagascar
Ocean 501
A beachfront gem where the scent of charcoal and sea air mix together. I ordered BBQ chicken skewers served with a mound of buttery mashed sweet potatoes, and it was one of those rare meals you think about long after your plate is empty.
Chocolaterie Robert
Stepping into this shop feels like walking into a cacao-scented dream. Every piece is made in Madagascar from locally grown beans, and the variety is endless—dark, milk, filled, spiced. The chocolate melts the second it touches your tongue, leaving behind a silky finish that makes it impossible to stop at just one piece.
L’Affiche
Equal parts French brasserie and lively music venue, L’Affiche serves up rich, bistro-style plates alongside the thrum of live rock on Friday and Saturday nights. One minute you’re savoring perfectly seared fish with a glass of wine, the next you’re tapping your foot to the guitar riffs drifting through the air.
Club Nautique
This is where food meets leisure. The burgers are big, juicy, and indulgent—best enjoyed after a swim in the lap pool. I brought my goggles and spent warm afternoons gliding through the water with my Norwegian friend, Gro, the smell of grilled meat wafting from the kitchen. Add in the tennis court, children’s playground, and even karate lessons, and it’s as much a day-out destination as a restaurant.
El Barco
Once a brothel, now a splash of color and rhythm, El Barco has a New Orleans feel—walls covered in jazz photos, vibrant paintwork, and a hum of conversation. The French-inspired food was excellent, even when the entire restaurant went dark during a power cut. TIA (“This is Africa”): you laugh, adapt, and keep eating in the dark.
Darafify Beach Restaurant
Right on the sand, with sea breezes drifting over your table, this is the perfect place for a lazy afternoon. Their Fresh beer—less than 1% alcohol—tastes more like a citrusy soda, making it dangerously easy to sip as you watch the sun sink toward the horizon.
Yanzhen Restaurant
A cozy spot serving generous plates of Chinese comfort food. The garlic chicken noodles come steaming, fragrant, and perfectly coated, while the char siu pork is tender and caramelized at the edges.
Epigasy Bakery
Right in the heart of downtown, this French bakery pulls you in with the smell of butter and warm bread. The croissants flake perfectly in your hands, the tarts are jeweled with seasonal fruit, and every bite tastes like it belongs in a Paris café.
La Veranda
Inside a refined hotel setting, La Veranda delivers French cuisine with a Malagasy twist. I ordered tender zebu with vegetables, washed down with a lemonade that somehow tasted like bubblegum—unexpected, strange, and delightful.
Namaste 501
This Indian restaurant is a warm, spice-scented haven. The butter chicken is rich and creamy with just the right heat, perfect for scooping up with soft, garlicky naan fresh from the tandoor.
Gelateria Italiana
A sweet escape for crew members craving something cold on a hot day. The gelato is creamy, refreshing, and dangerously addictive—mango for bright, tropical tang, cherry for rich, jammy sweetness.
Super U
A bustling grocery store where you can find everything the “ship shop” doesn’t carry. The aisles are a mix of French imports and Malagasy staples, and wandering through feels like a treasure hunt for comfort foods from home.