The Residence Mauritius

A Colonial-Plantation Mood on Belle Mare's Reef-Sheltered Bay

On Belle Mare bay, on Mauritius's east coast, The Residence runs a consistent colonial-plantation mood through its 135 rooms and 28 suites: warm sandy tones, solid wood furniture and marble bathrooms rather than the glass-and-white palette of a modern resort. The reef offshore keeps the private beach shallow and clear for most of the year, and the resort's pools, a four-section lagoon-style pool and a separate 180-square-metre outdoor pool, give guests a reason to stay on dry land when they want it. Nightly turndown service and an on-request private butler extend the plantation-era feel into the daily routine rather than leaving it to the architecture alone.

Why It Works

We chose this resort because the colonial theme runs all the way through, not just in the lobby photographs. The Plantation restaurant serves seafood and Creole dishes directly on the beach, The Verandah keeps lunch casual by the pool with wood-fired pizzas, and live Sega dance performances run several nights a week, tying the dining programme to the island's own culture rather than a generic resort format. The 600-square-metre spa adds genuine depth, with eight treatment rooms plus a separate pavilion set at the edge of the lagoon for guests who want total quiet. Add a private beach, a reef that keeps the water calm, and a reputation built specifically around weddings and honeymoons, and the positioning holds together end to end.

Why This Location

Belle Mare village sits a ten-minute walk from the resort, close enough for a change of scenery without leaving the quiet of the private beach behind. The surrounding coastline holds several more beaches worth a short trip, and the resort arranges regional tours and sea fishing for guests who want to leave the grounds. An 18-hole golf course sits about 17 km away, and the airport is roughly 35 km with a shuttle available, a straightforward transfer for an east-coast stay built around rest rather than nightlife.

Fast Facts

• Price: €€€€ (Luxury)

• Vibe: colonial-plantation, romantic, reef-sheltered beach resort

• Rooms: 135 rooms and 28 suites, including Ocean Front, Ocean View, Sea View and Garden View categories

• Best For: honeymooners, couples, weddings, families with a kids' club

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: the Sanctuary spa pavilion set apart on the edge of the lagoon

• Dining: The Dining Room (international buffet and a la carte), The Plantation (beachfront seafood and Creole), The Verandah (poolside lunch, wood-fired pizza), a bar with live Sega performances

• Amenities: 600 sqm spa with eight treatment rooms, four-section lagoon-style pool, separate 180 sqm pool, private butler on request, kids' club, meeting rooms for up to 30 guests

• Attractions: Belle Mare village a 10-minute walk away, golf course about 17 km, regional tours and sea fishing arranged by the resort

A Spa Built Around A Lagoon-Edge Pavilion

The 600-square-metre Sanctuary spa mixes Asian techniques with Carita beauty rituals across eight treatment rooms, but the detail that sets it apart sits outside the main building: a separate pavilion positioned at the edge of the lagoon, away from the rest of the resort's traffic. A sauna and steam room are free to use for any guest, not reserved for a treatment booking, which keeps the spa feeling like a resort amenity rather than an upsell. Pair a treatment with an early walk along the private beach before the rest of the resort wakes up.

Dining That Moves From The Beach To The Pool To A Sega Night

The Plantation anchors dinner directly on the beach with seafood and Creole dishes, while The Dining Room covers the rest of the evening with an international buffet or a la carte menu depending on the night. The Verandah keeps things casual by the pool through the day, running salads and wood-fired pizzas for guests who do not want to leave the water. Several nights a week, the bar's live Sega performances turn dinner into something closer to a cultural evening than a standard resort dinner service, with local rum alongside the cocktail list.

What To Know Before You Book

The resort leans toward couples and honeymooners, though a kids' club and family-friendly room categories keep it workable for families too. Meeting rooms for up to 30 guests mean it also takes small corporate groups outside peak romantic season. The golf course is a short drive rather than on-site, so pack a plan for transfers if golf is part of the trip, and book the lagoon-edge spa pavilion ahead for a guaranteed slot.