À la Belle Étoile

À La Belle Étoile, Mauritius

Named for the starlit skies above it, À La Belle Étoile unfolds along a quiet stretch of the island’s east coast, where the trade winds keep the lagoon glassy and cool. Whitewashed bungalows with private plunge pools face the water, connected by pathways lined with hibiscus and casuarina trees. Mornings begin with fresh papaya and warm coconut bread on a terrace overlooking the reef; afternoons call for kitesurfing lessons or a slow paddle out to a nearby sandbank. As dusk falls, the hotel’s rooftop lounge lives up to its name — low lighting, rum-based cocktails, and an unobstructed view of the Southern Cross rising over the ocean.