The Verdict
L’Explorateur is the gourmet restaurant of La Maison 20 Degres Sud, the boutique hotel on the water at Pointe Malartic, Pointe aux Canonniers, a short drive from Grand Baie. It is the only Relais & Châteaux property on Mauritius, and the restaurant is its centrepiece, open to the sea.
Chef Sanjeev Purahoo cooks around the island and the Indian Ocean: a Creole-style fish salad with chilli on the a la carte, a six-course Lobster Symphony for a set occasion, and a caught-that-day sushi spread ordered in advance. A la carte plates run roughly 1,000 to 7,000 Mauritian rupees plus tax.
The Kitchen
Chef Sanjeev Purahoo leads the kitchen at L’Explorateur, cooking Mauritian and Indian Ocean produce with French method. The a la carte signature is a Creole-style fish salad with chilli, a plate that reads the island plainly; for a longer meal the kitchen builds a six-course Lobster Symphony around local crayfish and lobster. A caught-that-day sushi spread can be arranged with notice, and the menu shifts with what the boats land. A la carte courses run roughly 1,000 to 7,000 Mauritian rupees before the 15 percent tax, putting a full dinner firmly in occasion territory.
The Room
L’Explorateur sits on the seafront at La Maison 20 Degres Sud, a small Relais & Châteaux hotel at Pointe Malartic on the Pointe aux Canonniers headland west of Grand Baie. Tables face the water, and the property runs two further settings for a price: La Table du Chef, a kitchen table for up to four, and a sea-to-table set dinner for eight aboard the boat M/S Lady Lisbeth. The mood is intimate and quietly formal, built for couples and milestone meals rather than a crowd.
Best for a Proposal
Book L’Explorateur for a proposal or an anniversary, because the seafront room, the Relais & Châteaux service and the lobster menu give the evening real weight. Ask for a table at the water’s edge, or reserve the kitchen table or the boat dinner for something rarer. It is built for two people marking an occasion, not a casual group night.
Not For
Not for travellers after a cheap seafood shack or a quick beach lunch. This is a Relais & Châteaux dining room where a full dinner runs into the thousands of rupees, the pace is slow, and the set lobster and boat menus need booking ahead. Skip it if you want casual, fast or budget.
Reservations
L’Explorateur takes reservations through La Maison 20 Degres Sud, and the Lobster Symphony, the kitchen table and the M/S Lady Lisbeth boat dinner each need booking in advance. A la carte courses run roughly 1,000 to 7,000 Mauritian rupees plus 15 percent tax, so budget accordingly. The hotel sits at Pointe Malartic on the coastal road; dress is smart-casual and reservations are essential in season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is L’Explorateur worth it?
L’Explorateur is worth it for a seafront occasion dinner at Mauritius’s only Relais & Châteaux. Chef Sanjeev Purahoo cooks Indian Ocean seafood with Creole and French flavour, and the lobster menu and water-edge tables suit a milestone. A full a la carte dinner reaches several thousand rupees plus tax, so it is a special-occasion choice rather than a casual one.
What should I order at L’Explorateur?
Order the Creole-style fish salad with chilli from the a la carte, the kitchen’s clearest island plate, and the six-course Lobster Symphony if you want the full set menu. A caught-that-day sushi spread can be arranged with advance notice. The menu changes with the daily catch, so ask chef Sanjeev Purahoo’s team what the boats brought in.
Where is L’Explorateur in Grand Baie?
L’Explorateur is the restaurant of La Maison 20 Degres Sud, on the seafront at Pointe Malartic, Pointe aux Canonniers, a short drive west of Grand Baie village. The dining room and terrace face the water, and the hotel also runs a kitchen table and a boat dinner aboard the M/S Lady Lisbeth. Reservations are needed in season.
How much does dinner at L’Explorateur cost?
A la carte courses at L’Explorateur run roughly 1,000 to 7,000 Mauritian rupees, with a 15 percent tax added, so a full dinner reaches into the thousands per person. The six-course Lobster Symphony and the boat dinner are priced as set experiences and must be booked ahead. It sits at the high end of Grand Baie dining as a Relais & Châteaux table.
Also in Grand Baie
Explore the full Grand Baie dining guide, or compare it with Chinese Garden. See our seafood and fine dining guides, and the best restaurants for a proposal or an anniversary.