Sujoy Dhar | @indiablooms | 25 Apr 2022
IBNS/It was on the day I was checking out that I learned that Veranda Tamarin is a surf hotel with a surf school since this uber-cool boutique property is on the only beach in Mauritius where you can surf in the absence of coral reefs under the water. I would spot the surfers on the beach silhouetted against the twilight sky walking back to their retreats with their surfboards.
I cannot surf. But what excited me during the stay at the boho-chic Veranda Tamarin was unwinding at the rooftop infinity pool bar (which is ideal for a sundowner) overlooking the Tamarin Bay, the small walks, lazing in a hammock, and the live music in the evening at the Crazy Fish Restaurant & Bar. I loved the locally crafted interiors of the rooms with a very earthy touch. This is also the best place to stay if you want to go on dolphin watching (or swimming with the dolphins) in the sea.
Veranda Tamarin is set in a vibrant village of Tamarin overlooking the mythical bay of Tamarin with a laid-back vibe that is ideal for families as well as those wanting to slow down a bit. But this is also one hotel for avid watersports lovers, surfers, and adventure-seekers. The river fits kayaking and stand-up paddling activities.
Veranda Tamarin is not a five-star property. But it packs something else. It is peaceful and like living in a community. The hotel is the ideal starting point to explore the West Coast of Mauritius and encounter locals.
Accommodation:
The hotel has 116 rooms including two rooms for disabled guests. Among the room categories are- Comfort Room, Family Unit, Superior Room, and Privilege Room. The rooms are painted in yellow and white with polished concrete floors. The cozy beds are highlighted by muslin drapes hanging from the ceiling.
While Comfort rooms accommodate two people and look out onto the garden or the mountain, the Family units can accommodate two adults and a child from 12 years old or three adults. Spacious and comfortable, the room is equipped with a mezzanine ideal for a child or an adult.
The Superior Rooms can accommodate two adults and a child over 6 years old or three adults and overlook the swimming pool. Equipped with a private terrace on the first floor or opening directly onto the tropical garden, the Superior room is a balance between comfort and relaxation.
The Privilege rooms can accommodate two people and offer a view on the bay of Tamarin! Ideal for a couple, this room is equipped with a large double bed with mosquito net, an LCD screen, Wi-Fi, a safe, a minibar, and a desk. Privilege customers can enjoy free daytime access to the rooftop bar “View”
Food, Music, and View
I had a very gratifying gastronomic experience at Veranda Tamarin. And I loved their desserts.
Ye!Man is the hotel’s main restaurant where both local and international dishes together give you a fairly wide choice. They rightly claim that you can sit down at one of the sharing tables, amidst surfboards and vintage photos of Tamarin, and watch the Chefs at work in the open kitchen. I loved their international breakfasts. You can also enjoy a Mauritian snack at their pool bar and restaurant Tribu.
But the Crazy Fish Bar is the main bar with all the beach vibes. It offers a selection of salads, snacks, fish & chips, burgers during the day and sharing platters in the evening with daily live music by local artists. Jazz nights are on Thursdays.
During my stay, I would spend evenings relaxing at their rooftop bar which offers a panoramic view of Tamarin Bay. Rums, cocktails, and fresh fruit juices are on the menu.
Also not to be forgotten is Kas Dal (Grocery), a kiosk near the hotel entrance with tropical charm and a selection of “street food”, for a tasty Mauritian break during the day.
Veranda Tamarin also has a spa- Seven Colours Wellness Spa- in a retro atmosphere.
Explore the Region
As I said before, the hotel is the ideal starting point to explore the West Coast of Mauritius.
The hotel is ideal for watching and swimming with spinner and bottlenose dolphins in a speedboat tour of the Black River coast.
The traditional salt pan visit is also another attraction here. This century-old tradition of salt-making can be explored here just walking a few meters as the Tamarin Salt Pans (Les Salines of Tamarin), the oldest Salt Farm in Mauritius, is right here.
Other places to be explored from here are Chamarel Colored Earth, which is the seven-colored earth of Chamarel in the village of Chamarel in the countryside.
Le Morne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site connected to the history of Mauritius and slavery, is located in the southwest of the island.
Well, do check out their Explorer Program that packs a lot for the travelers ranging from street food tours to coffee roasting to salt pan visits, hiking, kayaking, and more.
