Constance Prince Maurice, Mauritius

Constance Prince Maurice is the jewel in the crown of Constance Hotels & Resorts in Mauritius, and it deserves its place among the island's very best five-star addresses. The setting is remarkable: 60 acres of lush tropical gardens, with a natural fish reserve and mangroves on one side and a calm lagoon on the other. The resort feels completely at one with its surroundings, and the sense of arrival is immediate, whether you approach along the long driveway or drop in by helicopter. From the first moment it is clear this is somewhere out of the ordinary.

The architecture is elegant and characteristically Mauritian, blending soft, airy forms into the landscape with natural materials throughout: wood, sandstone, marble and thatch. Inside, the style is classic and refined, calm rather than showy. Some touches lean towards the traditional, but everything is kept in immaculate condition and the prevailing mood is one of quiet, confident luxury.

Guests stay in a collection of intimate two-storey villas dotted through the gardens, which gives the resort a genuine sense of space and privacy. Junior Suites are generous at around 70 sqm, with superb beds and high-quality linens. A handful of suites and villas are built on stilts above the lagoon, a real rarity in Mauritius, and there are also 12 private villas: three on stilts and nine beachfront with their own pools. At the top of the range, the 350 sqm Princely Villa offers exceptional space, privacy and service for larger families or groups.

Food is where Prince Maurice really excels. Standards across the resort are consistently high, both in the kitchen and on the floor. Archipel delivers refined buffet dining through the day and a la carte menus in the evening, while Asian serves polished Oriental cuisine. The bars are elegant spots for a drink either side of dinner, and the famous Wine Cellar, home to around 25,000 bottles, is an experience in itself. Sommelier-hosted tastings come highly recommended. The real showstopper, though, is Le Barachois: a floating restaurant on pontoon decks within the mangroves, reached along a softly lit walkway. The setting is atmospheric and the menus exquisite, making dinner there genuinely unforgettable.

The facilities are just as strong. There is a heated, tranquil pool that is excellent for proper lap swimming, a comprehensive spa, and complimentary activities including yoga, cycling and water sports. The kids' club is discreetly run and well regarded. Sea swimming can depend on the tide, but the peaceful lagoon setting and superb pools more than compensate.

Golfers are exceptionally well looked after, with access to the Legend and Links championship courses. Both are immaculately kept and backed by outstanding service. The Swing Clubhouse and the much-loved Deer Hunter restaurant at Legends are destinations in their own right, and worth a visit even for those who do not play.

A member of Leading Hotels of the World, Constance Prince Maurice is elegant, serene and sophisticated. It suits couples, honeymooners and discerning travellers looking for refined luxury, exceptional dining and a strong sense of place. It is one of the most complete and accomplished resorts in Mauritius, and absolutely belongs on any shortlist of the island's finest.

Constance Prince Maurice is an exclusive resort on the north-east coast of Mauritius, spread across 60 hectares of private grounds with tropical gardens, secluded stretches of white sand, a sheltered lagoon and a natural fish reserve. Some villas and suites open directly onto the beach, while a selection of rooms are raised on stilts above the fish reserve.

Accommodation

Junior Suites are set in thatched buildings housing no more than eight suites each, with a bedroom and sitting area, a bathroom with bathtub, separate shower and WC, plus a furnished terrace or balcony. In total there are 51 suites on ground and first floors, some overlooking the sea and others the gardens, with eight offering direct beach access. A further five Junior Suites stand on stilts above the fish reserve, and interconnecting options are available.

Family Suites combine a main en-suite bedroom with a separate sitting area and a children's room featuring bunk beds and its own bathroom. These are found on ground or first floors with sea or garden views.

The individual thatched Villas include nine with direct beach access and a heated private pool, while three villas on stilts above the fish reserve are without pools. Each villa has a separate living room with dining and seating areas, a bathroom with whirlpool bath and an extra guest shower and WC, alongside the usual suite facilities.

The Princely Villa is a secluded beachfront residence combining two Junior Suites and one Villa around a private patio, totalling 350m2. It has three separate terraces looking over the ocean and lagoon, two heated private pools, living and dining areas, outdoor spaces and a kitchenette for service staff.

Restaurants and Bars

Three restaurants cover a range of cuisines and settings. L'Archipel is the main restaurant in the hotel's central building, overlooking the pool and beach with partly open-air seating; it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a la carte dishes carrying Mauritian influences alongside themed buffet evenings.

Le Barachois is a floating seafood restaurant set across five decks within the natural fish reserve, reached by a wooden walkway. Open for dinner, it looks out over the lagoon and the mountains beyond. The Asian Restaurant, beside the Laguna Bar, offers sushi, sashimi, maki, dim sum and other Asian specialities at lunch and dinner.

Three bars cover the day and evening. The Laguna Bar overlooks the pool and beach with cocktails, and there is a Juice Bar by the pool during the day. The Lotus Lounge Bar, next to L'Archipel, offers a snug spot for pre- and post-dinner drinks, while the Barachois Floating Bar serves evening aperitifs within the fish reserve.

The wine cellar adjoining L'Archipel holds more than 25,000 bottles and around 1,900 references from across the world, with a dedicated tasting area for up to 10 guests and cheese and delicatessen specialities to accompany tastings.

Facilities and Activities

On land there are two floodlit tennis courts, bicycles and a practice putting green. Tennis lessons and golf are charged additionally, and guests can play the two 18-hole courses at Constance Belle Mare Plage, the Legend and Links courses, around five minutes away, with a complimentary shuttle between the resorts.

Water activities include complimentary Hobie Cats, waterskiing, windsurfing, kayaks and pedalos. For an additional charge there is fly fishing, boat excursions, catamaran cruises, deep-sea fishing, parasailing, kitesurfing, guided stand-up paddle excursions, snorkelling and scuba diving.

The Constance Spa has treatment rooms, a heated pool, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool and hairdressing facilities, with massages, facials and body treatments on offer, and a fitness centre open 24 hours.

The Coconut Tribe kids' programme features outdoor adventures, creative learning, wellbeing and environmental themes, with a swimming pool and indoor games, and babysitting available at an additional charge.