La Belle Maurice

SO/ Sofitel Mauritius

Bel Ombre · Savanne

5 starsStandard

SO Sofitel Mauritius is at Bel Ombre, on the south coast of Mauritius, in the Savanne district. Rated five stars. It has ninety-two units: eighty-four suites and eight villas, set amid lush gardens, a few steps from the beach. The whole was designed by the architect Lek Bunnag, and the decorative pieces were created for the hotel by the couturier Kenzo Takada.

Rooms
92
Categories
3

Room categories

  • Eighty-four suites, in two categories: SO Suite and SO Family Suite
  • Eight villas, in three categories: SO Beach Villa, SO Family Beach Villa and SO VIP Beach Villa
  • Every unit: free Wi-Fi, decorative pieces created for the hotel by Kenzo Takada, a private garden, terrace and patio, an outdoor shower, access to the beach through the tropical gardens, an in-room safe, a BOSE sound system, the brand’s MyBed, in-room dining and the brand’s own butler service

The hotel at a glance

Rooms
92
Restaurants
Three: Le Flamboyant, above the infinity pool, continental and American breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners, in an open yet intimate space of traditional wood and stone; La Plage, the Mauritian table which doubles as a bar, seafood specialities and tapas drawn from local produce; and Takamaka Riverside, on a terrace facing the lagoon and the Jacotet river, snacks through the day and regular chef’s tables of Mauritian cooking in the evening
Bars
Le Takamaka Bar, signature cocktails in a laid-back atmosphere. La Plage is both restaurant and bar
Pools
An infinity pool, and an outdoor pool for children
Spa
The SO/ SPA: six treatment rooms, two hammams, a yoga pavilion for private or group classes, and treatments enriched with local fruit and spices
Golf
Heritage Golf Club, five minutes away, with eighteen-hole courses; golf costs extra
Beach
The beach at Bel Ombre, south coast, reached through the tropical gardens from every unit
Kids club
The Kids Villa, free for children aged 3 to 12: indoor and outdoor playgrounds, outdoor pool. Connecting rooms available and baby-sitting on request, at extra cost
Sports and activities
Water sports: snorkelling, stand-up paddling, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing, SO/ FIT: gym with recent equipment, and outdoor tennis, At extra cost: electric bike on a guided excursion, and golf on the nearby eighteen-hole courses, Nearby: the Bel Ombre nature reserve five minutes away, kite surfing spots twenty minutes away, the Chamarel seven coloured earth and the Bois Cheri tea factory thirty minutes away, Tamarin forty-five minutes away
Internet
Free, in the rooms and by internet access

What sets it apart

The signature is twofold: the architecture of Lek Bunnag, which lets spaces flow from inside to outside, and the creations of Kenzo Takada, inspired by the hibiscus flower, which give the hotel its palette. Every unit has its private garden, terrace, patio, an outdoor shower and access to the beach through the tropical gardens. The villas range from the SO Beach Villa to the SO VIP Beach Villa, by way of the SO Family Beach Villa. A butler service particular to the brand accompanies the stay.

The mood

Three tables and two bars. Le Flamboyant overlooks the infinity pool: continental and American breakfast buffets, themed buffet dinners, in an open yet intimate space of traditional wood and stone. La Plage is the Mauritian table, which doubles as a bar: seafood specialities and tapas drawn from local produce. Takamaka Riverside looks onto the lagoon and the Jacotet river: terrace snacks through the day, and regular chef’s tables of Mauritian cooking in the evening. Le Takamaka Bar serves signature cocktails in a laid-back atmosphere.

Highlights

  • Only ninety-two suites and villas, in luxuriant gardens
  • Architecture by Lek Bunnag, decor created for the hotel by Kenzo Takada
  • A private garden, terrace, patio and outdoor shower for every unit
  • A butler service particular to the brand
  • Infinity pool
  • Takamaka Riverside, facing the lagoon and the Jacotet river
  • Spa with six treatment rooms and two hammams, and a yoga pavilion
  • Heritage Golf Club five minutes away

Good to know

  • The Kids Villa is free for children aged 3 to 12; baby-sitting is on request and costs extra.
  • The yoga pavilion takes both private and group classes.
  • The electric bike and golf cost extra; non-motorised water sports are included.
  • The south coast is wilder and windier than the west: the kite surfing spots are twenty minutes away.
  • Connecting rooms exist, useful for a family not taking a villa.

Getting there

The hotel is at Bel Ombre, on the south coast. The airport is fifty minutes away, Heritage Golf Club five minutes, the Bel Ombre nature reserve five minutes, the kitesurfing spots twenty minutes, the Seven Coloured Earth of Chamarel thirty minutes, the Bois Chéri tea factory thirty minutes and Tamarin forty-five minutes.

In the journal