Mauritius: a girl's guide to the best shops, hotels and restaurants For great views and traditional cuisine - think home-style grilled fish and calamari - nab a table on the upper balcony at Chez Tino. From there, you'll look out over the whole bay and the Trou d'Eau Douce public beach. chez-tino.restaurant.mu Hotel restaurants, open to all, are well worth trying. The Plantation, at The Residence, specialises in mixing traditional Creole, Indian and Asian flavours, reflecting the island's diverse cultural influences. theresidence.com/mauritius Drink C Beach Club was the first club on the island and hosts both locals and tourists, who come for the international DJ nights. If you're not up for late-night dancing, it's still worth a visit - head instead to its poolside Chill lounge bar. cbeachclub.mu Shop The main shopping centre on Mauritius is Le Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis, which stocks lots of major brands. For handmade jewellery and local gifts try the craft and textile market nearby. caudan.com Be sure to check out one of the food markets - the daily one on Queen and Corderie Streets in central Port Louis is stunningly photogenic. Arrive before breakfast to beat the crowds. Do Explore Mauritius's colourful past at Beau Plan, an old sugar mill converted into a museum, where you'll learn about the island's colonial history and multicultural present. aventuredusucre.com If you're a true tea lover, head to the plantations of La Route du Thé, where you can take a tour through acres of fields and see how the tea is picked, dried, cut and flavoured. saintaubin.mu Take a boat out to the Rochester Falls - Mauritius's must-see waterfall - and then on to Ile aux Cerfs for picture-postcard, crystal-clear turquoise water and white sands. Grand Bay Travel & Tours can arrange a trip. gbtt.com Go with: Seven nights" half board at The Residence, flying with Air Mauritius, costs from £1,320 per person with turquoiseholidays.co.uk