Have you ever imagined dining on the water, to the rhythm of the lagoon’s nightly lapping? A gourmet menu with five-star service, accompanied by the tinkling of glassware and the refinement of period décor? From the pontoon of the 20° Sud hotel in Pointe aux Canonniers, board the oldest motorboat in Mauritius, the Lady Lisbeth (1929), and turn your dreams into reality!
I tested it for you… and the experience is yours to live… and relive! Behind the huge oak door of the Relais et Châteaux address, as luxurious as it is confidential, Denis and his colleagues carefully welcome each of the four couples – only eight reservations are possible on board! Individually, guests join the sommelier in the cellar to choose the nectar that will accompany their meal, based entirely on seafood.
At 7.30pm, it’s time to meet Lady Lisbeth and find out what she’s all about! Ladies, leave your pumps at home; gentlemen, forget your closed shoes: on the boat, everyone is barefoot. We meet up with Denis (decades of loyal service to the hotel), Julio, Captain Karl and Chef Kevin. The staff guide us to the small upper deck, where we slump onto comfortable cushions right on the deck. Needless to say, shorts, pants and long dresses are preferable, to avoid any disappointment when getting up.
The boat pulls away, Karl cuts the engine. Under the stars, we sip a glass of prosecco, a punch, a glass of wine… all accompanied by excellent canapés. With a sense of humor and good humor, Karl and Kevin explain the safety instructions, the course of the evening… and how the toilets work! Everything is done to help guests relax and enjoy the moment. The peace and quiet, the twinkling lights of Grand Baie and the pleasant exchanges with our neighbors for the evening make for a magical moment.
It’s time for dinner, and we head downstairs to take our seats. The four tables are reminiscent of the Orient Express; polished wood, tablecloths and fine crockery augur well for the evening. With professionalism, the adorable Denis serves each couple the wine they’ve selected, before starting the choreographed dinner. I’m deliberately not going to reveal any of the succulent dishes that delighted our palates, to leave you with the surprise… And what a surprise it was! Four courses and a dessert – whose research and mastery were matched only by the refinement of the setting – delicately followed one another.
The crew take their time, and leave it to us too, to allow us to savor the moment and preserve its essence. Then Lady Lisbeth starts up again, heading slowly inland, guided in the darkness by Julio’s torchlight and sharp eye. At 11.15pm, everyone disembarks, puts their shoes back on and promises to be back!
All-inclusive dinner: 5500 rupees/pers. The boat can be privatized.
http://www.20degressud.net/fr/
263 5000
