After sunbathing by the beach and exploring Mauritius’ crystalline waters, there is no better way to cap the day than enjoying a few drinks with friends while jamming to the island vibe. Trust me, your vacation package to Mauritius will not be complete without experiencing its buzzing nightlife scene.
One of the best places for bar hopping is none other than Mauritius’ capital—Port Louis. Here, you can enjoy some of the best cocktails in the local pubs and bars. You can also opt for a glass of rum and coke while vibing to some live music and the traditional Sega shows which showcase the musical expression of the Mauritian way of life: joy and liveliness!
Mauritians are also avid fans of football, so bars and pubs often offer live broadcast of football matches. But if you are not a fan of that sport, you can go ahead and just groove in the dance floor. More and more hotel resorts are hopping in the trend of hosting cool beach parties organized with international DJs spinning the decks, live music shows and perfectly concocted sundowners because as they say, when the sun sets, the fun begins at Port Louis.
That said, here are the five best bars that you can visit as you pub crawl through Port Louis:
On the Rocks Lounge Bar
This lounge bar offering live music can be found in Le Suffren Hotel & Marina in Port Louis, located next to the famous Le Caudan waterfront. On the Rocks is arguably the best place to party on Friday nights as this trendy lounge bar never runs out of good music and a lively atmosphere to vibe to. You can groove to the music and dance the night away while enjoying the best cocktails concocted and served by their Brazilian bartender—Joao Rodrigues. He is very popular amongst the locals because he is known for making the wildest drinks ever!
On Friday evenings, they have a Happy Hour offering 50% off drinks from 5-7 p.m. The bar then closes at around midnight.
Lambic
Located in a 19th-century colonial building in Louis Port, Lambic is a hybrid between a beer pub, a café, and a restaurant, and is honestly one of the best gastropubs in town. They are known for their craft beers, so Lambic is a beer haven for beer lovers who want to experiment with different tastes. The pub boasts of around 136 types of imported beer, including specialties from Belgium, Newark, America, Napa, Germany and Portugal. They also serve 46 types of whiskey and 43 types of tea. Their craft beers are perfect to pair with their best-selling dish—the beer-battered fish and chips with the beer-based sauces. You can also try their delicious European and Mauritian food including the chef’s salad, Angus steak, venison steak, and fish and mussels broth.
If you are not much of a party animal and would just like to sit down, enjoy your beer, and vibe to good music while casually talking with friends, Lambic is the perfect place for you. The laid-back atmosphere will surely allow you to relax while having fun. You can also play fun beer games if you ever get bored of small talk.
Lambic opens at 8 a.m., and closes at 10 p.m., every day, except for Sundays. This is perhaps the only downside to Lambic, as it closes early. So, if you are going to go bar hopping anyway, make Lambic your first destination so you can hop on to other bars after 10 p.m.
Keg and Marlin
Situated at Caudan waterfront, Keg and Marlin is yet another pub that serves perfectly crafted beers along with scrumptious European and Mauritian cuisine. Keg and Marlin are especially known for their high-quality steaks, grilled foods, and freshly caught seafood. This is quite a laidback place with a lively atmosphere and good music. As such, it is the perfect place to chill out and enjoy a cold beer while watching live sports on the big screen. If you are not a sports fan, you can also admire a nice view of the Waterfront, the port and the sea from your seat.
The bar is open from 9 a.m.-11 p.m, except on Sundays.
Côte Jasmin Jardin Bar
Built like a half garden and a half bar, Côte Jasmin Jardin Bar is one of the most unique bars to hop into in Port Louis. It is quite a small and humble pub compared to the others, but its charming interiors, heartwarming hospitality, and mouth-watering cuisines make it a hidden gem in Port Louis. They offer trendy cocktails at the bar along with some side snacks and live music every Friday night.
The bar opens at 9 a.m., and closes at 911 p.m., every day, except for Sundays.
Santana Bar
Santana Bar is among the finest Mauritian bars serving chilled beers perfectly paired with traditional homemade Mauritian food. Topped up with the crew’s great hospitality, buzzing vibe and live band performances, this place is the perfect place to dine, drink beer, and have fun while in Port Louis.
The bar opens at 10 a.m., and closes at 7 p.m., every day, except on Sundays.
A Few Reminders Before You Hop onto the Fun
Ready to go bar hopping? Here are some things you need to know first:
Dress code
While there is no strict dress code for pub crawls, it is recommended to dress casually in comfortable clothes that you can walk around and dance in. Most people just wear a nice pair of jeans and a stylish t-shirt or tank top.
Drink Responsibly
The nightlife at Port Louis can be pretty intense, so make sure to pace yourself properly and to drink responsibly. It can be easy to get carried away and try all the inhouse specialty drinks when you are barhopping but remember that passing out will take away your ability to enjoy the rest of the night, not to mention it can be quite dangerous too, especially for women. So, the best thing to do is to know your limits and drink responsibly.
Beverage options
Each pub offers a wide variety of alcoholic beverage that you can try at your own pace. However, keep in mind that you are not required to buy drinks from each bar. You can just vibe to the music and atmosphere, try to talk to some people, dance and hop to the next bar. And if you’re not much of a drinker, don’t worry because there are also non-alcoholic options available for you. Remember, you don’t have to be drunk to have fun at these bars.
Transportation
Keep in mind that pub crawls typically involve visiting multiple bars in one night, so it is important to plan ahead for transportation. The bars are quite close by each other in Port Louis, so you can walk from bar to bar. However, make sure that you are walking as a group, especially if you are a woman, to ensure your safety. You can also hail taxis to drive you to your hotel after the bar hopping.
When The Sun Sets, The Fun Begins in Port Louis
Without a doubt, the vibrant island life in Mauritius is even more lively at night in Port Louis. Pub crawling with your friends is among the best night entertainments in the island as you will surely meet lots of new people. Whether you are aiming to make new friends, find love, or if you just want to have a small talk with some fellow travelers, one thing is certain: you will definitely have a good time here.
You will also get to try new things. If you are not a used to drinking alcoholic beverages, a pub crawl might be an excellent opportunity to expand your horizons and try out some new drinks. The pubs at Port Louis offers a variety of different alcoholic beverages, so you will surely find something that you like. Just be sure to pace yourself and drink responsibly. And if you really don’t want to drink alcohol, that is alright because there will always be non-alcoholic options available for you.
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