Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Raphia
(6 rooms) Mandrosoa; 22 452 97;
m
033 12 191 73;
e
hotelraph-
ia@moov.mg
;
www.hotelsraphia.com
.
En-suite rooms colourfully refurbished. Tennis
court & trampoline! Restaurant serves Indian & French food. €€-€€€
MotelauTransit
(16bungalows&6rooms)Antanetibe,Ivato;
m
0331133831.Near
airport. Basic but good value. Meals available. €-€€€
WHERE TO EAT
HOTEL RESTAURANTS
Most of the better hotels serve good food. Expats and Mala-
gasy professionals favour the Colbert.The all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet is goodvalue (but
beware of the health risks of eating cold buffets - see
Click Here
). There are three restaur-
ants at the Colbert: the smart
Taverne
specialises in french gastronomy;
La Fougère
with
its outside terrace is great for lunch; and
Le Cellier
is a more intimate space for evening
dining with good wine.
Tana Plaza
has an excellent restaurant with live Malagasy music in the bar. On Avenue
de l'Indépendance there is the popular
O! Poivre Vert
(
22 213 04
), next to Hôtel de
France, and a short walk away is the
Sakamanga
restaurant: crowded and lively, with ex-
cellent food, though almost exclusively European clientele. Book ahead (
22 358 09
).
Finally,
La Varangue
(see
Click Here
) is rated by resident Lorna Gillespie as the best of
all Tana's restaurants: 'sophisticated surrounds, exceptionally well-presented food, well-
trained and professional staff'.
SPECIAL TREAT
VillaVanille
[143 B1] Pl Antanimena; 22 205 15; 11.30-23.00. A fine century-old
TanahousespecialisinginCreolefood.Music(traditionalMalagasy&jazz)everyevening.
'Exceptional food, wine, service & music. The lady owner very much in evidence, talking
to every guest & making sure that everything was A1' (Daniel Morgan).
ChezMariette
[143D4]11RueGeorgeV,Faravohitra; 2221602;
f
2227719.Beau-
tifully prepared Malagasy food, traditionally served. Described by one visitor as 'caught in
a time warp' but I loved the elegant stylisation when I last ate there.
Tranovola
Rte d'Ambohipo, Ambatoroka; 22 334 71/249 84;
www.tranovola.com
.
This is the place to go for an end-of-trip treat. Superb & unusual Malagasy cooking & mu-
sic. Manager Elyane Rahonintsoa ensures an evening to remember. Malagasy buffet Sat
eve with traditional
valiha
musicians; piano bar with happy hour Fri eve.
