Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0262 31 79 93; 40 Rue du Père Boiteau; mains €13-15, menus €26-30; lunch Tue-Sun, dinner Tue-Sat)
A
longstanding institution, Chez Noë is almost a rite of passage in Cilaos. It churns out in-
vigorating Creole favourites such as pork rib with lentils and
gratin de chouchou
(choko;
a green squash-like vegetable that is served baked). Bonus: there's an enticing, shady ter-
race in warm weather.
Le Cottage
( 0262 31 04 61; 2 Chemin des Saules; mains €13-22, menus €16-22; lunch daily, dinner Mon-Sat)
The all-
wood surrounds boast a kind of rustic charm and the dining room overlooks the Mare à
Joncs (reserve a table near the windows). Has a good repertory of palate-pleasing Creole
dishes. Downside: there's no terrace.
CREOLE
€€
Les Physalis
CREOLE, FRENCH
€€
( 0262 31 85 85; Rue des Trois Mares; mains €15-21; lunch & dinner)
A well-regarded venue, at the
Les Chenêts hotel. Sadly, the sterile dining room seriously detracts from the atmosphere.
Information
There are no banks in Cilaos.
Post Office
(76 Rue du Père Boiteau; 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, 8-11.30am Sat)
Has an ATM that accepts Visa
and MasterCard, but don't rely on it completely: it occasionally runs out of euros, espe-
cially on weekends.
Tourist Office
( 0820 203 220;
www.sud.reunion.fr
;
2bis Rue Mac Auliffe; 8.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-5pm
Mon-Sat, 9am-noon Sun)
The tourism office is particularly helpful, with multilingual staff who
provide reliable information about local and long-distance walks and dispense lists of ac-
commodation, restaurants and activities. The office has pamphlets on bus schedules in the
Cirque and sells walking maps. You can also book
gîtes de montagne
here.
Îlet à Cordes
POP 430
Îlet à Cordes is a marvellous stop-the-world-and-get-off place and you'll leave with re-
luctance. The setting is truly photogenic: wherever you look, this tiny
écart
(settlement) is
