Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of, and a small breakfast terrace. The swimming pool in the tropical garden is a great ad-
dition when it's stifling hot. It's within walking distance of Cap Méchant.
L'Étoile de Mer
( 0262 37 04 60; Cap Méchant; mains €10-18; lunch)
The food here is a crowd-pleasing mix of
Chinese dishes, Creole staples and
métro
classics.
CHINESE, CREOLE
€€
CHINESE, CREOLE
€€
Le Cap Méchant
( 0692 85 39 28; Cap Méchant; mains €11-18; lunch Tue-Sun)
Le Cap Méchant is mobbed at
weekends but almost deserted on weekdays. It serves great
carris
, chop sueys and
porc
au palmiste
(pork with palm hearts).
Le Pinpin
( 0262 37 04 19; Cap Méchant; mains €12-17; lunch Thu-Tue)
There's sure to be a dish on the ex-
tensive menu that suits your palate. Very popular with weekending families.
CHINESE, CREOLE
€€
WORTH A TRIP
GÎTE DE THÉOPHANE ET YOLAINE
For a slice of authentic local life, make a beeline for
Gîte de Théophane et Yolaine
( 0262 37 13 14, 0692
87 25 43; Route Forestière, Basse-Vallée; dm with half board €45) . This rural paradise, lost in the middle of the
forest, is accessible on foot (about 20 minutes) via a scenic
sentier forestier
(forest dirt track) or by 4WD only
from the Route Forestière (signed at the junction, about 5.5km above the village of Basse-Vallée). Digs are in six-
bed dorms, each with its own bathroom. At dinner the owners will treat you with the freshest island ingredients. It
can't get more Wild South than this. Book early.
Le Baril
Le Baril is the last settlement before St-Philippe. The main attraction here is the
Puits des
Anglais
(the Wells of the British), a splendid saltwater pool that has been constructed in the
basaltic rock. It's mobbed at weekends but you'll have the whole place to yourself during
the week.
Sleeping & Eating
Le Pinpin d'Amour
B&B
€€
