Mauritius is celebrated for its tropical allure – turquoise waters, soft white sandy beaches and a coastline dotted with luxury resorts.
Constance Belle Mare Plage is one of the standouts. Set on one of the finest stretches of the island’s east coast, it regularly features as a “Leading Family Resort in Mauritius” at the World Travel Awards. Like most top-tier resorts, it offers the full island fantasy: four swimming pools (including one heated in winter), a string of restaurants, cocktails by the water, rattan lounge pods and endless ocean views.
But beyond the setting, service and relaxed luxury there’s one annual event that also sets this hotel apart: the Constance Festival Culinaire. This week-long celebration of cooking, creativity and competition brings a lively energy to the resort – from spirited cook-offs to the frequent conga line as chefs (much dancing and swaying), both local and international, get swept up in the camaraderie.
Each year, Michelin-starred chefs from across Europe join the festival for a programme of competitions and culinary exchange, working alongside chefs from Constance hotels in Mauritius the Maldives, Madagascar and the Seychelles.
Guests get to taste the results. For many chefs, it’s a fixture they return to year after year. We attended the 18th edition earlier this year – a vibrant, high-spirited week with plenty of opportunities to meet some of the culinary world’s biggest names.
One of them was Pierre Hermé – the “prince of pastry”, a fourth-generation pastry chef renowned for his creative flavours and meticulous technique. He has been part of the festival for over a decade and overseas one of its headline events, the Pierre Hermé Trophy. More than half of Hermé’s business (from France to Dubai and Japan) lies in macarons, which have become his signature, with elegant flavour pairings such as Ispahan (rose, lychee and raspberry) and Mogador (milk chocolate and passion fruit).
He has little time for food fads. “They’re always the worst idea. I’m interested in making a difference, finding a new taste, ingredients, techniques”.
“There is nothing worse than being part of a trend, because being in a trend means it’s a short period of time. What makes a company a brand is its longevity.” For Hermé, what sets his work apart is audacity, originality and authenticity.
As to what sets his creations and business apart, Hermé says it’s being audacious, making a difference and being authentic.
We also met three-star Michelin chef Régis Marcon, who has run Maison Marcon in Saint-Bonnet-Le-Froid for 40 years (started by his mother half a century ago). His family’s culinary story spans generations: he won the Bocuse d’Or shortly before his son Paul was born; Paul went on to win the same prize this year.
Orjan Johannessen – who won the Bocuse d’Or (arguably the world’s most prestigious international culinary competition) in 2015 – was another key figure. He runs Mirabelle on the northeastern cost of Selbjørn island in Norway, part of the family’s boutique Beckerwyc House hotel.
Back at the resort, Constance Belle Mare Plage remains unmistakably Mauritian in style – contemporary island design with thatch, stone, wood and natural materials. The property was reimagined in 2016 by Paris-based architects, giving it a fresh but grounded aesthetic.
We also visited its sister hotel, Constance Prince Maurice. More secluded and more overtly luxurious, it has a grander feel with elegant marble finishes and serene, sweeping spaces. Constance Belle Mare Plage, also a five-star resort, is more relaxed, activity driven and family friendly.
Space is generous throughout Belle Mare Plage, with low-rise buildings spread across 37 acres of tropical gardens between the lagoon and two 18-hole championship golf courses. Golf is a major drawcard, and more than half of guests play. Unlike many resorts, golf is complimentary for guests of Belle Mare Plage and Prince Maurice – a meaningful saving when green fees elsewhere run to 110 to 120 Euros per round.
Beyond the resort, the area offers catamaran trips, the colourful Flacq market, water sports, tennis, diving, waterskiing, snorkelling, sailing and a spa. Or, as I chose, hours of blissful swimming in the sea and pools.
Constance Hotels & Resorts also recently shone in the 2025 World of Fine Wine Awards, with the Blue Penny Cellar at Belle Mare Plage shortlisted in seven categories. END