Shopping · Mauritius
Shopping in Mauritius
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User 72622, CC0
Quick answer
Shopping in Mauritius ranges from Port Louis's market and waterfront to duty-free malls and craft workshops; rum, tea, spices and model ships are the classic buys. Best souvenirs: Rum, Vanilla tea and Model ships.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Rum
Where to shop
Port Louis
The Central Market, Chinatown and Le Caudan Waterfront, with craft shops, a craft market and international brands.
Grand Baie
La Croisette mall and Sunset Boulevard boutiques, plus beachwear and souvenir shops along the coast road.
Curepipe
Model-ship workshops and shops selling handcrafted replicas of historic sailing ships.
Bagatelle
Bagatelle Mall of Mauritius near Moka, the island's largest mall, with local and international chains.
Markets
Port Louis Central Market
Fruit, spices, herbal teas and souvenirs, plus the island's best street food outside.
Mahébourg market
A weekly market in the south-east town with produce, textiles and snacks (usually Mondays).
What to buy
Rum
Cane-juice rhum agricole and spiced rhum arrangé from local distilleries.
Vanilla tea
Bois Chéri and other local vanilla-flavoured black teas, sold in supermarkets.
Model ships
Handmade wooden replicas of famous sailing ships, packed for travel by the workshops.
Spices and chilli pastes
Curry powders, masalas and Mauritian chilli pastes from the market and supermarkets.
Unrefined sugars
Speciality brown sugars such as demerara and muscovado, produced from local cane.
Séga music
Recordings of séga, the island's traditional music, or a ravanne drum.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Port Louis
Port Louis Central Market
The capital's Victorian iron-roofed market sells tropical fruit, vegetables, spices and herbal remedies downstairs, with textiles and souvenirs on the upper level.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Gâteaux piments, Alouda, Napolitaines and Mauritian rum. Roadside vendors and markets across the island, especially in the morning. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Baie | $$ | The island's liveliest resort town, with bars, restaurants and boat trips to the northern islets |
| Pereybère | $$ | Small, lively beach village north of Grand Baie with guesthouses and snack stalls |
| Flic en Flac | $$ | Long west-coast beach with apartments, sunsets and dive centres |
| Le Morne peninsula | $$$$ | Luxury resorts beneath the Le Morne Brabant monolith and the island's top kitesurfing lagoon |
| Belle Mare and Trou d'Eau Douce | $$$$ | Long white east-coast beaches, large resorts and boats to Île aux Cerfs |
| Blue Bay and Mahébourg | $$ | Marine park lagoon and an old colonial town close to the airport |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in MUR. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. About 10% in restaurants where service is not included, and a small amount for guides, boat crews and hotel staff, is generous.
- Greet shopkeepers with 'Bonzour' or 'Bonjour' before asking a question.
- Supermarkets sell local rum, tea and spices at much lower prices than resort shops.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February–March and June; the busiest months are December.
- January: Thaipoosam Cavadee — Tamil festival with processions (usually January or February)
- January: Chinese Spring Festival (late January or February)
- October: Divali — festival of lights (October or November)
- December: Christmas and New Year holiday peak
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, budget and shopping
Grand Baie
The island's liveliest resort town, with bars, restaurants and boat trips to the northern islets
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Mauritius?
Rum, Vanilla tea, Model ships and Spices and chilli pastes.
+Where is the best shopping in Mauritius?
Port Louis: The Central Market, Chinatown and Le Caudan Waterfront, with craft shops, a craft market and international brands.
+What are the best markets in Mauritius?
Port Louis Central Market and Mahébourg market.