Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa

The sushi was the standout for me, fresh and mouthwatering, easily the best I've had after years of eating sushi. There's plenty to choose from on both the wine list and food menu, and prices are reasonable. Service was cheerful and they were happy to accommodate what you needed. The restaurant is right on the beach in Grand Bay/ PAC, and although it's upstairs indoors, it's a welcome spot when it's hot and you can still see the bay. Five stars overall, and the place I'd eat if I were in the north of Mauritius.

We used to eat at B Restaurant at least twice a month as Mauritius residents, and our last visit on 28/02/2020 was heartbreaking. The service and food had gone from what we considered a five-star experience to a one-star one. The management, chef and service staff had all changed, and the result was bad. The menu used to be original, varied and seasonal; now it felt like yet another dull menu trying to offer everything without doing any of it well. There was basically nothing for vegetarians, let alone vegans. My palm heart salad had no real taste or character, and my husband's calamari tandoori tasted and felt as if it had just come from the freezer. It was paella night, but as people who know paella well, we can say the seafood fried rice served to us couldn't pass for paella. Service was the reason we came back, and now it's below zero. The waiters didn't seem trained on the menu or customer service, never mind etiquette. I'm writing in the hope the hotel's management wakes up and acts, rather than just putting future customers off. You've lost two regulars who used to recommend you whenever we could. I don't think we'll go back, even to give it a second chance. Good luck.

The staff were the real strength here: polite, knowledgeable, interested in how your day was going, and always willing to help. The spa was excellent value, parking was free, and the food was tasty and good quality, even gourmet. The sushi restaurant and its chef were excellent, though meals cost a lot if you're not all-inclusive. There's a good range of free watersports equipment, free boat rides across the bay at set times, and free bikes. It's a small hotel rather than a big commercial resort, on the quieter, windier side of the bay. That's nice if you want to get away from the busy town centre, but harder without a car, though the hotel can arrange taxis. I don't think it deserves five stars, perhaps four. After staying at the lower-rated 3* Veranda Tamarin, I thought its facilities and room were better. Only the sea-view suites are in the main hotel building; the rest are across the road in a separate building. The gym is independent, about a five-minute walk away. I had a number of issues in my upgraded sea-view suite. Most got fixed, but I shouldn't have had to keep dealing with them, and eventually I stopped reporting them. The room felt worn and tired, and although it looks good in the hotel photos, the finish didn't feel five-star. Mine faced the restaurant and cleaners' office, so it was extremely noisy. I'd try for a room on the other side or on the second floor. It also wasn't good value for money for me. I stayed at the lower-rated, cheaper Veranda Tamarin and Solena Beach, Belle Mare, and found both ten times better.

We'd happily come back to this fabulous hotel. The rooms were clean and spacious, the staff friendly, and it had everything we could wish for. Breakfast and dinner at the restaurant were excellent, and a free shuttle boat ran to Grand Baie three times a day. Top place to stay.