GlobalSpa
12-Aug-2025
Let’s take you on a culinary journey of Creole cuisine in Seychelles.
To truly know a destination, follow its flavours.
In Seychelles, every dish tells a story of migration, of heritage, of the islanders’ deep-rooted connection to the land and sea. This island nation is a rare melting pot of culinary influences- found nowhere else on earth- shaped over centuries by African, British, French, Indian, and Chinese traditions. The result? A tropical cuisine that is unmistakably Seychellois!
Image Credits- Tourism Seychelles
From silky notes of vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon to the bold aromas of lemongrass, coconut and allspice, Seychelles’ kitchens are alive with a combination of herbs, spices and soul called the Creole cuisine.
Seafood, freshly sourced from the surrounding Indian Ocean, brings everything from grilled red snapper and curried octopus to salted fish wrapped in banana leaves. These are often served with pumpkin, papaya or mango chutneys, fried or grilled eggplant. These also make for tangy sides to pork, chicken, and beef. With rice as the ever-present base, meals are soulful and packed with flavour.
Image Credits- Tourism Seychelles
Whether you’re dining barefoot under the stars at a luxurious resort or digging into a homestyle fish curry at a family-run beach café, make it your mission to explore Seychelles through its cuisine. From elaborate interpretations to humble Creole classics, here’s your guide to the island’s most flavourful tables.
Local & Real Flavours of Seychelles
Image Credits- Tourism Seychelles
On Mahé, head to the legendary Marie-Antoinette Restaurant in Victoria, one of the oldest on the islands, still serving Kathleen Fonseka’s unchanged Signature Creole Menu since 1972. Don’t miss the crispy eggplant nuggets with sesame honey drizzle and the rich chicken coconut curry. For a more rustic, homely experience, head to Jardin du Roi near Anse Royale, a former plantation house surrounded by cinnamon trees and the aroma of slow-cooked Creole curries. Here, have the best Banana Fritters- light and crunchy. For a laid-back, open-air feast, Boat House in Beau Vallon is a beachfront icon. Under the shade of takamaka trees, its two-story wooden structure serves grilled tuna steak, chicken curry, and creamy garlic prawns. For an Italian-Creole fusion, dine at La Perle Noire known for lobster spaghetti, seafood risotto, and grilled fish. Down by the South-Eastern coast, Surfers Beach Restaurant offers casual dining with your feet in the sand, where octopus salad and flavourful curries take center stage. Nearby, Maison Marengo outside the Domaine de Val des Près craft village offers truly traditional dishes like the Bouyon Blanc. For something quirky, Maria’s Rock Café near Baie Lazare lets you grill your own seafood or steak on volcanic stones inside a granite boulder hideaway.
Image Credits- Tourism Seychelles
On Praslin, Mabuya Restaurant at Anse Lazio tempts with beachside grilled seafood and tangy sorbet, while Café des Arts pairs refined service with artistic presentation where you cannot leave without trying the Thai fish cakes. Les Rochers, a hidden gem perfect for a romantic dinner, serves grilled catch of the day and vanilla-laced fish curry right by the sea, and Lobster Bay specialises in seafood platters, grilled lobster, and thermidor. Over on La Digue, Chez Jules is an off-the-grid treasure serving octopus in Creole sauce and a special house fish dish, while Fish Trap Restaurant by the harbour charms with passionfruit mojitos, grilled parrotfish, and sunset views. For a dining experience steeped in history, Grann Kaz on Silhouette Island invites you into the restored home of the 19th-century Dauban family, where every dish is homegrown, homemade, or locally sourced. And if you truly want to celebrate Seychelles through its flavours, plan your visit around the Seychelles Tourism Festival in September, when the Victoria Local Food Fest comes alive with cooking demos, pop-up kitchens, and stalls dishing out everything from brochettes to cassava cake under the rhythm of live music and island spirit.
Gourmet Exquisite Dining
For those seeking gourmet experiences on the plate, Seychelles offers a collection of luxurious dining venues where world-class chefs meet island-sourced ingredients in beautiful settings. Overlooking the great bay of Anse La Mouche, Moutya at Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts, brings uninterrupted views of turquoise waters while you try their Millionaire Salad of smoked marlin and King snapper wrapped in banana leaf.
Image Credits: Kempinski Seychelles Resort
At Windsong at Kempinski Seychelles Resort, be barefoot and sip on a tropical cocktail and explore a fresh fish market-style experience- select your catch and savour it grilled, curried, or rolled into the island’s finest sushi, including the must-try Kari Zourit (octopus curry). At Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, Mahé Restaurant offers a romantic terrace where you’ll dine to panoramic ocean views while enjoying dishes crafted from the freshest local produce. At Constance Ephelia, explore a world of flavours across five unique restaurants and six bars. This is where Cyann stands out with its contemporary gourmet fusion. Across the channel on Praslin, Raffles Seychelles adds a hands-on element to fine dining with open-air culinary classes. Roll up your sleeves and learn to cook piquant octopus curry and pan-seared Creole fish alongside expert chefs.
Image Credits- Tourism Seychelles
On nearby Desroches Island, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is a food lover’s paradise. At Lighthouse, expect dry-aged meats, tuna tartare, and fresh-caught seafood grilled and smoked to perfection, all enjoyed with sweeping 180° views of the Indian Ocean and a citrusy lemon tart to finish. Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas offers “Whatever-Wherever-Whenever” dining, which includes floating breakfasts, candlelit beach dinners, and no menus, just bespoke gourmet journeys curated by your personal butler, blending global flair with island freshness. Further elevating the experience, Six Senses Zil Pasyon on Félicité Island combines wellness-driven cuisine with dramatic dining settings. From treetop pods to oceanfront grills, the menus showcase fermented, plant-based, and locally sourced ingredients. Chef’s Table evenings and garden-to-table cooking sessions here are a testament to sustainable flavours. Finally, for the pinnacle of elegance, Cheval Blanc Seychelles weaves French haute cuisine, Japanese nuance, and Creole soul across its five restaurants; here, tropical light dances through airy spaces like Sula, where Mediterranean and Creole nibbles are shared all day long.
Seychelles doesn’t just serve food but shares stories, traditions, and heritage with every bite you take. From fine-dining restaurants in luxury resorts to soulful Creole dishes at local gems, booking a trip to this tropical island will bring flavours for every palate.
Image Credits- Tourism Seychelles
