Experiencing the Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita

The first time I saw the Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita was from a helicopter tour during my first trip to Mauritius. Widely recognised as one of the most luxurious resorts in Mauritius, the Four Seasons Mauritius comprises 136 villas spread out across extensive grounds on the mainland as well as an island in the lagoon. The view of the sprawling resort, with its thatched-roof villas and stunning beaches, was nothing short of spectacular.

On this, my second trip to Mauritius, I was very excited to have the opportunity to stay there as I’m a huge fan of the Four Seasons brand. I smiled as I walked through the breezy lobby. The unique Four Seasons signature was visible from the first second: a laid-back, contemporary feel with a smattering of bright colours and striking artwork against a background of warm, natural tones. Elegant but not showy, and always welcoming. Walking into a Four Seasons Hotel or Resort always feels like returning to a home I wish I could have! This resort was no different. I was immediately met by welcoming staff who made me feel like an old friend returning.

Garden Residence at the Four Seasons Mauritius

The check-in was swift and I was then picked up with a buggy that took me past meticulous gardens to my villa. The villas were all spread out with a clever mix of walls, bushes and trees ensuring total privacy for the guests.

Garden Residence in photos

I gasped as I stepped into the three-bedroom Garden Residence villa. First of all, it was HUGE, something that was not apparent from the outside. A large living and dining area opened out into an equally large patio with a plunge pool that seemed to spill out onto the massive lawn. There were three spacious bedrooms, each with a big en-suite bathroom (with a bath-tub and indoor and outdoor showers!) and walk-in closet. There was also an office corner and a kitchen. The villa measures a whopping 288 square meters with a further 1,150 square meters of outdoor space! My first thought: “OMG! I don’t want to ever leave this place!!!”.

After a quick, refreshing dip in the plunge pool – though it was the winter season (Mauritius is in the southern hemisphere which means their winter is during the northern hemisphere’s summer), the temperature hovered around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) – I headed to the Spa for a treatment.

Read about things to do in Mauritius and the ultimate Mauritius itinerary

The Spa

The Spa consists of a series of bungalows perched over the lagoon. Each bungalow is self-contained with treatment and dressing rooms, as well as a shower and lounge, for individuals or couples. The consistency and quality of service of the Four Seasons brand were evident here as well.

Upon arrival, after settling for the signature treatment, I was given a choice of teas to choose from, background music in the treatment room and treatment oils. The massage itself was top-notch and despite the fact that I’d just had a massage several days earlier, the therapist managed to find and unravel knots in my back I never knew existed!

A wondrous culinary experience

That evening, I was invited to dine at Beau Champ, one of the resort’s four delectable restaurants, at the Chef’s Table. We sat at the table with a view of the open kitchen.

Chef Nicolas, the Executive Chef, joined us and introduced himself. Our culinary experience kicked off with a petite dessert to awaken our senses. This was followed by a gorgeous Chinese-Mauritian crab broth with dumplings.

Our next course was an entertaining and colourful affair; we sat there in amazement as Chef Nicolas created an Indian-Mauritius salad for us… with a pair of tweezers! The colourful salad was accompanied by a Vindaloo dressing and a biryani rice tuile. Playful and oh so tasty!

‘Zebra Lobster’

The following course was another surprise: Chef Nicolas’ ‘Zebra Lobster’. I’d never heard of a ‘zebra lobster’ and Chef Nicolas chuckled as I mentioned this. He cleverly colours a scrumptious piece of lobster meat to make it look like a zebra! Haha! The result, coupled with clams, scallops, shrimps and orange-carrot puree was a delicious, visual delight. This was followed by a fabulous platter of five Mauritian desserts. It was a lovely evening and I truly enjoyed the wondrous culinary experience!

A starry night

I returned to the villa and sat in the garden. It was a clear night and the sky above looked like a dark, velvety blanket sparkling with the light from countless stars. The light haze of the Milky Way, with its high concentration of stars, stretched out to the horizon. Aside from the pounding of the ocean in the distance, I was surrounded by complete silence. I’d seldom felt this privileged.

Time at the pool

The next day, after an excursion around the island, I spent some time at the resort’s stunning infinity pool at the edge of a glorious, white sandy beach. Even at the pool, service was top-notch, with cold towels and refreshments appearing seemingly out of nowhere. That’s what service should be like: attentive but unobtrusive.

I left the Four Seasons Mauritius (check rates at Booking.com) after two unforgettable nights in that amazing villa. As you can imagine, I was sad to leave. I would’ve loved to stay longer and experience the other restaurants, join one of the snorkeling tours, cycle around the resort’s extensive tropical gardens or simply laze on the patio of that villa. Alas, I had to leave but I hope to return one day to, arguably, my new favourite Four Seasons property in the world (FS Bora Bora is a close second)!

Read about reasons to visit Mauritius and my Mauritius helicopter tour.

Note: this post was brought to you as a result of the #MyMauritius blog trip, created and managed by iambassador in partnership with Create, AHRIM, Mauritius Tourism and Air Mauritius. As always, all opinions are mine, and mine only.

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