Tourism & Hospitality | Saturday 7 October, 2017 12:04 am |

The resort that originally defined luxury in the Indian Ocean, One&Only Le Saint Géran, will reopen its doors 1 December 2017 following a multimillion dollar investment which will transform the legend into a modern icon, and one of the top resorts in the world. Ultra-luxury, completely redefined. In advance of the opening, One&Only has unveiled incredible new culinary experiences and the introduction of new One&Only signature concepts.

One&Only Le Saint Géran will rise anew from her private peninsula of pristine white sand, surrounded by tropical palms and azure waters. The much-loved colonial-style architecture is being lovingly preserved whilst a cool, contemporary beach inspired design will be introduced celebrating Mauritian lifestyle and architecture.   “One&Only Le Saint Géran is being completely reborn,” said Charles de Foucault, General Manager, One&Only Le Saint Géran. “We have ensured to honour what our guests have always loved, but also to dream and create incredible new experiences for our guests to discover.  The resort will continue to celebrate Mauritius and will be authentically reflected in the culinary experience of every restaurant and lounge with spices, rums and local foods fused together in new dramatic open cooking areas in what will be both theatrical and romantic settings.”

 

The resort’s new Executive Chef, Marc de Passorio from Michelin star restaurant L’Esprit de la Violette in the South of France, has completely reimagined the culinary experience at One&Only Le Saint Géran. “It was incredibly important for us to develop new concepts as well as enhance those that guests have come to love. Not only are we looking to exceed our resort guests’ expectations, but also attract island residents and visitors to the island of Mauritius who will want discover our resort through our new restaurants. A complete new journey awaits at One&Only Le Saint Géran.”

 

A celebration of the Asian influence of the island, and a nod to the namesake at One&Only Reethi Rah in The Maldives, Tapasake will be a complete new dining concept to One&Only Le Saint Géran. The restaurant’s open kitchen consists of a contemporary Asian tapas bar that will also include a new and unique signature; a chef preparing signature cocktails – a first for the island. Guests can enjoy theatre-style preparation of sushi, teppanyaki, batayaki and tandoor and share in the Spanish ‘tapas’ style of dining.  Each Pan-Asian plate will be created using western prime ingredients, from light bites to share; freshly caught and created sushi, dishes created on the Japanese Robata grill, Korean BBQ or in the tandoori oven. Tapasake also will be an incredibly romantic location for dining - the overwater restaurant is located on stilts alongside the edge of the breath-taking lagoon offering views across green sugarcane clad mountains, an Indian temple and the glowing Mauritian sunsets. The restaurant will be open for dinner from 7pm and will be available to guests of the resort as well as welcome others.   

PRIME is One&Only Le Saint Géran’s celebrated steakhouse that has undergone a complete transformation.  The modern airy restaurant, open for dinner, will retain its precious ancient flooring rescued from a 16th century French chapel, but will also embrace its wild Mauritian surroundings with a new water courtyard seating area, and an ultra-modern, industrial, butchery-inspired aesthetic. The restaurant will celebrate farm-to-fork with an emphasis on showcasing the best of Mauritius and serve the finest Angus and Wagyu beef, fresh local seafood and seasonal produce such as heart of palm, or curcuma; the source of turmeric. An impressive wine cellar with rare vintages from all over the world will provide the perfect complement to any dish with a focus on sustainable wines.  In addition, a wide selection of rum infusions will honour the Mauritian history of rum distillation. Chefs will provide entertainment as the open food preparation stations showcase their incredible skills in action. Vikash Coonjan, head chef at PRIME, has vivid and fond childhood memories of helping his mother in her kitchen and treasures the experience of cooking with seasonal local produce when at its best. He brings that passion and skill to PRIME, buying locally wherever possible and drawing on his Mauritian roots to curate incredible new dishes for guests.

 

With uplifting colour palettes and rustic, crafted furnishings, L’Artisan, is the new artisanal bakery and specialist coffee lounge providing the perfect haven to enjoy informal and light food selections and perfectly crafted, barista- poured beverages to enjoy at the resort or on the way out on an afternoon excursion. From fresh salads, to hand-made sandwiches and pastries to decadent, innovative desserts, at any time of day, guests need not worry if early-morning breakfast is missed, as breakfast can be enjoyed all day. With its perfect setting and cosy atmosphere, L’Artisan will become the La Terrasse dessert court at night. 

 

La Terrasse restaurant has been reborn closer to the azure waters of the ocean to provide even more stunning views. The experience has also been transformed with the introduction of distinctive new dining pavilions located over a pool with traditional shutters providing cooling shade. An inviting environment where one will want to linger, Chefs will be welcoming guests into their home, eager to interact as they create delicate Mauritian, Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean delicacies in front of them for both breakfast and dinner. As diners sip their cool drinks, live music will mix with the sound of tropical birdsong and waft over the water from a new stage located in the pool at the very centre of the pavilions.

 

The new Le Carré Lounge sits above La Terrasse and offers wide terraces overlooking the deep blue ocean and expansive skies and is open from 7am until 11pm. The bright and contemporary interior with locally sourced art creates the perfect place for guests to relax, read a book, enjoy a board game or play cards after dinner whilst relishing the resort’s happenings from above. A place to speak to the resort’s Head Concierge, Burty Armance who has been part of the Team for 24 years and will call Le Carré his new home, and will inspire guests with the new and exciting experiences the resort has to offer.  

One&Only Le Saint Géran has always offered a sense of exclusive seclusion on its own private peninsula with a beachfront and calm lagoon unlike any other resort on the island. A further new dining experience will take full advantage of that tranquil setting as One&Only introduces La Pointe beach restaurant at Palm Grove, at the very tip of the peninsula where guests can enjoy warm waters of the ocean or the new sparkling Palm Grove Pool, the perfect place for families to gather every day. La Pointe restaurant will be open daily from 11am until sunset, and will reflect the smooth Mauritian atmosphere, with its thatched roof pavilions, offering idyllic beach front dining. Guests can dig their feet in the silver white sands while savouring freshly grilled seafood and the catch of the day or stare to stunning sunsets enjoying their favourite signature cocktail. Chefs will bring the taste of Mauritius to their work potentially grilling on firewood or coconut to infuse intense new flavours into their dishes.

One&Only Le Saint Géran will begin welcoming guests back on 1 December 2017.  For reservations or for more information on the rebirth, please visit oneandonlylesaintgeran.com