Must-see restaurants in Madagascar

  • Mad Zebu

    Western Madagascar

    The ‘crazy zebu’ is the most incongruous find in dusty Belo, possibly in all Madagascar. Dishes seem to come straight out of a Michelin-starred…

  • La Varangue

    Antananarivo

    One of the best addresses in the city for real gourmet cuisine, La Varangue serves an elaborate melange of French gastronomy and Malagasy flavours. Meals…

  • Coin du Foie Gras

    Madagascar

    This hillside restaurant just south of the village of Behemjy gets busy at weekends with people coming for one thing and one thing only: foie gras …

  • La Rizière

    Madagascar

    For gastronomic fare at average prices, make sure you book a table at La Rizière. The restaurant is a working culinary school and the chefs and waiters…

  • Toko Telo

    Antananarivo

    Run by Landy, the teacher at Tana Kitchen cooking school with which this restaurant shares premises, Toko Telo is our pick to try expertly crafted…

  • Nerone Ristorante Italiano

    Antananarivo

    Tana's best Italian restaurant is one of those places you'll find yourself coming back to time and again. Artful Italian cooking of pasta, pizza, meat and…

  • Le Saka

    Antananarivo

    Striking the perfect balance between gastro French and straightforward local cooking, Le Saka is a Tana institution. The restaurant is housed in a…

  • La Table d’Alexandre

    Nosy Be

    For a decadent lunch on a day trip around the island, stop at Alexandre’s. The debonair French chef here serves exquisite cuisine in a dining room that…

  • Chez Madame Chabaud

    Western Madagascar

    Small, intimate and oh-so-delicious, Chez Madame Chabaud is a Majunga institution. Christiane (the original Madame Chabaud’s daughter) prepares a divine…

  • Chez Jenny

    Madagascar

    Hands down the best restaurant in town, Chez Jenny is a winning combination of colourful decor (including some captivating Zafimaniry wood carvings),…

  • Lokanga

    Antananarivo

    In a stunning setting whichever way you look – the 19th-century building or the city views from the terrace – Lokanga serves a mix of Malagasy and…

  • Pizza Liberta

    Southern Madagascar

    Arguably the best pizza in Madagascar's south, this fine little place, run by the amiable Luigi, does real thin-crust Italian pizzas, with all the usual…

  • Savanna Cafe

    Madagascar

    With lovely views from the terrace, a warm welcome from the Cameroonian owner Paul Roger, Savanna Cafe is a terrific choice at any time of day. The…

  • Le Papillon

    Nosy Be

    Highly recommended by locals, Le Papillon is the place to eat (and be seen) in town. It is set in a beautiful, old, art-filled colonial house with a…

  • Sharon

    Madagascar

    This cheap and cheerful eatery heaves with young locals every night of the week. It serves the best brochettes (kebabs) in town, cooked on a street-side…

  • Résidence du Betsileo

    Madagascar

    The owner of this gently old-fashioned, small-town bistro is a maestro in the kitchen as he sizzles, boils and fries delicious and authentic French…

  • Chez Marceline

    Fort Dauphin (Taolagnaro)

    Many locals' pick for the town's best restaurant, Chez Marceline combines assured international cooking, local ingredients – the grilled fish or zebu…

  • Chez Mama

    Nosy Be

    For a true Malagasy eating experience, try Chez Mama, located on Ambatoloaka’s main street. Mama buys her ingredients at Hell-Ville’s market every morning…

  • Kudéta

    Antananarivo

    Playing on the region’s reputation for political instability may not be very PC, but it really would take a coup d’état to unseat this stylish bar…

  • Cafe du Musée

    Antananarivo

    This excellent place next to the entrance of Musée de la Photo has soft lighting, assured cooking and friendly service. The menu is predominantly French…

  • Pâtisserie Colbert

    Antananarivo

    Around since 1946, this excellent patisserie is a popular meeting place for local businesspeople and a great place for breakfast, a quick lunch or an…

  • L'Orient

    Antananarivo

    Fabulous pan-Asian fusion in a casual cafe setting make L'Orient a real find. Dumplings with ginger, creative salads and terrific rice and noodle dishes –…

  • Chez Mariette

    Antananarivo

    Superchef Mariette Andrianjaka has cooked for notables as diverse as Paloma Picasso and Prince Albert of Monaco during her long career. These days she…

  • Grill du Rova

    Antananarivo

    Not content with having one of the loveliest locations in town (just 100m from the Rova, with great views), Grill du Rova serves delicious food, including…

  • Café Mirana

    Madagascar

    This cafeteria is one of the busiest in town, with reason: reliably tasty, great-value Malagasy staples such as vary' aminana (rice soup served for…

  • Manja

    Madagascar

    A long-standing favourite, Manja serves big portions of traditional Malagasy food such as romazava (beef and vegetable stew), ravitoto (pork stew with…

  • Chez Loulou

    Nosy Be

    Right on the beach, this casual restaurant and bar is best known for its gargantuan Sunday seafood-buffet lunch (Ar65,000). Seafood also gets pride of…

  • Parad’Ice

    Western Madagascar

    This cheerful cafe-restaurant serves simple but well-prepared meals, including salads you can tuck into without hesitation and rotating plats du jour such…

  • Chez Sucett's

    Antananarivo

    Sucett's popularity has somewhat slipped recently, but it's still a good choice. The Malagasy and Creole (a blend of African, Asian and European…

  • Saka Express

    Antananarivo

    The snack cafeteria and takeaway outlet in Hôtel Sakamanga is the best place in town for lunch on the go. There are pizzas, kebabs and sandwiches, all…

  • Côté Jardin

    Nosy Be

    There's a charming colonial air to this old house with its veranda at the front overlooking the town gardens, cool interior and more seating in its own…

  • Bread Mafan'

    Antananarivo

    Part patisserie, part cafe, Bread Mafan' is a cool choice if you're stocking up for a picnic, with great breads, and a range of enticing pastries and…

  • Casa Mofo

    Nosy Be

    A modern, hip place with seating inside and out, Casa Mofo is a bakery with great snacks (samosas Ar700, quiche Ar5000, scoop of ice cream Ar4000). It's…

  • Mad'Délices

    Antananarivo

    This cheerful little restaurant in the heart of Isoraka serves hearty Malagasy meals such as pork with greens, zebu stew and omelettes. It's also a good…

  • Hôtel Thermal

    Madagascar

    The restaurant at this classy hotel offers easily the most upmarket dining in town. There's a daily changing menu which has tropical takes on many classic…

  • Zandina

    Madagascar

    Zandina has become something of an institution thanks to its all-day service, good wi-fi connection, satellite TV, and generally warm and relaxed…

  • La Terrasse de Tydouce

    Madagascar

    This well-regarded French restaurant along the main road through Ivato has creative dishes such as profiteroles of wild mushrooms, local classics such as…

  • Chez Georges

    Fort Dauphin (Taolagnaro)

    This popular local eatery and adjoining bar enjoys a laid-back surf atmosphere in cabins overlooking Libanona Beach. Catch of the day and crab farci are…

  • Marco Pizza

    Western Madagascar

    This friendly joint with street seating churns out excellent – and absolutely huge – pizzas with a variety of meat, fish and vegetarian toppings. It’s a…

  • Restaurant Le Zébu Grillé

    Southern Madagascar

    The best restaurant in Ranohira itself serves a good mix of Malagasy specials (such as pork with beans) and international dishes (such as roast chicken or…

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