When it comes to nightlife in Mauritius, many of the best bars are located within the resorts themselves. But for a true taste of the island’s party scene, spare some time to venture beyond the gates of your hotel and head to one of our local hotspots highlighted below…

Around Grand Baie and the north coast

After dark, the northern beach resort of Grand Baie is packed with partygoers in search of good music, good cocktails and good times – and there’s no shortage of places to find them. The three-venues-in-one Banana Beach Club is one of the most established and popular. Here you’ll find the Gourmet Grill restaurant, the bi-level Kamikaze nightclub (previously the Zanzibar) and the rooftop Sky Bar with its extensive list of fresh fruit cocktails.

Newer nightclub venue OMG opened its doors in 2013 and has proven to be a welcome addition to the scene. Open on Weds, Fri and Sat, the club regularly hosts special guest DJs and one-off events like Champagne tasting, while just outside Grand Baie at Pointe aux Cannoniers is Les Enfants Terribles; another club with a great atmosphere, fuelled by a mix of dance, hip-hop, R&B and classic chart hits. Also just outside Grand Baie, at the end of the beach in Pereybere, is the RedCat Beach Lounge: a classic old 1950s beach house with a laid back vibe and a stunning terrace overlooking the ocean.

Around Flic en Flac and the west coast

In the west coast village of Flic en Flac – another of the major tourist regions in Mauritius – a favourite among locals and visitors alike is the Kenzi Bar, just beyond the Spar supermarket in the village centre. A relaxed watering hole with a casual vibe and lovely, lantern-strewn garden, the bar is a great place to see high-quality, live local music and enjoy a mojito or two. Also in Flic en Flac is the popular restaurant, bar and lounge known as La Vida, currently being refurbished by its new owners and re-opening in November 2014.

Below Flic en Flac, in Tamarin Bay, Big Willy’s is a restaurant, pub, live music venue and all-round party place. Club nights occur on Friday and Saturday nights, though a buzzy tropical garden and daily big-screen sports coverage sustains it through the rest of the week.

For a more upmarket nighttime venue, look no further than the new La Balise Marina development, further south in the heart of Black River. This luxury residential development is open to tourists too, and makes the perfect setting for an evening sundowner in sophisticated surroundings.

Photos: Banana Beach Club, OMG, La Balise Marina.