Sofitel Mauritius L'Imperial Resort & Spa

Named for empire in the old French idiom, L'Impérial takes its cue from a grander age of travel and sets it against the Wolmar shoreline at Flic en Flac, on Mauritius's west coast. The resort faces a lagoon backed by mountains, and rooms are fitted with the standard comforts: air conditioning, tea and coffee stations, safe boxes and private bathrooms. It is not a small property, and it does not try to be quiet about its dining. Six restaurants and four bars operate across the grounds, from Ming Court's Chinese and Japanese show cooking to Jacaranda's Mauritian menu, served on a terrace built for sunset. Ravinala runs themed buffets nightly under a high wood ceiling, while Tamassa serves grilled seafood steps from the sand. You can watch mountain peaks across the bay from a dinner table, or take a cocktail at Kestrel Bar in the shade near the lobby. Le Flamboyant, an adults-only pool on the north wing, catches the same west-coast sunsets that Jacaranda's terrace was built around. A spa and fitness centre round out the leisure facilities. The beach runs wide and the water stays calm, sheltered by the lagoon's reef. Parking is included, and the hotel sits a short drive from Flic en Flac's main strip.