The best restaurants Madagascar

In a beautifully restored traditional old Malagasy house, beautifully restored, the elegant surroundings (the atmosphere of the early twentieth century with an English touch), an address that has lost a little of its beauty in recent years but remains a safe value in the capital. A very rich map, offering both meat, fish, couscous, two or three meat as well as pizzas on fire. Tasting menus invite you to test 3 entries, 3 meals and 3 desserts at a more than reasonable price. The house specialty: vanilla dishes, identifiable to their small logo on the map. The chef can also prepare vegetarian, vegetarian, vegetarian or gluten free dishes. Malagasy acoustics (among others) are honored in the evening. Fair selling of sculptures, especially of artist Salomon and examples of marquetry, this is a good address to bring a nice work. Private lounge upstairs, reservation option with animation.

A rather neat decor, tables set on a shaded terrace, or by the fire for the coolest days. The service is attentive and the dishes, rather well presented, are correct for the price. There are divergent opinions on quality, which seems to be very uneven, but we enjoyed our last meal. The chef's vanilla puree is worth a visit.

For a drink with friends, a moment of relaxation between nap and swimming, a lunch to the sound of the waves, this family restaurant, installed on the beach of Ankoba since 2006, remains a must in Fort Dauphin. Unpretentious cuisine, but constant and copious. The place is very nice. On the menu (depending on arrivals): sea bream fillet sautéed in butter, green pepper shrimps, grilled zebu fillet, stuffed crab, sambosas, natural fruit juices, chocolate cake. On Friday evenings, the place turns into a night bar and the atmosphere is also worth a visit.

Chez Tonton Benavony "Poulet Rapide" is a Diego institution! The restaurant was taken over and completely renovated by Jo, the son of the previous owner. You can enjoy delicious Asian and Malagasy cuisine at low prices, in a neat, shady and colorful setting. The house specialty is, of course, "poulet rapide", which Jo cooks to perfection, but he also makes duck and pigs in lacquer. Rooms available for rent.

Located on the main street of Ambatoloaka, Ze Burger is easy to spot with its red tables and white chairs. It is a very nice little address which proposes good zebu burgers (we will appreciate for example in the evening to settle our stomach), as well as pasta, breaded dishes and salads, which we found a little less interesting during our visit. We appreciate in particular the balcony which gives on the street, another way to appreciate the agitation of the city.

This little restaurant doesn't look like much, and yet... Very popular because of its low prices, La Cantine offers original and well-prepared dishes: smoked fish spiral with foie gras mousse, kidney pie with garlic, red wine and mustard sauce, Chinese seafood stew, zebu steak snacked with squid and homemade mashed potatoes, romazava, lamb carry with large peas... As an appetizer, why not opt for the basket of the sea? The beer is not expensive either. A recommended address !

Chez Domm, which recently became Chez Deckie, is a pleasant neighborhood restaurant with its colorful tables, which attracts residents and tourists alike at cocktail hour. The atmosphere is friendly and the food quite good: zebu with Saint-Marcellin, hamburgers, Chinese noodles, sandwiches, pasta... You can meet many serious guides and get information, especially from Deckie, because it is now the "HQ" of the Association of Guides of Fianar. An excellent starting point to discover the region (and also good arranged rums!).

This downtown bar-restaurant-pizzeria on the main street attracts quite a few residents at aperitif time. Fish and seafood specialties are prepared with care, depending on the market. The Mada-Bar also offers Malagasy classics such as ravitoto au coco, as well as less common dishes like sanglier sauce tomate. Connoisseurs will also find a wide selection of arranged rums and other punches. The homemade ice creams are excellent. A small local institution that we recommend.

Le Carré is a slightly chic restaurant, taken over by Alexandre and Nan, with a modern and green decoration (beautiful terrace, two fireplaces in season), which proposes a rather successful fusion cuisine. We particularly appreciate their sushi, but also the roasted duck with orange, the caramelized ribs, lamb tajine and... their champagne by the glass! The place is also nice to enjoy a cocktail with friends, on a quiet terrace. It is also the meeting place of embassy employees, insurance companies and some travelers passing through.

A stopover appreciated by tourists and residents alike, in this simple two-story building. Apart from the menus and dishes, one can buy foie gras in trays to take away, in different flavors (plain, grape, green pepper, pink berry or vanilla), for 35 000 Ar. Also in 250 g glass jars at 65 000 Ar, 500 g at 90 000 Ar, and foie gras sandwiches at 15 000 Ar. Smart advice: the starter with tasting of the 5 flavors is largely sufficient for one meal (or even two). The annex, 2 km from Behenjy, offers exactly the same tasting formulas.

This restaurant, Le Jardin de Giancarlo, an enthusiastic Italian, is popular for its hearty and well-prepared dishes as well as for its exuberant decoration (hanging gardens, fountains, flying boats, paintings by local artists for sale...), a bit kitschy according to some. On the menu, you will find : lobsters, stuffed squids, fish and other sea cicadas to be selected on the daily plate, wood-fired pizzas, pastas, but also ice creams, bread and home-made pastries... An address not to be missed in Tuléar!

A very good table, in a chosen, elegant and refined setting, even romantic. Very pleasant.

Run by Alex and Clément, two ex-rugbymen, Le Guest, ideally located facing the sea, offers renovated and comfortable rooms in the background. The establishment attracts its share of regulars in the morning for breakfast and at lunchtime, for an aperitif and a meal that sounds just right. Slate menu. Good point for the new potatoes and the delicious home-made fries. The raw fish Tahitian style, the duck with olives, or the grouper filet with voanjo sauce... are not bad either. The rooms are real good deals for tight budgets. We like it !

A true institution in Majunga! Unfortunately, the charismatic Karon who embodied the Majunga of old left us in January 2019. The adventure continues with brio however! In what remains an address not to be missed in the city, one comes to feast; seafood, game and Chinese specialties of reputation!), one can also sleep there (24 ventilated or air-conditioned rooms with sea view), and one can even organize hunting and fishing trips (for the amateurs of the kind). The establishment was renovated in 2017.

The room open on the street (with its living room in the sand) and the terrace are welcoming. Bar well furnished. Every Saturday (in principle), cabaret. On the menu you will try honey magret, Mexican taco, Malagasy specialities and stuffed crabs.

A few tables inside or on the terrace (with a lovely sea view) for this quality restaurant. Bernard, a trained chef, offers a welcome menu: grilled or peppered zebu fillet, stuffed squid, fish parrillada, duck breast with pineapple, pork, fish and zebu plancha, fish of the day and a few pizzas. There's wine, there's people, the atmosphere is pleasant, Bernard and/or his wife are always present; in short, a business we'd recommend. The only downside is the sometimes long waiting times.

Opened in 2015, this friendly bar-restaurant is the meeting place for vazahas in their flip-flops, whether they are passing through or regulars. Roger, a Gault & Millau starred master chef has sadly passed away, a CV with more than 70 years of experience and twenty restaurants created all over the world during his gastronomic travels. He was notably the former cook of Calypso (Commander Cousteau's oceanographic vessel). His mastery of seafood continues on the menu with Lalao in the kitchen: shellfish platters, bouillabaisse, Belle Meunière fish fillet medallion with lime, stuffed crab au gratin in the oven, squid in Armorican style and octopus salad. All for the most honourable value for money.

It's the restaurant that's a hit with the locals. Well, copious and cheap, we eat standing by the roadside, no fuss. Good plan for small budgets and big eaters!

The particularity of this establishment is to have several spaces: under the parasols you can sip a cocktail on the terrace while ordering a hamburger, a salad or a daily menu based on seasonal products. The gastronomes will give themselves rdv'au Paris Lounge, an air-conditioned restaurant proposing a menu of dishes based on local products. At the Terrace of Nosy Be, open to the garden, it will be tapas or pinchos. The heart of the place: the bar with its wide range of rum-based cocktails! Musical entertainment on certain evenings and holidays.

One of the most popular restaurants in Diego for travelers (groups as well) and residents alike. One appreciates the fresh vegetables from the Joffreville garden, the escalope of fried foie gras, the beautiful grilled zebu rib, the crab soup with saffron rouille, the wild oysters, the large fishermen's platter (lobster, crab, shrimp, squid, smoked fish)... The interior, with walls lined with old photos, has the cachet of these houses that time patina and makes more beautiful. But you can also sit on the terrace, in the heart of the lively rue Colbert.

Ethno chic decoration trendy in this room where Buddha and purple dominate. Outside terrace. Large bar where you can enjoy cocktails, good wines and a wide choice of whiskies. Kitchen of very good workmanship. The map is presented on a slate... or on an iPad, with photos to support it. To be tested at least once: the lamb mouse confit 8h... a delight (and that's not to say)! Jean-Marc, the owner of the place, is really concerned about maintaining the quality of his establishment. Semi-detached cellar, offering wine, cold meats, cheese and foie gras.

Restaurant/bar with terrace on the street, serving good food and tapas. The Patio also offers some simple but well-kept rooms with private bathrooms and hot water. A warm welcome from Pierre-Jean and his team. Free swimming pool at the Sorafa for guests of the hotel "Le Patio" and wifi.

Under the medlar trees in the garden or in the ancestral colonial house, an eclectic cuisine awaits you in this pleasant restaurant. The house specialty is zebu in all its forms; grilled meat, brochettes, carpaccio, and the real steak tartare cut with a knife; but also vegetarian cuisine with organic vegetables and eggs produced by the garden, traditional Malagasy dishes, healthy soups, all at affordable prices. The bar offers a nice collection of home-arranged rums, with a varied musical atmosphere, but without the watts!

The terrace is one of the most beautiful in Tana, overlooking the royal hill and its historic buildings. The dining room exudes the atmosphere of a chic bistro with attentive service, under the leadership of Dominique, always on hand to welcome businessmen and travelers passing through. The kitchen plays with a wide range of flavors: pressé de fois gras mi-cuit à la vanille et sa gelée d'abricot relevée au poivre sauvage, meringue glacée praliné aux écorces d'orange confites..

An address always appreciated for its service (efficient and diligent) and the rather constant quality of the cuisine, of Creole and Malagasy inspiration. It's very good and rich. Superb appetizer sauces that also serve during meals. In entry, Foie gras makes the case perfectly for two. You can then taste the roussette bat (meat and game are better choices than seafood in any case, but we recommend the wet crab clips), the massalé cabri is rich. A good choice of vegetarian dishes. Small room next to private meetings or a meeting between friends. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

Tapas, zebu burgers (extra), pizzas, Malagasy and Thai dishes, but also fresh and hearty seafood! A warm and friendly welcome, in a friendly setting and in a spirit of solidarity with the local population. Nono has developed its cuisine over time, we particularly like mushroom sauces, which remind us of its European roots. Of course, good rums....

Located on the Route du Sud, eight kilometers south of Ambatolampy, the small but pleasant restaurant L'Iskurna is run by Manuel. He is a Spaniard who speaks with great ease both French and Malagasy! Manuel has set up several tables outside, in the shade which is much appreciated in summer, in a green setting. He serves pizzas and paellas, as well as Malagasy and more classical dishes. The restaurant L'Iskurna is a friendly and recommendable stop, a place appreciated by Malagasy as well as by travelers passing through.

The best table in Foulpointe, close to Manda Beach. The card sings the products of the sea.

Very nice restaurant-bar with a family clientele and regulars. Michel, a passionate Toulousan and a fine rugby connoisseur, never misses a match on the big screen that dominates the bar, with flags and pennants. You can taste seafood in all its forms: fish in curry, carpaccio or tartar, shrimps with pineapple, octopus stew, squid in Basque sauce; but also osso buco, zebu tongue or goat with Madagascar spices. The products are fresh, the plates copious, the atmosphere very cool and the staff attentive.

Located on the site of the old restaurant Chez Teresa (for those who came a few years ago), the Dagli Amici is a nice place, in front of the Taxi Be. You will easily recognize it with its little red wooden house, planted right on the side of the road. Of Italian inspiration, as its name suggests, the address proposes very good pizzas, delicious pasta dishes, but also seafood dishes such as lobster, octopus and finally grilled meat. A rich and varied menu that will delight the gourmets!

Not a restaurant, but a character: on order, Guillaume book dried meat (of zébu or pig), bread, brioches, dried tomatoes… 

Good Malagasy and Creole Creole cuisine at a soft price. You can even sleep there!

A fine restaurant in a lovely setting, facing the shimmering lagoon. Enjoy an aperitif on the pontoon, then sit down to enjoy the house specialty with an idyllic view: the famous funnel crab. You'll also appreciate the lobster tagliatelle, duck with seasonal fruits, lemongrass camarons and fresh fish (the owner is an avid fisherman). In fact, he regularly organizes inshore and deep-sea fishing trips, as well as mountain bike rentals. A great time to be had, especially as Pascal and Josiane are so welcoming.

The restaurant is located right next to the rova of Ambohimanga. We eat there a Malagasy kitchen of quality. The setting is pleasant, the views on the surroundings are beautiful, the site is pleasant when it is hot, a little cold during the winter (July/August). Another option could be to eat at Tsaratazana, a small address located close to the parking, there too the view on the surroundings is ideal. We warmly recommend it to have a coffee!

The atmosphere and local cuisine in a rather pleasant room. There is a taste of soups and Malagasy specialities for a cheap stay.

In the middle of rue Colbert, on the right side of the road going towards the sea, find some steps with Italian colors, climb to the^first floor, it's there. A room extended by a covered terrace overhanging the street, a nice atmosphere like a family trattoria, some decorating effects, a tasty smell of pizza oven, Giovanni and Stefania at the controls.... and make the Margherita spin! A great asset and not the least: the indoor games area for children, so that you can have a drink at the bar without speeding up. We say thank you.

This warm restaurant, located in the calm of a large flowered courtyard, has the particularity of being adjacent to a spa (the Vaniala Natural Spa & Shop), a way to combine the pleasures of taste with a moment of well-being. After or before a treatment, for breakfast or afternoon tea, or just for lunch or dinner in a pleasant and zen setting, you can enjoy a healthy cuisine with an emphasis on dietetic and vegetarian dishes. Also tasty traditional Malagasy dishes at very honest prices.

Here you will find a brasserie atmosphere in an elevated decor: a large, hushed room, a parquet floor, exhibitions of artists' paintings, a view of the gardens of the Louvre Hotel and on the other side of the lively Antanimena district. An international cuisine, the possibility also to consume all day in snack mode at the bar and tea room. Classical music concerts, but also thematic buffets on Sundays with the possibility for children to participate in the chef's workshops, an initiative that families love!

You can enjoy good pizzas. Home delivery.

Chez Vivie is a small and very clean 100% Malagasy restaurant that serves good and varied food at friendly prices. Viviane is a very nice lady, whose cooking has been appreciated by locals and travelers for many years. It's a pity that the service is so slow, you lose a lot of time, be warned. A good option is to book in advance to avoid having to wait sometimes up to an hour - the time to go and buy the products and cook them up. At least the freshness is guaranteed!

Dishes with Chinese flavors not expensive at all, and also bichiques, types of glass eels (these are not eels, but species of small fish, like alvins in fact), that women are looking in the ocean in the little morning, from water up to the waist, to bring four or five kilos.

Both a pastry shop and a restaurant, the Coq d'Or is well known by all the inhabitants of Moramanga and the region. This establishment serves indeed varied and copious dishes, prepared with delight since many years. Very popular, the place is a victim of its success and the wait can be a little long, be warned. The pastries are excellent, as well as the ice creams, which can be taken away if you wish!

Since March 2017 the Nosy Ben, the restaurant of the Clair de Lune hotel has been taken over by Benoit Bernard, the star chef of French cuisine, who has made this establishment an indispensable table on the island. On the menu the products found on the market in the morning. Open to visitors, it also offers cooking classes.

The small address to pass before boarding a taxi-bush (the station is 10 steps), to eat local in a safe place for your stomach.

Rodrigue offers a solid French cuisine in his small room in a few tables: charcuteries plate, snails, endives in Auvergne, beef coast, black boudin, homemade cassoulet, conflict and duck magret… The whole is road. 

Home specialities: Vanilla duck, sanitary of homemade sausages, chicken curry, massalé curry. Dishes of the day. Also some comfortable rooms are not too expensive. A warm and family atmosphere.

In a pleasant setting on the edge of the canal, very green, a varied menu offering wood-fired pizzas, meats, fish, pasta... Everything is very good. We even found there the taste of the caramel cream of our grandmothers! We also like the homemade chocolate mousse, a treat. La Capannina also proposes a very nice menu of Malagasy dishes, from the most classical to the less usual ones to find in restaurants. We also like the large choice of arranged rums, which we will drink with pleasure in company of Léa, the friendly owner.

Beautiful house, chic and elegant, with a cosy atmosphere. Traditional French cuisine, Perigord specialties and a good cellar. Extensive menu with more than 90 dishes. The half-cooked tuna tournedos, the Rossini salad or the duck breast with honey and ginger are absolutely sublime. Prices are a bit high but we appreciate the large panoramic terrace on the top floor (wood-fired pizzas) and the lounge bar (on the first floor) with giant screens. Nice selection of wines. Live jazz on Friday and Saturday, and well prepared cocktails.

A really simple Chinese restaurant (radio and TV in Chinese too!), held as just by… a Chinese (who hardly speaks French or Malagasy). Very good value for money: wan tan mine, half-moon, Sao mine, Cantonese rice, tsa (pork pork), steam chicken and squid… and a delicious painted duck. To discover.

An emblem in Amborovy! Restaurant/shack on the beach, offering an excellent cuisine, copious and affordable: shrimp crisp, breaded nymphs legs, grouper filet with capers, kidneys with old fashioned mustard sauce, home made chocolate mousse (a must)... In short, a varied menu, and a great fridge! Beautiful sunsets, with a caipirinha of course! Moreover, the wifi is free. And don't worry, grandpa with his big white beard doesn't complain so much... the beach is maintained moreover!