The best restaurants Madagascar

Literally overlooking the city of Tana, the restaurant of the Niaouly hotel proposes a daily fresh cuisine cooked on the spot. Traditional Malagasy dishes, zebu cooked with all kinds of sauces, but also soups and finely worked seafood: you will be spoilt for choice. The very friendly team is also in charge of the hotel's rooms (at affordable rates) and can also organize excursions in Mada. A good address!

Chez Dédé is the address that everyone knows in Belo. Tourists as well as locals meet there, around a cuisine without much pretension but which remains good and especially very friendly. The inhabitants of Belo have their beer there in the morning, when they take a break from their schooner construction site. The chef offers two dishes of the day, simple and fresh. Dédé also offers some rudimentary bungalows. The restaurant's shaded terrace is particularly appreciated in the warm hours.

A magnificent setting and a delicious cuisine: Laurence, the manager of the hotel and restaurant l'Entremer, is a favorite. Laurence cooks like she likes to eat, healthy, fresh and varied! The dishes of the day are concocted with passion: ray gratin, lemon snapper, green bean mousse, seafood risotto... Everything on the table is home-made. Laurence has even created recipe cards to train her Malagasy teams in the flavors and customs of other countries. A treat for an excellent quality-price ratio!

Come and enjoy a refined cuisine in the historic hotel of the city. The gastronomic cuisine of the day is extra fresh because it is prepared with the products of the adjacent garden... which we warmly recommend to visit (tropical garden on the edge of the river which invites you to disconnect completely). We recommend eating on the terrace to the sound of birds and frogs. Cherry on the cake: you can also enjoy the natural pools of the hotel (20 000 Ar).

One comes to Toko Telo for the Malagasy specialties and one wishes to stay there for its pleasant and airy atmosphere with its pretty view on the heights of Tana. Specialties of zebus, fish, seafood, and chicken or pork with Malagasy sauce. Let yourself be tempted by the fried silkworms. As for sweets, the 100% homemade ice creams are to die for! In addition, the reception of the owner Landy is very friendly. The name comes from the Malagasy proverb meaning "you need three feet to succeed in cooking". We strongly recommend it!

Farid Allali Zidane offers a new culinary experience in the heart of Isoraka, inspired by southern Mediterranean, northern and Indian cuisines. From the bar, you can see the chefs at work in the glassed-in kitchen. Briques, tajines, chorba soup, chawarmas... everything is made with fresh, selected ingredients. The dishes are enhanced by local spices. Meticulously decorated, with an original wine cellar and an intimate upstairs dining room for dinner with friends or lovers. Without batting an eyelid, the best couscous of our trip to Madagascar!

Malagasy and Spanish specialities (paella, crabe crab, almejas, croquetas, tapas, chipirone - squid - in ink…). At Simone and Victor, it's no claim. Enjoy dinner at midday or enjoy a drink in the evening.

An atmospheric musical bar, hosted by Brigitte and Laurent Dufey, a Malgo-Swiss couple who have settled in this dream setting. Europeans and tourists alike gather here at lunchtime to enjoy grilled fish, calamari, shrimp and zebu fillets. The restaurant is equipped with board games to share on the terrace between two readings. On request, excursions can be organized with local guides. The restaurant also offers accommodation for 3 people in an individual bungalow with shower.

A Saint-Marien chef in the kitchen, and the charming Kate and her team to serve you, with their feet in the water. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a star at the bar and even a pool table to accompany your aperitif. Half-board catering is available for villa guests, and outside catering is open morning and evening. Here, the menu is based on seafood. The customer is not king, but a friend.

Nana and Philippe managed to make a nice little restaurant where you can find the classics of Franco-Malagasy cuisine, inspired by seafood, but not only. Philippe is Breton... so much to say that the buckwheat pancakes are worth a visit. And on Sundays, more family, it's couscous, cassoulet, lasagne or tajine! L'Etoile is also famous for its vegetarian burgers, as well as for its fabulous collection of arranged rums with multiple flavours (3,000 Ar per glass)! With good hearing, good tasting.

Two or three tables on the terrace for this cheap Malagasy snack. Jeannot Mec, originally from the highlands, cooks pork in his own way, and everyone comes to enjoy it! The kebabs, with the organization of parties, are another of his specialties. Every Friday evening, it is a cabaret atmosphere; it must be said that Mr. knows a good number of artists of his region. In short, a lively place where it is good to spend the evening, we recommend.

Tamatave's former train station was given a facelift in 2014 and boasts two restaurants, a rather original snack bar, a vast conference room and a shopping arcade. "L'Orient Express" is a semi-gastro restaurant with an intimate atmosphere. "La Brasserie de la Gare" offers travellers fine Italian specialities. as for "Le Wagon", it offers a more relaxed atmosphere: burgers, kebabs and draught beer, with DJ music in the background. A rather nicely refurbished complex.

It is the restaurant of the hotel "Sur la plage". In a relaxed setting and atmosphere, with a very pleasant terrace (particularly popular at sunset), you can enjoy grilled fish and seafood, lobster, depending on the arrival, but also Malagasy dishes, masikita (marinated zebu skewers), pizzas or tsaki-tsaki for the aperitif: follow the system of slates with small squares for the management of live stocks! Fresh, good, friendly: a good address in Mangily!

This is the restaurant of the Grand Hotel Urban. Very urban-chic, it is one of the pretty settings of the capital, especially since the room, cosy and comfortable, is extended by a fabulous skybar terrace with a panoramic view. As the chain is Spanish, the menu naturally offers tasty Mediterranean cuisine (various tapas, octopus in the Galician style, broken egg with Serrano ham, paella valenciana, etc.) and a selection of local dishes (braised zebu carpaccio etc.). For a 360° view of the city, go to the rooftop bar: great!

Ideal before or after a shopping session, the restaurant is located in front of Lisy Art Gallery (the largest handicraft store in the capital). Composed of several rooms, the restaurant la Toque Enchantée offers a wide range of Malagasy specialties but also European dishes, you will eat there in particular: coconut fish, seafood cassoulet, mixed brochettes, various Malagasy dishes, egg rolls... we will also appreciate its ice cream cups, ideal to refresh ourselves when the heat of the capital is too intense.

The former Cambusa has closed and moved to the site of the former Banana. Run by Ruggero (ex-rugby player), specializing in pasta, pizzas (thin, crispy dough), grilled meat and Italian dishes (we recommend the tagliatelle with clams and the meat and tomato ravioli). A great gourmet address for small budgets, with homemade ice creams served on the terrace. La Cambusa also has an ice-cream parlour in town, next to the Alliance Française, which we recommend for straciatella lovers!

A new address for small budgets, Bento by l'Orion has opened its doors under the Orion restaurant. Travelers and residents come here for the "bento" formula composed of a dish of their choice (with a choice of meat in sauce, seafood or fish) accompanied by rice and achards, all followed by a dessert. Chinese fondues and sushi are also available. It is possible to consume on the spot or to prefer to take away. Bento by l'Orion is therefore a good little address to treat yourself at a lower cost.

Reopening in October 2023 under new management. The view is breathtaking, the cuisine refined, and the emphasis on local ingredients remains: vegetables, herbs and condiments come from the kitchen garden, the poultry is free-range, the fish is freshly caught, and the menu includes caviar from Madagascar. Plans are afoot to create a rum to enhance meals. On the eco side, a solar energy system covers the entire property, with water drawn from the Mont Passot aquifer. As a bonus, a sumptuous sunset.

We come to DS Mandoky for the 100% Malagasy atmosphere and for the tasty dishes. A dozen daily specials are offered on the slate, prepared using local, seasonal produce. Seafood, fish and meat are all on the menu, as are traditional Malagasy dishes. You'll enjoy tasty, quality cuisine for good value. What's more, the dining room is large and airy, which is appreciated in the heat of Diego... All you'll want to do is come back and try the rest of the menu!

Since 2017, Ibrahim and Laetitia have welcomed you with humility and kindness to their beautiful little beach on the east coast. In the kitchen, Laetitia brings back to life the traditional cuisine of her grandmothers, concocting fresh dishes based on seafood bought from fishermen in the morning and traditional dishes. Grilled banana leaf fish, coconut fish, romazava, honey chicken and grilled tomatoes. A relaxed experience. Two rustic bungalows for 4 to 6 people.

Crystal-clear water, a white sandy beach, Alain's cool, robinsonnade chic atmosphere. Wooden chairs on the sand and a friendly bar invite you to relax, with garden coco to sip without moderation and deliciously devilish arranged rums! Each day features a different menu, including fish tartare or carpaccio, octopus or squid salad, bass of the day, lagoon crab and more. A smart new address!

Tamatave's culinary specialty is none other than Chinese soup! Chinese restaurants are plentiful, and you're bound to find a few surprises. In the streets around the Bazar-Bé, on the seafront, in front of the great mosque or at the bus station, you'll find gargotes where you can sit down in the warm evening to enjoy brochettes and sambos served at very modest prices. We also recommend some good little local addresses: Adam et Eve, Koinonia or L'Affiche!

Here is a very small restaurant, on the side of the road, where you can come and eat on the go, without fear for your stomach. Here everything is simple: the menu is minimalist (a dish based on rice and meat, another based on noodles, all accompanied by soup). A room opening on the backyard, a small terrace: it's a perfect place to stop on your way. It's simple, it's good and there are no nasty surprises. In addition, the view is breathtaking on the cemetery, with the numerous animals coming to walk there...

Often original dish (rabbit, rillettes, etc.) at low prices. Charcuterie plates. Cooking specialities with wood fire. A good plan, good simple.

Oysters from Fort-Dauphin, lobsters, shrimps, mussels, fish... With three arrivals per week (only by plane), this oyster restaurant-bar, like a Parisian brasserie, guarantees the impeccable freshness of its products. Bastien Warnier, the manager, takes care of the supply himself. The oysters, in particular, come from his own production site in Fort-Dauphin. The wine list is not bad either. A must for oyster lovers. For the others, the duck breasts and confits are also on the menu.

A little restaurant without the way you eat. As you will remember, Ernest has self-proclaimed the king of lobster. His table is as well known as the Loulou. Just as popular on Sundays.

Good pizzeria. In addition, it is not very expensive. Also offers réunionnaises and French specialities.

An institution, considered the best crab restaurant on the island. Bruno is passionate about raising his crabs in both salt and fresh water, and with his fish tank he offers them all year round. Melt-in-the-mouth coconut mangrove crab, stuffed crab, octopus, grilled captain and carangue, mango salad and green papaya. In the kitchen, Rachelle is a cordon bleu, and everything is fresh and tasty. Bungalows (no air-conditioning, candlelight and pitcher showers) and excursions are available.

The Spoon Café offers a cuisine rich in colors and flavors. You will be offered gourmet and "healthy" salads, "poké bowls", fresh fruit juices, but also excellent signature burgers and other croque-monsieur. Special mention for the lemon pie that all the gourmands will appreciate! With a very pleasant team, the welcome is particularly friendly and the service fast. The whole in a rather cosy setting, on the terrace or inside. We recommend this good address in the district of Ivandry!

The restaurant of the eponymous hotel has a nice outdoor terrace overlooking the beach. It is good to relax on the terrace of the Ocean 501, far from the tumult of the city of Tamatave, the time of a coffee or a lunch, or in the evening in the cool. On the menu, you will find among other good dishes: grills, salads, pizzas and suggestions according to the fishing and the market of the day... Concerts are scheduled every last Friday of the month, in partnership with the Alliance française!

Burgers (about ten to choose from) and pizzas (we recommend the "Tue l'amour" or "La Bomba"), make the success of this restaurant, but Yohan, the owner and former chef, also proposes about fifteen more elaborate dishes. The menu changes every week. The greedy ones will not miss the house ice cream, caramel salted butter: a delight! You can sit inside or... on the courtyard side, very pleasant. Yohan also manages another restaurant in town, La Braise, which offers the same pizzas and burgers, with a delivery service.

Chinese food lovers, this address has been an institution for over 30 years! A family business that has been in operation for two generations. The establishment has benefited from a makeover and offers several formulas, divided into 3 adjacent units: the express catering, the family canteen to enjoy a soup on the go, and the restaurant for a more complete and gastronomic meal. The spaces are pleasant, and the cuisine tasty. It is said that the best Chinese soup in Tamatave is served there. Tested and approved!

One of the best addresses in Ambatoloaka and the best Italian restaurant in the area (which was the only one for a long time!). A varied menu of Italian specialties and seafood. Perfectly mastered cooking and Mediterranean flavors with quality products, which your palate will remember. Colorful and warm atmosphere, excellent service. The restaurant is just in front of the tuk-tuk station, on the main street, which is very convenient, but we prefer to sit inside than on the terrace, to be more quiet.

Fara, a self-taught chef, puts his passion to work to concoct Malagasy, Asian and European recipes that delight the taste buds and make the restaurant of the Trianon hotel, "Chez Dom", a success. Balanced flavors, carefully chosen products, perfect cooking, nothing is left to chance and everything is there to make your plate a feast. There is also a good choice of wines. One of the best tables of Antsirabe according to our teams, in the charming and welcoming setting of the hotel Le Trianon.

One of the last born in Antsirabe (2018), XV Be is the result of a project imagined by friends, of mixed origins (France, Spain, Madagascar) and rugby fans: a tapas bar, well animated on match days of course! You can come there to have a drink with friends, enjoy the friendly and festive atmosphere at the end of the week, or taste seafood specialties (parilladas, paellas, among others), in a pretty barrack with turquoise blue walls. An address to discover.

At sunset, under a light breeze, the terrace of Joo Restaurant is a delightful place to enjoy a cocktail, followed by a no less pleasant dinner. Located in the Talinjoo Hotel, it serves international cuisine, from romazava to sashimi, including burgers, grills or pizzas, not to mention lobster! If the Joo Restaurant remains one of the best restaurants in Fort-Dauphin, the setting, the view, the chic and bohemian decoration, the sea and light atmosphere, are major assets. We like it !

Rare in the whole of Tana, this resto-bar remains open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! Notice to the night owls and to those who do not regulate their life on the time of the clocks and will come there to satisfy an early or late hunger, knowing all the same that from 23h to 6h of the morning it is the menu of the snacks which takes the relay on the principal menu. This last one declines some dishes of here and elsewhere, but bases its growing reputation on its burgers, made house of course with fresh products. Another asset of the place: the beautiful panorama on the city center.

In a warm and intimate setting of an old house with exposed bricks, brought up to date, you will have the pleasure of discovering a neo-bistro cuisine, where chocolate is in the spotlight. Homemade foie gras terrine with cocoa truffle and ginger, pan-fried duck breast with chocolate sauce... Cocoa is boldly integrated into home-made dishes. The surprise is there, enough to amaze your taste buds with explosive flavors in the mouth. A culinary escapade out of the ordinary. Since 2019, the chef is an ambassador of Chocolaterie Robert.

Well located, on the port, facing the sea. You can come at any time of the day, from breakfast to dinner (continuous service). On the menu, Turkish specialties (fans of kebabs and chawarmas will be satisfied), pizzas, salads, fish and seafood, grilled zebu, sambos, egg rolls, French fries, and other burgers.) Concerts are regularly organized there, which makes this place even more attractive to spend a good evening.

Pleasant setting with a lovely terrace and wooden furniture. In the morning, enjoy fresh Nosy Komba fruit and juices made from soursop, mango, pineapple, papaya... At lunch and dinner, zebu, chicken, shrimp, fish of the day, grilled or garlic-sautéed squid, coconut crab... Simple and masterful. You'll spend a pleasant moment here, taking the time to savour. Thursday nights are karaoke nights, Fridays and Saturdays are DJ nights, and Sundays are alcohol-free nights for young people. There are also wrestling evenings and open-air balls, weather permitting.

At Jeannot's, we cook seafood: shrimps, crabs, squid, fish, as well as chicken and zebu fillet. Side dishes include rice, sautéed potatoes and vegetables, and pasta. For those with a sweet tooth, flambéed bananas and pineapples. You can also connect to the Internet, or drink a pastaga while playing boules. We also like the Gargotte Ravinala, "Chez Christian", which used to work at Les Floralies, and now serves hearty, inexpensive cuisine that delights the palate. Two good places to eat in Ampangorina.

A small open-air restaurant overlooking the sea. A trendy address, at the foot of the Maki Lodge. Some renovation work has made it possible to refresh the place. Vlad is a very good cook, we eat well there. Everything is cooked on demand, the impatient can place an order, then the time of preparation take a walk in the village. On the way back, everything will be ready to eat

In a local atmosphere with a small TV screen to follow the inescapable sitcoms, we enjoy delicious dishes, like fish carpaccio with pink berries. Fast service and small outdoor space. Recommended by, and for, smartshops!

Small beach restaurant, very charming, with a friendly welcome, very popular for lunch. In the evening, it's very peaceful, when the bay is empty. Rachida kindly comes to take the orders at Kite Paradise for the hotel guests. The menu changes every day depending on the market. Very good fish dishes and grilled meats. Excellent value for money. Building on its success, La Pagaie is set to expand and transform into a restaurant-bar-lounge for the opening of the season in March 2020.

Zebu skewers (tested and approved), zebu steak, rib, rib, rib steak, fillet.... Everything you want is in the zebu! We settle indoors or on the terrace and take the time to quench our thirst while waiting for our meal. It is not very refined, but the meat is generally tender and good. Malagasy specialities are also on the menu.

Adjoining the Maison Voajanahary, a silk craft shop, this small gargote, run by Olivier, offers a rather good local cuisine. You can eat pasta there, but as long as you have a Malagasy speciality tested so much, romazava was particularly successful during our visit. Olivier is also a guide, he can organise a half-day visit to the city's craft workshops or a day's hike in the region, or even a two- or three-day tour, with accommodation in a local house.

On the ground floor, grilled meats, seafood, burgers, pizzas... Upstairs, on the terrace, 100% Malagasy dishes that vary according to the market of the day. Copious and of high quality. A popular restaurant, very popular with regular customers, especially during the lunch period, during the week.

Varied map and wide choice of arranged rums. Breakfast early in the morning. Magnificent view of the canal and warm welcome of Sylvie and Jean-Louis.

This is not an official restaurant. Sylvain is above all the keeper of the lighthouse. With Sylvie, they run the little restaurant downstairs. It is essential to book a day in advance. Lobster is the must, but the fishing son also brings back fish and seafood from his net, to be enjoyed the same day. The family also has 3 bungalows, simple and cheap. A good smart plan that we are proud to share with you.

Residents often meet in the morning for breakfast when they come to the market. Also with wood fire pizzas, fruit juices and ice cream, and a snack card. Pleasant terrace.