LE SAINT GÉRAN
The grand dame of Mauritius hotels is a style icon, set on a private peninsula and offering legendary service. The resort is named after the ship Le Saint Géran, which sank off the coast giving rise to the legend of Paul and Virginie, Mauritius’s answer to Romeo and Juliet.
Surrounded by 24 hectares of gardens and with almost two kilometres of white-sand beaches as well as a lagoon, Le St Geran is the kind of resort you never need to leave. This was the first luxurious hotel on the island, built in 1975, and it underwent a multimillion-dollar transformation in 2017. Its colonial-style architecture is blended with understated contemporary classics in warm white marble, teak and grey, with the soft furnishings and artworks reflecting the tropical surroundings. The new architecture was inspired by old sugar cane factories, plantation houses and Mauritian-style sugar cane thatch.
Guests can while away the day on the beach or by one of the pools, or head to the lagoon to arrange a broad range of water sports, from kayaks and stand-up paddle boards to water-skiing and snorkeling excursions. If you would rather stay dry, Club One has plenty of options for getting active, from a full set of gym machines to tennis courts and classes in everything from boxing to yoga. Parents can indulge in some pampering at the sleek ESPA spa, its treatment rooms set around yet another pool, while their children hang out in the kids club, where activities range from scavenger hunts to face painting, yoga, music and milkshake making.
Long celebrated as the iconic luxury retreat in Mauritius, One&Only Le Saint Géran retains what guests have always loved – a sense of seclusion on its own private peninsula with a beachfront and calm lagoon unlike any other resort on the island. The entire resort has been completely refurbished, with dynamic new culinary experiences, playful swimming pools with cabanas, reimagined public spaces, a stunning new spa, Club One, and a range of ultra-modern facilities.
THE ROOMS
Nestled within lush tropical gardens, the much-loved colonial-style architecture has been preserved, while a comprehensive redesign process has introduced a cool, contemporary beach-inspired aesthetic, celebrating Mauritian lifestyle and culture. There are 142 redesigned guest rooms and suites, with additional interconnecting configurations for families, as well as Villa One – a secluded two-bedroom villa with private infinity-pool and spectacular ocean views.
The guest rooms feature gracious living spaces in a contemporary, timeless design with muted hues of warm white marble, teak and greys, while retaining a relaxed island feel. A strong focus has been placed on showcasing the magnificent views and surroundings of the resort, with furnishings, fabrics and colour schemes reflecting the lush tropical landscapes, the vibrant turquoise Indian Ocean, and the bleached white of Mauritian sand. dsgn™ from South Africa worked closely with the resort team to ensure that the interior design and architecture of all spaces truly captured the essence of Mauritius while keeping One&Only ideals in mind. The sophisticated interiors of each guest room and suite are finished with natural materials such as timber, stone, leather and linen. Bespoke furniture and locally-crafted lithographs have been selected to resonate with the tropical Mauritian environment and provide an idyll of understated style.
All One&Only Le Saint Géran’s guest rooms feature a private balcony or terrace, marble-lined bathrooms with rain showers, and an indulgent separate bath opening up to a cleverly designed dressing space. More than 50 rooms across the resort are be available as an interconnecting options, making it an ideal retreat for families. One-bedroom suites with breathtaking views over the Indian Ocean, the white sand beach or the spectacular lagoon range in size from 110 to 150 square metres, each with a master bedroom, spacious lounge and dining room. Suites located on the ground floor extend to a generous sun-filled private wooden deck with large sofa, daybed, terrace, chairs and table. All suites feature personal butler service.
The introduction of spacious one, two and three-bedroom suites was a request from loyal guests, especially those who travel with large families. The 190 square metre two-bedroom ocean and beach-front suites include two sophisticated bedrooms, three marble-lined bathrooms and two private terraces. Guests can also luxuriate in one of the four three-bedroom suites which sprawl over 250 square metres, each with a master bedroom, a living room and a prime location directly onto the soft white beach.
One&Only is renowned for its collection of private villas offering the ultimate in space and privacy within each resort. The transformed Villa One at One&Only Le Saint Géran is the most desired address in Mauritius, a private two-bedroom secluded island home for up to four adults and two children with sensational views over the Indian Ocean. The refined residential interior exudes light and freshness, while weaving Mauritian elements into the design with bespoke furniture, locally crafted artwork, handmade ceramics and opulent natural materials including marble, silk and leathers.
Great care has been taken to select inspiring works by Mauritian artists for Villa One, connecting guests with the heritage of the island and the essence of the culture. Mauritian artist Sarah Thompson designed two abstract ceramic pieces for the Master Bedroom and the Dining Room; inspired by the underwater treasures of the Indian Ocean, she utilised a sea urchin application on white with touches of glaze and metal to celebrate the local marine life. Complementing this, local artist Helene de Senneville, turned to the tropical gardens and beauty of the natural surroundings for her work. In the Master Bedroom, a contemporary figurative acrylic and gold silver leaf painting by Helene is displayed, while the Second Bedroom features a collection of her handmade ceramic plates evoking the colourful indigenous flora and fauna. In honour of One&Only Le Saint Géran’s distinguished heritage, the living room of Villa One also houses a selection of paintings that have been collected to reflect the resort’s history.
CUISINE
The flavours and culture of the island are reflected in the culinary experience of every restaurant across the resort, with spices, rums and seasonal local ingredients fused together in new dramatic open cooking areas in theatrical and romantic settings.
The culinary experience is led by resort’s Executive Chef Dwayne Cheer. Chef Dwayne brings his vast experience of cooking at Europe and Asia’s most celebrated restaurants to One&Only Le Saint Géran, creating vibrant, seasonal dishes, bold flavours and experimental techniques, all collected from his extensive travels. With his signature creativity, he drives the culinary experience at One&Only Le Saint Géran, leading a talented team of chefs across six restaurants offering an incredible diversity of cuisines.
Guests can choose to dine at PRIME, One&Only Le Saint Géran’s celebrated and transformed steakhouse; Tapasake, exciting pan-Asian, tapas-style fusion cuisine on the edge of the lagoon; L’Artisan, an artisanal bakery serving barista prepared coffee, tempting pastries and light bites throughout the day; La Terrasse with its stunning views and celebration of Mauritian, Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean flavours prepared live; Le Badamier, idyllically located beneath the tropical sway of the Badamier trees and overlooking the Indian Ocean, serving freshly-caught seafood; and finally, La Pointe beach restaurant at Palm Grove with its casual, feet-in-the-sand ambiance, thatched pavilions and open fire grills. Each dining experience at One&Only Le Saint Géran celebrates Mauritius and its fusion of cuisines, spices and culture, delivering an exciting, world-class experience for guests.
HOLISTIC MAURITIAN TRADITIONS
The One&Only Spa covers over 1,000 square metres and offers an incredible panorama overlooking the lap pool and lagoon, surrounded by serene water and lush vegetation as well as secluded outdoor gardens for blissful open-air therapy. Prior to, or post treatment, guests are invited to use the new heat facilities including a steam room and sauna, or relax on day beds around the infinity pool. The One&Only Spa entrance, hidden amongst a jungle of palm and coconut trees, immerses guests in a world of tranquillity and peace from the moment they arrive. The thirteen newly designed treatment rooms surround the pool, with some opening onto their own private garden with outdoor showers, truly allowing guests to relax, switch off and feel revived in their very own sanctuary.
The One&Only Spa continues its partnership with the award-winning ESPA brand, offering tailored holistic experiences, ranging from pure relaxation to unique and signature wellness journeys. Signature treatments utilising indigenous and authentic techniques, such as ‘Mauritian Fusion’, a poultice treatment to sooth muscular aches and pains using a Mauritian herbal blend of neem, tulsi, moringa and lemongrass, or ‘Chakra Balancing’ which aims to release deep seated tension and blocked energy using local mint, citronella essence and volcanic hot stones. The 120-minute ‘Essence of One&Only Le Saint Géran’ begins with a tropical body scrub using naturally sourced indigenous ingredients such as coconut (known on the island as the ‘tree of life’), honey and sugar, reminiscent of sugarcane that can be seen throughout the island. A full-body massage with warm nourishing oils completes this journey as guests feel the stress and tension melt away.
The One&Only Spa is home to a Bridal Suite, a secret hideaway for brides getting married at the resort. The suite is entirely designed to pamper brides from head to toe and relieve them from all tensions ahead of one of the most special moments of their lives. From a private entrance, a mini hair and make-up studio, a changing room with a large mirror for fitting the dress, to a manicure/pedicure station and a private garden with outdoor shower, this suite is the perfect place to relax during the preparation for the most memorable day.
UNEARTH THE TREASURES OF MAURITIUS
Inspired by the distinct Mauritian culinary heritage, One&Only Le Saint Géran offers exclusive epicurean experiences ideal for amateur chefs and foodies alike. Guests can join Executive Sous-Chef Vikash Coonjan for Shop, Cook & Eat, a journey that begins with a visit to the vibrant Flacq Market to shop for local Mauritian produce, followed by a visit to the local fishermen to discover the fruits of their daily catch. Back at the resort, guests learn how to turn their fresh ingredients into a delicious Mauritian-inspired meal, while the in-house Sommelier advises on the perfect accompanying wine selection, before sitting down to sample the rewards of a morning’s discovery. For those looking for a more exhilarating foodie adventure, the One Bonfire experience begins with a morning of invigorating deep-sea fishing on board a 55-foot fishing boat to uncover the best of the ocean’s treasures. Back on dry land, after a well-deserved restorative spa visit, guests gather for a sunset celebration around the crackling bonfire, to enjoy their freshly grilled catch of the day.
Promising an exclusively Mauritian experience, guests can partake in The Rebuilding of ‘Le Saint Géran’ and leave their own personal imprint on the island by helping to build a model of the mighty ‘Le Saint Géran’ vessel at the island’s Marine Museum. The replica of the famous naval ship, which belonged to the French East India Company and wrecked off the Mauritian coastline in 1744, has been commissioned by the One&Only Le Saint Géran in partnership with the museum where construction is taking place over the course of one year.
