Madagascar’s Must Try Restaurants

One of the things that makes a culture or a country memorable is food, food and good food! That is so true that in fact, the most popular channels on TV, YouTube, streaming and websites are all about food making or tasting, food conservation or transformation, food producing, food management or usage, food establishments and restaurants, and the list could go on and on.

When you travel somewhere, what will keep the taste of the country with you is the food that enters your mouth. Inevitably, local food and restaurants are a must try. Whether you are a foreign traveler, a member of the Malagasy diaspora, or just a citizen of the world, when you come over to Madagascar, use this article as a guide to help you track down some of the best local, continental and international dishes that Madagascar can offer you. We have chosen the following top restaurants on the Big Island for you with the best of services available. Madagascar has a line-up of cuisines that are so diverse and unique at the same time that make these restaurants a must try. 

Here goes the first scoop: for an unforgettable lunch in an organic atmosphere, La Ferme d’Ivato is your stop. They also sell internationally certified organic fruits and vegetables.

La Varangue in Antananarivo the capital

Located in the capital city of Antananarivo, and the most talked about, reviewed and loved restaurant according to TripAdvisor. Before getting to the fact that food in this restaurant is French and sweet. La Varange also provides you with an exquisite atmosphere that is beauctified with lovely looking antiques that ensure that your eyes and mind are fed just as much as uyour belly. It is indeed a complete experience when you visit La Varangue.

Three-course meals are available around the clock at La Varangue –

Appetizers that include:

• Organic vegetable salad,
• Courquette soup with coriander, along with fresh vegetable salad and mozzarella
• Shrimps with Vichyssoise flavored with turmeric

Main Dishes on their menu include:

• Fillet of zebu sautéed with tsiperifery
• Papillate of oceanfruits with lemongrass scent
• Colombo chicken with parmesan cheese and ratatouille flan

Desserts that include:

• Chocolate and vanilla ice cream
• Crème brulee with vanilla
• Black forest and verrine

A lovely restaurant with a complete collection of quality choices for you in the capital. Certainly one to look out for when you’re visiting Madagascar next time.

La Table d’Alexandre at Nosy Be Island

With a French taste, ocean view and well-curated gardens, this Restaurant is certainly on that you would love to visit. If you ar from France you will certaiunly feel at home but whoever and wheever you are from, your comfirt is guaranteed.

With meals that include:

• Zebu
• Smoked fish
• Tuna Salad
• Tuna Carpaccio
• Duck in Orange Sauce
• Dessert that includes – sour cherries, red-currant jelly and gourmet tea.

All based on quality French-speaking service, you’ll certainly not be disappointed and the language barrier shouldn’t be a turn-off in any but rather one of the pleasures that ou would njoy as a person on your visit.

Chez Mama in Nosy Be Island

Not to be confused with the Chez Maman in San Francisco but having taste that will certainly beat down your greatest expectations.

Local content in the Nosy Be neighborhood but certainly a great mix available on the menu:

• Shrimps with sauce plus rice, fish or zebu on the menu
• Sliced Carpaccio with pepper
• Grilled fish
• Malagasy dishes like Romazava (beef with vegetable stew) and Poulet sauce (chicken with tomato sauce).

Time to get rolling and visit Chez Mama for some freshly cooked Malagasy food.

The Pily Pily Restaurant in Nosy Be Island

Overlooking the sea on an island connecting two beaches is a beautiful for a meal when around in Nosy Be at the Andilana Resort, the sight of the site is truly spectacular and gives a relaxing feel that is to accompany your holiday and meal time. There is a mix of Italian food with sublime sea food, not forgetting international and Mediterranean dishes.

Sublime seafood is available at this restaurant with a buffet service for lunch, the

• Finger food
• Meat-based samosas
• Prawn kebabs
• Tapas dishes
• Huge and grilled lobsters
• Shell fish
• All sorts of local meats are also available
• For the brave and adventurous in taste – you mat certainly stumble upon some skewered crocodile

The Pily Pily will certainly be a good dose for your holiday. Realize too that this is regarded by most as the best restaurant in the Nosy Be area, so if you’re are visiting this area then you can be assured that the quality that you will get will be very enriching.

Idylle Beach in Nosy Boraha Island

With a 12-hour service, Idylle Beach is rated as number one in about thirteen restaurants in the Nosy Boraha area of Madagascar according to TripAdvisor.

It’s strong points include:

• Beach side ambience
• French cuisine
• European cuisine
• Malagasy cuisines adapted to the highest international standards
• Seafood
• Incredible staff who provide lovely service

Your choices include:

• Rum-based cocktails
• Vodka-based cocktails
• Tequila-based cocktails
• Pina-colada (cocout and pineapple mix)
• Raviole with zebu sauce
• Grilled lobster
• Gambas

The Island of Sainte-Marie certainly has a gem of a restaurant that is a must visit for you. Adjoining bar lounge and guest rooms are also available at this lovely location. The experience promises to be complete.

Mad Zebu in Belo-sur-Tsiribihina

Any connoisseur of good food will be at the Mad Zebu and if you are in Madagascar for a full experience then the clos location of the Mad Zebu to the Tsingy de Bemaraha will provide will with a fill and re-fill before and after an exhilarating experience.

With a mix of dishes that include traditional Malagasy dishes, international cuisine and also innovative preparations such as

• Banana skewered with honey
• Terrine Tilapia and Black Olives
• Nile Perch in Coconut sauce
• Fried Zebu Shins and roast cherry tomatoes
• Zebu Filet
• Grilled Camaron
• Homemade ice-cream and fruits are also available at this Restaurant

Your move, come over and have a taste.

Chez Madame Chabaud in Mahajanga (Majunga)

Another quiet small spot for rich and excellent cuisines around Madagascar now run by the daughter of the aforementioned chef but as sweet as ever.

High standard fresh sea food is available at this restaurant with quality services to boot the dishes available here are but not limited to:

• Steamed fish
• Buttered Ray
• Zebu medallions with cream pepper sauce
• Camaron
• Ouassous
• Quenelle de crabs au combava 
• Nems aux crabs sauce a la mangue
• Along with some great cocktails

The Restaurant’s menu is comprehensive even though the location is small. If you’re going in as a fairly large group you may certainly need to book ahead.

Parad’Ice in Mahajanga (Majunga)

A lovely name which means “eden” when read in Malagasy. Also a lovely café-restaurant in the city of Mahajanga that provides all sorts from meals that includes:

• Ravitoto and zebu stew
• Burgers
• Ham and cheese-grilled sandwiches

It also well known for its wonderful ice cream collection that keeps visitors delighted and coming back for more.

No matter how choosy and selective you might be when I comes to food, Madagascar’s restaurants will certainly find you a meal fit for your taste buds ad if you are one who is not at all bothered then younare sure to have lots of fun with the diverse meals that are available in Madagascar.

Le Melville in Diego Suarez (Antsiranana)

With French, European and a fusion of dishes available at Le Melville, this restaurant gives those who intend visiting Diego Suarez (Antsiranana) a beautiful option to eat at. The service ratings of this restaurant stand at a whopping 4.5 according to TripAdvisor and no wonder they also possess a Certificate of Excellence too.

It’s location gives you a breathtaking view of the Diego Suarez bay and the comfort that you need. The food and drinks are at reasonable prices despite the apparent sophistication of the restaurant.

The restaurant boasts of a collection of different dishes that includes:

• Seafood
• Pasta
• Duck, ribs, beef
• Malagsy dishes are also available at this restaurant
• Zebu
• Homemade ice-cream

It is certainly your call to have a feel of this lovely restaurant when at Diego Suarez, it really is the best around here and you won’t be disappointed in any way.

Coco Lodge Restaurant in Mahajanga (Majunga)

The struggle to stick to a vegetarian diet is solved in this restaurant. It also offers French gourmet cuisine, Malagasy and Lebanese dishes, Sea cicada, Carpaccio, lobster, Camaron, Zebu, duck breast.

The Coco lodge also adds music to the menu with the Jazz Trio Group Family on Fridays but you will need to make reservations for that.

The quality is guaranteed as the meals are overseen by a chef with 50 years’ experience in the business the restaurant is open all through the week except for Sunday lunch with appetizers, main dishes and desserts flowing all through:

Appetizers:

• Fish smoked on crushed tubers
• Carpaccio of lobster
• Seared foie gras on gingerbread and toast

Main Dishes:

• Sea cicadas
• Semi-cooked tuna, sesame seeds and wazzabbi
• Sea with mangrove crab seafood platter.

Lebanese Dishes available are:

• Shawarma meat, chicken
• Kibbeh
• Shanklish

A lovely place to be for your next meal when in the Mahajanga area of Madagascar.

La Villa in Tamatave (Toamasina)

A wonderful home for food and good taste is here for you in the city of Tamatave. La Villa Tamatave is a combination of great value for your money, excellent tasting foods, world class service and the rich atmosphere that is the norm all over the Big Island. The excellent setting of this restaurant gives you a home feel that you will definitely appreciate.

Visitors at this restaurant comment about the great experience that they have had visiting and a number of them look forward to future visits of La Villa.

With a certificate of excellence by TripAdvisor La Villa boasts of rich dining choices that includes but not limited to:

• Local rum with pepper and ginger
• Risotto
• Pork Filet
• Fish and duck
• Fresh seafood

Zandina in Antsirabe city

Pizza, rice and everything nice all present at the lovely Zandina restaurant. A quality restaurant located in Antsirabe. Recognized by many who are in that region as the best of restaurants

Meals available include:

• Pizza (ham and pineapple, zebu)
• Pasta
• Rice
• Carpaccio of smoked fish

The quality of the restaurant does pull in crowds and you may have to contend with that if you eat during peak period but you can be sure that your wait will not be in vain.

Le Relais de la Reine in Fianarantsoa

 

Le Jardin de Giancarlo in Toliara (Tulear)