Island celebration: A Lux-urious escape to Mauritius
Aspire discovers why The Lux Collective ticks all the boxes for clients visiting this breathtaking Indian Ocean archipelago
Seated beneath the shade of a thatched parasol, my feet sinking into the sand, the words of Sanjana coincide with the gentle waves of the Indian Ocean rolling on and off the beach. “Breathe in. And breathe out. Breathe in and out.”
We’re checking into Salt of Palmar on the island of Mauritius and the two-minute meditative ritual is part of the welcome. The idea is that guests leave all their tension at the door and relax completely during their stay.
In fairness, it’s not a difficult ask. I know this is somewhere special when I arrive at the property and am handed a welcome drink of pineapple, honey, chilli and, of course, salt. Akash greets me as if I’m a long-lost friend and, with a few taps on his iPad, I’m all checked in.
I’m led up the stairs (there’s no lift in the hotel) to my Bang on Beach room, where I’m greeted by a view that looks as if it’s been Photoshopped. Chilled jazz is playing from the Roberts radio. The softest of bath robes made from coffee grounds hangs in the wardrobe alongside a pair of flip-flops that are the source of a sweet fragrance, having been fashioned from cinnamon bark. A yoga mat ensures that I’m all set for early-morning stretching and my complimentary snacks consist of crispy coconut chips and chunks of fresh pineapple.
Unique offering
This is no ordinary hotel; in fact, it’s somewhat of an anomaly. For one, it’s smaller than most in Mauritius and describes itself as a boutique property, with only 59 rooms. Second, it’s for adults only – a rarity here.
And let’s not forget the design – in fact, it’s impossible to ignore. Salt of Palmar screams colour: bold blackand white stripes contrast with blocks of vivid orange, electric blue and yellow. Although it belongs to The Lux Collective, the Salt brand is also a member of Design Hotels – and it’s easy to see why.
But it’s not just the bold aesthetic that’s different, it’s the ethos. Central to this is Salt’s connection with the community. Wherever possible, the hotel uses local suppliers – or ‘Salt Shakers’ as they are affectionately called – and each vendor is known by name. Bibi and Asok provide seasonal fruit; Kishor the fisherman supplies the catch of the day; and Reotee weaves recycled plastics used to create the colourful beach bags that clients will find in their rooms.
Guests are positively encouraged to go and meet the Shakers themselves. The lack of minibars or TVs in the rooms is a mindful nudge in this direction, along with a Salt-produced guidebook listing the best local bars, restaurants and tours across Mauritius.
Diverse appeal
Admittedly, this ethos, and the hotel’s limited facilities (it has just one infinity pool and only two restaurants), may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But Salt has four sister properties on the island. These are the hotels that fly the Lux Resorts and Hotels’ flag and I’m here with a handful of select luxury agents to familiarise myself with them all. In contrast to Salt of Palmar is the audacious Lux Grand Baie, the group’s flagship property, which opened in 2021. Nowhere else is this contemporary style replicated in Mauritius – and, some say, across the Indian Ocean. Architecturally, it’s striking. Apparently, Mauritian architect Jean-François Adam is a keen kitesurfer, and his passion is conveyed in the use of enormous metal, timber and thatch screens shaped like sails.
Meanwhile, Kelly Hoppen, the British interior designer behind Lux Grand Baie and other properties from the brand on the island, ripped up Mauritius’s design digest and went for a modern look using industrial materials such as glass and metal and a colour palette of black, white, concrete grey, browns and flashes of bright red. The result is sharp, stark and edgy.
Almost every corner of the resort is Insta-worthy. Taking a seat on the swing over the rooftop infinity pool is a surefire way to attract ‘likes’. Its open-air wellness space, Muscle Up on the Roof, garners lots of attention on socials and, together with a high-tech gym and exercise studio, sees guests – including, I’ve been told, ‘celebrity athletes’ – often sign up for personal training programmes during their stay.
It’s the perfect prep before hitting Beach Rouge – the hotel’s main, day-to-night restaurant and beach club. This is where I head for my morning kombucha and granola (less healthy options are available). By day it’s an Ibiza style beach club complete with pool and swim-up bar and, come dusk, said pool is lit up in an electrifying red while a DJ takes to the decks and guests sip aperitifs.
Dinner can be enjoyed at any of the three restaurants. For a real treat, head to the hotel’s speciality Japanese venue, Ai Kisu. Its opulent dark-and-gold interior, alongside a bustling open kitchen, create a buzz not dissimilar to that found in Manhattan.
Spoilt for choice
Between chilled-out Salt of Palmar and lively Lux Grand Baie are three more-traditional beach resorts, each with its own selling points.
Lux Belle Mare is a firm family favourite located on one of the island’s best beaches. This property has also received the Hoppen touch following an extensive yearlong renovation and reopening in October 2023. It now boasts a fresh design of greens and creams.
The bounty of fine dining spans five venues, including signature restaurant Amari by acclaimed Indian chef Vineet Bhatia, and the much-loved Duck Laundry, serving modern Chinese. I particularly love seeing kids easily able to help themselves at the child-height counters in the main dining space, Mondo. It’s great to learn that any food left over is distributed to hotel staff and local charities as part of the resort’s (and much of the group’s) Zero Waste initiative.
Sister hotel Lux Grand Gaube also has its own environmental projects, one being the Hug Me Honey experience. Nestled in a tranquil corner of the property’s garden, some 240,000 bees reside in six hives. While learning about beekeeping, we sip honey cocktails and taste the nectar before taking our seats in the outdoor, fairy-like restaurant (complete with a rill of water trickling along the centre of the table) for a honey-pairing dinner. The result is absolutely magical.
Positioned on a peninsula, the hotel spans two separate bays – one of which is adult-only – and it seems that turquoise sea vistas greet you at every turn.
However, it’s the views from Lux Le Morne that are simply unbeatable. Sitting in the shadow of the island’s iconic Le Morne Brabant mountain, this secluded property is utterly romantic. So that we’re able to fully appreciate the setting, the hotel’s general manager can’t get us off the resort quickly enough, inviting us to board a speedboat to enjoy a tour of the bay. It’s easy to see why: the views of the Unesco-listed mountain are breathtaking. And there is just as much to see underwater, where a turtle is our tour guide.
On returning to the hotel, our snorkelling efforts are rewarded when we experience the culinary theatre at Kawaii, the resort’s eight-seat omakase sushi bar. The master chef is the director and the 12 exquisite dishes are the ultimate stars of what is a once-in-a-lifetime taste sensation. If Michelin was ever to award stars to the island, this private dining restaurant would, without doubt, receive the recognition that it so rightfully deserves.
While everything the Lux brand creates is luxurious, the name actually means ‘light’ in Latin and the company translates this as “providing a fresh approach and helping people celebrate life”. My Lux experience was most certainly a celebration.
Book it:
Pure Luxury offers four nights’ B&B at Lux Grand Baie and four nights’ B&B at Lux Le Morne from £2,689 per person based on two sharing. The price includes return economy flights from Stansted with Emirates and is valid for a June 15, 2026, departure.
GOLDMEDAL.CO.UK
AN EXTRA SPRINKLING OF SALT
Before leaving Salt of Palmar, our stay rounds off in much the same manner that it started, with a moment of guided meditation on the beach to send us on our way, plus a gift of a small hessian bag filled with salt crystals to protect us on our travels.
Salt – the crystalline substance – plays a big part in the brand, not least within the Salt Room of its Equilibrium Spa, where the walls and floor are coated with the mineral, which is claimed to improve the respiratory system, skin, immunity and energy levels.
The Tamarin salt pans found in Mauritius may well have inspired the name of this boutique brand, but it’s the local community who are actually behind the name.They are the ‘salt of the earth’, the ones who shape the destination and, hence, shape the hotel.
And now the brand is being sprinkled for the first time beyond its homeland. This year, Salt of Anji will open in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Shanghai, followed by a second property in Mount Siguniang, Sichuan, in 2027.
Staying true to the brand ethos, connecting with the locals will be paramount, while both properties will also offer the Equilibrium Spa and signature Salt Room.
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