Thereare those who have been to Seychelles and look back on an incredible time, no matter the island or islands to which they travelled.
Then, there are those who have experienced La Digue. For them, an extra hint of fondness can often be detected, something hidden behind a smile or a glint in the eye, that only a fellow traveller to La Digue would understand.
The charm of the island is undeniable, and it remains one of the most desirable locations, even within Seychelles. The development of tourism has certainly transformed the island in some ways, but ultimately the laid-back pace, the friendliness and familiarity of the locals, and the amazing backdrops of granite-lined beaches remain relatively unchanged.
Five-star hotel options may be somewhat limited on La Digue, and the island largely relies on a vast assemblage of small guesthouses for its tourist numbers.
The boutique property of Le Repaire, however, is an example of La Digue’s Creole charm taking on new life in a modern, upmarket establishment. The hotel’s 18 rooms are situated on Anse Reunion, the stretch of beach in between the usually bustling hub of La Passe and its jetty (which connects the island with the rest of the archipelago), and Anse Source D’Argent, arguably the island’s foremost – and inarguably its most famous – beach attraction.
The rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, with a number of helpful amenities that give due consideration to the practical aspects of holidaying on an island where plenty of beach-going, bike-riding and other outdoor activities are the norm for most guests. Connecting room options conveniently cater to families as well.
Le RepaiRe
Go for La Digue, stay for the food …and return for the hospitality
The outdoor pathways connecting the rooms to the pools and the beach are surrounded by layer upon layer of ornamental shrubs and colourful flowers, so full and thick that they almost seem to be parting just temporarily enough to walk through.
The lush gardens provide a romantic backdrop for the restaurant, a place that guests may end up spending much more time than they might originally anticipate. Although the menu experiments with a few islandcentric touches and makes the most of local ingredients like red snapper and tropical fruits, there is no mistaking Le Repaire for having anything other than an Italian restaurant. This is not an eatery with an identity crisis. Beautifully crafted pizzas are only the beginning. A wonderful selection of gnocchi dishes – one with a gorgonzola sauce that packs serious flavour – as well as a risotto that pairs prawns and passion fruit, are just some of the unconventional creations that make every dining experience an adventure.
Through it all, from the housekeeping and front office staff, to the waiters and chefs, to the friendly smiles greeting guests upon their return from the latest cycling adventure, a gentle sort of service underlies the Le Repaire experience.
If there’s one small but poignant example of just how well Le Repaire gets it right, look no further than the bicycle cart that awaits the arrival of guests to convey luggage from the jetty to the hotel. The cart itself boasts an antique quality of something very much last-century, but it possesses just as much function as form, and a touch of memorable character to top it all off.
www.lerepaireseychelles.com | instagram: le.repaire
There are those who have been to Seychelles and look back on an incredible time, no matter the island or islands to which they travelled.
Then, there are those who have experienced La Digue. For them, an extra hint of fondness can often be detected, something hidden behind a smile or a glint in the eye, that only a fellow traveller to La Digue would understand.
The charm of the island is undeniable, and it remains one of the most desirable locations, even within Seychelles. The development of tourism has certainly transformed the island in some ways, but ultimately the laid-back pace, the friendliness and familiarity of the locals, and the amazing backdrops of granite-lined beaches remain relatively unchanged.
Five-star hotel options may be somewhat limited on La Digue, and the island largely relies on a vast assemblage of small guesthouses for its tourist numbers.
The boutique property of Le Repaire, however, is an example of La Digue’s Creole charm taking on new life in a modern, upmarket establishment.
The hotel’s 18 rooms are situated on Anse Reunion, the stretch of beach in between the usually bustling hub of La Passe and its jetty (which connects the island with the rest of the archipelago), and Anse Source D’Argent, arguably the island’s foremost – and inarguably its most famous – beach attraction.
The rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, with a number of helpful amenities that give due consideration to the practical aspects of holidaying on an island where plenty of beachgoing, bike-riding and other outdoor activities are the norm for most guests. Connecting room options conveniently cater to families as well.
The outdoor pathways connecting the rooms to the pools and the beach are surrounded by layer upon layer of ornamental shrubs and colourful flowers, so full and thick that they almost seem to be parting just temporarily enough to walk through.
The lush gardens provide a romantic backdrop for the restaurant, a place that guests may end up spending much more time than they might originally anticipate.
Although the menu experiments with a few island-centric touches and makes the most of local ingredients like red snapper and tropical fruits, there is no mistaking Le Repaire for having anything other than an Italian restaurant. This is not an eatery with an identity crisis.
Beautifully crafted pizzas are only the beginning. A wonderful selection of gnocchi dishes – one with a gorgonzola sauce that packs serious flavour – as well as a risotto that pairs prawns and passion fruit, are just some of the unconventional creations that make every dining experience an adventure.
Through it all, from the housekeeping and front office staff, to the waiters and chefs, to the friendly smiles greeting guests upon their return from the latest cycling adventure, a gentle sort of service underlies the Le Repaire experience.
If there’s one small but poignant example of just how well Le Repaire gets it right, look no further than the bicycle cart that awaits the arrival of guests to convey luggage from the jetty to the hotel. The cart itself boasts an antique quality of something very much last-century, but it possesses just as much function as form, and a touch of memorable character to top it all off.
www.lerepaireseychelles.com | instagram: le.repaire
