After a spectacular 2018 debut, SALT of Palmar is collaborating with Design Hotels as the island nation’s first Member Hotel. The adults-only boutique hotel has made waves in the local hospitality sector with its daring design by Camille Walala, innovative dining concept, and dedication to giving back to the community, all of which are central to Design Hotels’ ideals.
The addition of SALT of Palmar establishes a new partnership that serves as an anchor for a community of travellers in search of transformative and restorative adventures; the collection of hand-picked, design-driven properties is defined by distinctive creative expression, consciousness, and creating spaces for purposeful experiences.
Stylish patterns and colors greets visitors upon arrival.
SALT of Palmar is now a permanent fixture on the Design Hotels map, has consistently confounded local expectations.
“SALT of Palmar is a wonderful addition to our community and we are so happy to have them here,” says Jenni Benzaquen, SVP/Managing Director of Design Hotels.
SALT of Palmar is located on a tiny peninsula between two bays with tranquil blue waters in the village of Palmar, which is on the east coast of Mauritius between Belle Mare and Trou d’Eau Douce. This is the first Design Hotel to open in Mauritius. Its striking interior design and thoughtful connections to the local community are just two examples of how the chain’s values are being put into practice there.
First Mauritian Resort to Collaborate with Design Hotels
When it comes to hotels in Mauritius, SALT of Palmar is the first to partner with the prestigious Design Hotels. It’s a partnership between like-minded organisations who share a love for warm hospitality, real cultural experiences, and innovative design and construction. Sustainable and empathic hospitality platform SALT helps modern travellers find authentic adventures. The resort is both artistic and wellness-focused, bringing visitors deeper into the destination by connecting them with its people rather than its landmarks.
The rooftop bar is blessed with picturesque view of the island.
Island Living Design Concept
Artist Camille Walala incorporated island lore into her interior design concept by fusing the island’s natural colours with her characteristic pop hues. Because of this, the property is splashed with the vivid colours of the island’s homes, the pinks of the breathtaking sunsets, and the greens of the palm trees and sugarcane fields. The exterior is a cheery shade of pink and blue, the daybeds are a lively turquoise with orange piping, and even the beach towels are a sunny shade of yellow.
Appealing mix of colors and lovely interior adorns each room.
On the island, Camille worked with with an astonishing variety of artists fondly referred to as the hotel’s “SaltShakers” to create the full scope of the hotel’s furnishings. Weaved seats beside the pool, a rug in the library, tables, cushions, and loungers all made from mosaic tiles—everything is made to order. The hotel has strong ties to the SaltShakers and frequently hosts workshops at their studios for visitors.
A Culinary Destination
SALT of Palmar’s The Good Kitchen, has become a popular spot for both tourists and native Mauritian diners. It was one of the first restaurants on the island to provide a menu that included classic Mauritian meals with vegan and raw adaptations of them, appealing to a wide range of diners. Particularly noteworthy is a new spin on the classic “biriyani” recipe, in which cauliflower takes the place of the usual meat in the rice dish.
The Good Kitchen.
The salt-baked fish is also noteworthy, as it is prepared by poaching the fish in seawater and serving it in a coconut broth. Only ingredients that can’t be cultivated on the island are brought in, and everything on the menu is made with the freshest local fruit possible. Everything on the à la carte breakfast menu is homemade as well, from the kombucha to the peanut butter to the jams to the flaky pastries that were originally developed in collaboration with the renowned Parisian bakery Du Pain et des Idées and then updated to include tropical fruits like papaya and pineapple.
Each of the hotel’s three bars — the beach bar, the pool bar, and the rooftop bar — has its own personality and serves cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks themed after the ocean, the countryside, and the mountains of Mauritius, respectively.
Comfortable Spaces
The hotel’s 59 guest rooms offer a more tranquil environment in which to get some shut-eye. Features such as bright orange chairs and matching tiled baths, plants in hand-painted ceramic pots, and black and white striped sofas add a lively pop of color. Every room has a beach basket created from recycled plastics by local craftsman Reotee Buleeram, refillable, all-natural amenities, and a custom mattress by Carpe Diem, a firm founded by a Swedish chiropractor.
The hotel’s small spa, SALT EQUILIBRIUM, features a salt chamber for halotherapy as well as the use of natural ingredients in its treatments. Socially conscious events, such as workshops on food trash regrowth and how to manufacture bath fizzes, are commonly given alongside more physically active activities, such as sunrise/sunset yoga sessions, peace beach walks, and beach volleyball.
SALT of Palmar can be reached from the international airport in 50 minutes by a beautiful drive through the countryside. For more information, visit SALT of Palmar’s website.
