Le Grand Bleu — Restaurant in Nosy Be

Le Grand Bleu is a charming, medium-sized hotel that perfectly balances comfort, tranquility, and family-friendly hospitality. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by Dany, the charismatic French-Canadian host who immediately sets a warm and welcoming tone.||||𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬||||Nestled away from the busier parts of Nosy Be, Le Grand Bleu offers a peaceful retreat while still being conveniently close to the main road, making it easy to catch a TukTuk for exploring. The lush garden is beautifully maintained, and the swimming pool is large enough for a relaxing dip or a quick swim. Despite visiting during the rainy season, we were delighted that the rain only came at night—adding to the tropical ambiance without interrupting our plans.||||𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧||||We stayed in a family bungalow, which was ideal for our family of four (with two daughters, aged 14 and 10). The bungalow offers plenty of privacy, with enough space between neighbors to feel at home. It featured two bedrooms: the main room with air conditioning and a mini fridge, and a secondary room with a single bed and a bunk bed. The setup was practical and comfortable, making it an excellent choice for families.||||𝐀 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲-𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭||||Le Grand Bleu fosters a welcoming atmosphere for families, and our children enjoyed meeting and playing with other young guests. The hotel also takes a strong stance against sex tourism—a commendable effort given the challenges faced in Nosy Be. We appreciated the absence of uncomfortable situations like older men with young women, which made our stay even more enjoyable as a family.||||𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬||||The on-site restaurant was a highlight of our stay:||• Breakfast: You can choose between a European-style breakfast or a traditional Malagasy rice soup with meat, which I highly recommend trying.||• Lunch & Dinner: The menu is diverse, with daily specials that keep things fresh and exciting. While the pizza base was a bit too crispy for my taste, and the fried chicken/nuggets were slightly overcooked, overall, the meals were delightful. The staff’s attention to quality was evident—they even advised against ordering zebu when the day’s delivery didn’t meet their high standards.||• Poutine: Being run by a French-Canadian, you will find this iconic meal from Québec.||• Desserts: The homemade peanut ice cream deserves a special mention, being my personal favorite.||||𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬||||The hotel’s Christmas Eve celebration was a standout experience, featuring a special menu and a traditional Malagasy band. They also host similar events for New Year’s Eve. The price for the Christmas dinner was very reasonable, and the thoughtful organization made it a memorable evening.||||𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬||||• Connectivity: WiFi is spotty, but 4G from both Orange and Telma works well.||• Nearby Attractions: Andilana Beach, one of Nosy Be’s finest, is just minutes away by TukTuk. A private ride costs approximately 5,000 AR (about $1 USD).||• Boat Outings: While excursions to nearby islands are pricier than what we’re used to as locals in Mauritius, they’re reasonably priced for European tourists and in line with Nosy Be’s standards (and also Mauritius standards). Discounts are available for multiple outings.||||𝐀 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲||||One of our family members couldn’t attend the Christmas dinner due to nausea caused by preventive anti-malaria medication, and the hotel graciously didn’t charge for their absence—a kind and much-appreciated gesture.||||Additionally, when our daughter felt unwell during our stay, they swiftly arranged a driver to take her to the nearest clinic, ensuring she received prompt care. Their quick response and genuine concern were truly comforting.||||𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬||||Le Grand Bleu offers an ideal combination of comfort, warmth, and thoughtful touches, making it perfect for families or anyone seeking a relaxing stay in Nosy Be. The attentive staff, delicious meals, and peaceful atmosphere left us with cherished memories. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this hotel and hope to...

Booked for a sea-view bungalow but we were given a different cottage with no sea-view because some other guests got priority above us- why - we don't know. More details about the room leaking below.

We were greeted by the proprietors Celine & Jacques at the base of the hotel. Celine speaks English; Jacques does not. They are a lovely couple.

This hotel is perfect for French guests as that is the predominant language spoken. Yet, this should be one of the main things advertised as if only one staff member speaks workable English, this will mean anyone who only speaks English will be alienated completely through most of their stay.

Location: Around 45 minutes away from the airport.

(i) rain: madagascar has a rainy season starting November. Because of its natural environment, the landing areas become muddy & slippery; this is an extreme problem as there are dangerous & uneven steps in the climb up & down the hotel. This is exacerbated by the next problem

(ii) darkness: This hotel's climb is not lighted well. I nearly fell twice because of poor lighting & because the stairs are not well built, this makes it a dangerous location in the dark.

Dining: Much to say about this. Most of the things on the menu were not available, even the fish. This was extremely disappointing. Due to the language barrier, we kept asking for hot food & kept getting cold food. We did not finish our food & stuck to the limited vegetables. The quiche was warm & it was good. We asked for some onions & chilli in our omelette but I guess they didn't understand & we got the basic. We technically lived on bread & butter. We expected a bit more variety of cheese & sadly there was none. My opinions about food are extremely subjective with highly enhanced taste buds & I take food extremely seriously. A nearby 4 star hotel's food was just mediocre by my standards.

Wifi: Extremely poor; upgrade required

Entertainment, pool & bar: Entertainment: Saturday night entertainment was really lovely. The pool is overrated. In the photos of trip-adviser this is the most illuminated aspect of the entire place, yet it is very small, measuring possibly lesser than 5 metres/7 metres. The bar is generally good & it is well staffed. The overall top floor is well lit, airy.

Room & environment: Disappointing. Please note these are EXTREMELY BASIC cottages with extremely BASIC facilities. The adjoining balcony with hammock is well spaced with a small comfy sofa and table.

Lighting: Extremely poor.

Shower, toilet, toiletries: Shower is separated by a half-wall from the bedside. Shower is very good & is run by solar. Warm & cold water present

Basin is so high, it needs a tool to stand on. It's a health & safety issue. When booked we understood that toiletries would be provided; this is misleading. We got a soap that measured 6cm/2.5cm/.7cm. I'm not sure whether it was for us or for .5 of us. If we had known we would have brought our own.

Towels: Nice & light and sufficient. Cleaning costs are expensive @ 1Euro per item.

Toilet: Clean common commode & no basin.

Refrigerator, AC and fan: good working condition.

Bed: Double sized & comfortable as can be expected.

Bed sheets: We are almost sure they were not washed. They smelled disturbingly of people's sweat & we had to cover the bed and pillows with our scarves & shawls before going to bed.

Mosquito net, shelf, toilet paper: Very good & essential.

Ventilation: Extremely poor.

Floor: A piece of wood came out of the floor

On the second night it rained heavily. Water started to come into the room & this was one of the main reasons for us moving out of the hotel. We prefer to have a non-leaking room.

Misc.: We got an umbrella to use

Despite having stayed only two nights & a leaking room, we paid for the whole 3 nights as we were charged this; we didn't make a fuss out of it because that is how we roll & we hold up our part of the bargain when we book.

Would we stay again? No Would we refer? No Value 4 money? No

For detailed review...

𝔸 𝔽𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕪-𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕪 𝕆𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕟 ℕ𝕠𝕤𝕪 𝔹𝕖: 𝕃𝕖 𝔾𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔹𝕝𝕖𝕦

Le Grand Bleu is a charming, medium-sized hotel that perfectly balances comfort, tranquility, and family-friendly hospitality. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by Dany, the charismatic French-Canadian host who immediately sets a warm and welcoming tone.

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Nestled away from the busier parts of Nosy Be, Le Grand Bleu offers a peaceful retreat while still being conveniently close to the main road, making it easy to catch a TukTuk for exploring. The lush garden is beautifully maintained, and the swimming pool is large enough for a relaxing dip or a quick swim. Despite visiting during the rainy season, we were delighted that the rain only came at night—adding to the tropical ambiance without interrupting our plans.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

We stayed in a family bungalow, which was ideal for our family of four (with two daughters, aged 14 and 10). The bungalow offers plenty of privacy, with enough space between neighbors to feel at home. It featured two bedrooms: the main room with air conditioning and a mini fridge, and a secondary room with a single bed and a bunk bed. The setup was practical and comfortable, making it an excellent choice for families.

𝐀 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲-𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Le Grand Bleu fosters a welcoming atmosphere for families, and our children enjoyed meeting and playing with other young guests. The hotel also takes a strong stance against sex tourism—a commendable effort given the challenges faced in Nosy Be. We appreciated the absence of uncomfortable situations like older men with young women, which made our stay even more enjoyable as a family.

𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The on-site restaurant was a highlight of our stay: • Breakfast: You can choose between a European-style breakfast or a traditional Malagasy rice soup with meat, which I highly recommend trying. • Lunch & Dinner: The menu is diverse, with daily specials that keep things fresh and exciting. While the pizza base was a bit too crispy for my taste, and the fried chicken/nuggets were slightly overcooked, overall, the meals were delightful. The staff’s attention to quality was evident—they even advised against ordering zebu when the day’s delivery didn’t meet their high standards. • Poutine: Being run by a French-Canadian, you will find this iconic meal from Québec. • Desserts: The homemade peanut ice cream deserves a special mention, being my personal favorite.

𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The hotel’s Christmas Eve celebration was a standout experience, featuring a special menu and a traditional Malagasy band. They also host similar events for New Year’s Eve. The price for the Christmas dinner was very reasonable, and the thoughtful organization made it a memorable evening.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬

• Connectivity: WiFi is spotty, but 4G from both Orange and Telma works well. • Nearby Attractions: Andilana Beach, one of Nosy Be’s finest, is just minutes away by TukTuk. A private ride costs approximately 5,000 AR (about $1 USD).

𝐀 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

One of our family members couldn’t attend the Christmas dinner due to nausea caused by preventive anti-malaria medication, and the hotel graciously didn’t charge for their absence—a kind and much-appreciated gesture.

Additionally, when our daughter felt unwell during our stay, they swiftly arranged a driver to take her to the nearest clinic, ensuring she received prompt care. Their quick response and genuine concern were truly comforting.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

Le Grand Bleu offers an ideal combination of comfort, warmth, and thoughtful touches, making it perfect for families or anyone seeking a relaxing stay in Nosy Be. The attentive staff, delicious meals, and peaceful atmosphere left us with...