Port Louis Central Market

Mauritius is a country assembled from India, Africa, China and France, and nowhere shows it faster than the Central Market in Port Louis. Under its iron roofs sit mountains of lychees, pineapples and victoria pineapple sold by the piece, chilli pastes and vanilla pods, bundles of curry leaf, and a whole aisle of herbal-remedy vendors dispensing tisanes for every ailment with total confidence. The eating is the real draw: dholl puri, the island's soft split-pea flatbread rolled around curry and pickle, plus gateaux piments, samosas and alouda drinks, all served fast from counters where the queue tells you which stall to pick.

What you actually see

• The fruit and vegetable halls - tropical produce in season and stallholder banter.
• Dholl puri counters - the national street food, eaten standing.
• The herbal medicine aisle - tisane sellers and their labelled jars.
• The craft section - model ships, basketwork and spice packs upstairs.

When to go

Mornings are the market at full strength, roughly from opening to early afternoon; by late afternoon the food stalls wind down. Any month works. Saturdays are the busiest and liveliest; Sundays see much of the market close early or entirely.

Honest expectations

The craft floor leans hard on visitors and prices there start high - bargaining is expected and cheerful. Pickpocketing is the usual crowded-market risk, so keep bags in front. Food hygiene at the busy counters is generally fine, and turnover is the best signal; stick with hot, freshly made items. Port Louis traffic is heavy, so park at the waterfront and walk in.

Nearby

Caudan Waterfront, the Blue Penny Museum and Champ de Mars racecourse are all a short walk.