La Plaine St André
A restored plantation house of 1792 on Mahé, the oldest surviving building on the island.
Updated 2 September 2026
La Plaine St André was built in 1792 and is generally described as the oldest surviving building on Mahé, a low timber and stone plantation house with a wide veranda, restored and now used by a distillery producing rum on the site alongside a restaurant and a small museum of the island's creole domestic life. The grounds hold a spice and medicinal plant garden. The house sits among trees on the eastern coastal plain.
What to look for
- The 1792 house - the oldest surviving building on the island.
- The veranda and timber - the creole plantation architecture of the period.
- The distillery - the rum production now operating on the site.
- The plant garden - the spice and medicinal planting in the grounds.
When to go
Year round on daytime hours. The restaurant runs at lunch and dinner. It closes on some days of the week.
What to expect
The museum section is small and thinly interpreted. The site is largely a restaurant and distillery operation. Opening days change and should be checked.
Nearby
The Botanical Gardens are north, and Anse Royale is south.
What to pack for La Plaine St André
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
