Originality, warmth, art, freedom? These are a few words that could characterise the place. I could try and describe the unique premises to you but as the owner says, ?You have to experience it for yourself!? The Café des Arts is a museum and a restaurant at the same time. In fact, it is a place where you can spend a quiet interlude discovering a rather vast collection of original paintings by Yvette Maniglier.

The former sugar factory Petite Victoria, situated in Trou-d?Eau-Douce ? which has in itself a special cachet as it has somehow preserved its village essence ? offered

Jocelyn Gonzalez, the owner, the perfect setting in which to set up his museum-foundation-restaurant. The paintings have found their home in the old stone house amidst its splendid huge garden. The contrast between the colours used by the painter and the grey of the stonework highlight the already magnificent work of the artist.

The art lover insists that it is not like any other restaurant. ?Although it used to be an ?industrial? place, the ?old spirit? prevails, which gives a really excellent atmosphere for exhibiting such paintings!? You don?t come to the Café des Arts only to eat good food and drink good win the Café is a whole atmosphere. The set up of the place makes you feel ?at home.? The owner wanted his Foundation to be a place where both artists and art lovers could meet and enjoy discussing Art.

<B>Nothing on sale at the exhibition</B>

The environment is absolutely uncommon. The owner designed the furniture, the crockery and also the wall lamps himself. One of Maniglier?s paintings is reproduced on each plate, ice bucket and even on the menu cover. When you come from a family of artists, you must have it somewhere in your blood? And he insists on the fact that it has all been done by Mauritian craftsmen or companies.

Actually, no painting is for sale. Jocelyn has the biggest collection by the painter in the whole world and doesn?t intend to change this. ?I?ve already sold some of the paintings but this was done on very special occasions and to people ? I was sure ? who could appreciate the very valuable work they were aquiring.? The aim is thus not to earn a living by selling paintings but only to get people to discover or re-discover Maniglier.

In a way, it is also a means of bringing something new and distinctive to the tourism landscape in Mauritius. This former hotelier knows the sector (having been in the field for almost twenty years) and this is evident in many ways. Not only because he is adding a different touch to the classical Mauritian holiday experience but also through the menu he offers his customers.

From ?Seafood Salad ? Prawns ? Squid ? Octopus ? Fish Marinated with Spices and Coconut Milk ? served in a Fresh Coconut from the Victoria Garden? to the ?Slices of Périgord Foie Gras served with grilled Toast and a Maison Rouge Mango Purée?? are some of the dishes on the menu for dinner.You can expect the bill to be around Rs1,600. For lunch, the same dishes are available but the menu is ?à la carte?. Having lunch there will cost around Rs 800 minimum. But, believe me, the meal will be a gastronomic experience.

The restaurant can accommodate up to 16 people (except on special occasions) and meals can be prepared on request. The idea was to give customers space and comfort to enjoy a day in the restaurant or nearby the pool. Jocelyn Gonzalez wants his customers to feel ?special and unique? when they come to his restaurant.

The owner also hopes that this lively museum could help local artists. ?It shows artists who may feel discouraged not to experience any success that an artist has achieved success in her lifetime??