The Ultimate Experience Hotel: Mango House Seychelles
As far as junkies goes, my addiction is a pretty expensive one, and I work very hard at getting my fix.
I have been to dives, motels, palaces and the Ritz in Hong Kong and Paris. Aman Resorts and shacks on the beach. I have been to so many I lost count. Thank goodness I chose this career of mine, for as much stress and the anxiety it causes, the joy that comes from walking into a hotel lobby like the one of Mango House is a bit of heaven on earth. Upon entering a hotel, I sigh and go like my mom used to say: “ouuufff" -exhale. Inhale, loveliness. Exhale, the mundane. And as far as entrances goes, Mango House is a place you can relax from the first step into the their space.
Mango House is not like most resorts you will find on an island. They used the word “House” in the name as the lounge area feels are visiting that very rich relative, the one of your dreams, but the homelike feeling ends there. The rest is just pure indulgence.
Walk into your room, and the coffee table is groaning under the weight of a chocolate cake so beautiful, twirling chocolate into midair. Snacks. Juices. Champagne. I wish I could have bought that cake back home. I have dreams about it.
Each room has an ocean view, and a terrace with chairs you can lounge on and listen to the lapping sea but it is set in the trees so the chirping birds keep one grateful for life on earth. A great sense of gratitude comes over one often when you stay at Mango House.
One of the best things about Mango is a little wonder-woman, a sparkly delicate beauty, Brigitte Mein. She told us on arrival she has some surprises for us, and boy did she deliver! Expect many special touches at Mango House!
There at the entrance, right behind her, marches in the dapper and charming Nigel Henri. A man so full of life and energy, it should be bottled. From the moment he meets you, the laughter starts and ends a few days later when he drops you off at the airport, still laughing at 4 am in the morning. Meet the most informed guide on the island, Monsieur Henri. He does not drive clients around, he is a magical tour guide, but he wanted to show us Seychelles at night the, hence he left us at the airport that morning, us, totally exhausted and him looking as if he just came from a six month holiday. Nigel is an institution on the island. You cannot go to any corner of the island without greetings shouted at him from the beach, the car next to ours, from the shops. Nigel is one of the most famous artists on the island, but he does tour guides for Mango as a “hobby” because he loves people and he says he now has friends all over the world. My door will always be open to him. To know Nigel is to adore him. On our journeys winding through the hills of the island, I don't think I have laughed like that in years.
So our first activity with Nigel was a huge surprise. “Come come come”, he signals us up the stairway of the hotel. Laughingly telling us not to fear. And then bursting into rapturous laughter.
There, in this beautifully wallpapered drawing room, all empty, stands two painting easels. Today, he waves is hand to the ocean, you are going to paint what you see.
Like I said I have travelled, but a detail like this from a hotel set up for one, is just beyond measure.
I love painting, and don't do enough of it, especially not landscapes, but Nigel stood over my shoulder and even taught he a thing or two I did not know. Like bringing in texture on the wet paint with a wooden picnic knife. I was stunned. The time flew, he ordered us Champagne and there we stood like two royals, painting the sea and view. What an absolute joy. Laughing at Nigel’s joke all the time.
The next day we spent a few hours in the car with him, laughing so hard and chatting about all his world trips, he has exhibited in Germany to Australia. But this trip was to visit other artists’ studios.
My heart was a bit tender then. In 1978, my parents took us to the Seychelles for the first time. My dad was a restless traveler, always driving around and making a pest of himself with curiosity. Greatly embarrassing for my mom and I. We drove a blue Minimoke, which was the common transport of the time, basically a Jeep with no windows, just a sail roof. They really should bring that back to the island, with an open car you can smell the meals being cooked in homes you pass, the banter can be heard of the kids coming back from school. But I digress, the story is now about Michael Adams.
My dad saw a sign tucked in the lush in the vegetation that read “artist’s studio," and immediately decided he must go say hi. My mom rolled her eyes. But off goes my dad, knocking on the door and a lovely Englishman invites us in.
That is one of my favourite memories, standing in a living room of an old home, the space covered the most colourful and detailed paintings of the flowers, people, and life of the Seychelles. The paintings were as alive as the the island.
My parents bought two pieces, and I am glad they did, as he is now such an institution on the island.
The hotel has taken an Adam’s print and use the print for fabric for their bathrobes. Take note you will want to buy the hotel robe!
Meet Nigel Henri, above, the life of every party.
But back to the hotel.
For breakfast, at Muse, a room with Italian inspired decor and dishes, and a hostess who does not take no for an answer. I am just having orange and coffee, I said. Oh no-no no she said, none of that nonsense. Out came the parties. Then a plate of fruit, and then a plate of charcuterie. On and on. Ok next, rolling onto the beach, to recover.
Before we knew it, it was time for lunch at the bottom swimming pool. (there are three main pools)
The pool bars name is Soley.
A nod from above. Soleil was my mom’s nickname. Smiling at me. A sunny hello from the sky!
So we sat at bar stools over looking the splashing water on rocks below and ate sushi as fresh as it is possible to be. The food comes in bento boxes, and you can choose your bento box combination. We ate as if breakfast was 48 hour ago. And the cocktails! The bar tenders mix the perfect drinks - if you close your eyes and imagine the best beach bar in the world… well that is Soley.
Off to the spa, and my husband says it was the best massage he has ever had. I was just so enraptured with the smell of the product. It is locally made as is the hotel amenities and it is pure bliss.
But that was not it for the day, the bar, was our next destination. The decor is something out of a novel. A bit Great Gatsby meets Casablanca, in dark green velvet and shocking pink accents. Ceiling fans in rattan. Old chests filled with all the alcohol brands you could think of. But we were there on a mission sent by Brigitte, and that was to learn to make a cocktail with the Seychelles best rum, Takamaka. But this is not just any rum drink, lots of fanfare involved, with the end result: a gun that blows a giant rainbow coloured bubble dome over the glass. Astonishing!
That night we just had a light Creole dinner next to the beach at Moutya. No, that was joke. We had three courses AGAIN. But the feeling of the sea breeze in my hair, and the waves just a few feet away, will always be etched in my mind.
The house is built on a tip of two small beaches meeting on rocks. It once belonged to famous fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri. When I was a teen I was crazy about his work. He shot a lot for Italian Vogue but is most famous for his black and white prints of men, and this was before Herb Ritts’ time. He sold the house for the Hilton Hotel group to add this property to their small luxe portfolio. His work above.
The last night’s dinner I am actually embarrassed to write about. The restaurant is Japanese called Azido and situated on the rocks with the breeze and sometimes sea water breeze on your face. Magical. The embarrassing part is how much we ate. But, you know, we do it for the dear reader, so that we can report that it must be the best restaurant on the island. The menu includes fresh sushi and charcoal-grilled robatayaki. Savour Sukiyaki wagyu beef perfectly prepared and Azido’s menu of nigiri, sashimi, and moriawase. We tried all the courses, and found everything to be of the highest quality. In other words, I nearly died and went to heaven.
The food plays a big part of the hotel’s excellence, the service too. But it the going above and beyond that sets it apart. On arrival we were given straw hats, and a bag, most hotels do that actually, but we were given beautiful steel water bottles with a bamboo top with our names engraved on the top. We were also given a key ring with our names on it. It's the things you take home that make you never forget a place. My water bottle is here next to my computer as I write. Ever a reminder of the best time of our life!
For different room options click here: hilton.com/en/hotels/
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/sezitol-mango-house-seychelles/
Dossier was flown to Seychelles by airseychelles.com
Their Business Class is fantastic, and brand-new lounges makes leaving the island even more difficult!
