Review: Mango House Seychelles, LXR Hotels & Resorts

Why book? 

Feel at home in a former Italian photographer’s residence turned artsy, Seychellois-chic boutique resort—the first (and fabulous) Indian Ocean offering from LXR Hotel & Resorts.

Set the scene

Based on the southwestern corner of Mahé—the largest of the archipelago nation’s 100-plus islands—Mango House is a 35-minute drive from the international airport. This is not the resort to be in the “thick of it” as the capital of Victoria is an hour’s drive away, and some of the island’s most popular beaches and attractions, to the north, share similar timeframes. Instead, it offers ultra-scenic seclusion along Anse Aux Poule Bleues, with a teensy strip of sandy beach and widescreen bayside views of Mahé’s verdant, rolling hills. Families, couples, and lovestruck honeymooners (many of whom are American) converge here for a laid-back yet luxurious Seychelles getaway; and with a small clutch of rooms, the vibe remains low-key. Guests do, however, share communal space with well-heeled locals and travelers from other resorts who come for Mango House’s lauded upscale food and drink venues.

The backstory

Mango House is the former family home of Milanese fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri, who found solace in the Seychelles’ tropical setting and Creole culture during the 1970s. Today, it’s a 41-key boutique resort under LXR Hotels & Resorts—Hilton’s indie luxury collection brand—and it retained the affectionate nickname Barbieri created for the residence some 50 years ago. But don’t let its corporate credentials mislead you: The resort is characterful, intimate, and chicly fashioned in a manner befitting of a previous resident who photographed several international Vogue editions.

The rooms

Accommodations come in various configurations—rooms, suites, two-story villas, beachfront residences with personal plunge pools—but all sport balconies or terraces which afford fabulous bay views. If you want panoramas least obstructed by foliage and fruit trees, spring for rooms and suites in the Cliff House, set majestically atop granitic boulders. The interiors inside each room read contemporary sea-breeze luxury, but with an infusion of local art that makes it feel bespoke and considered. Seychelles-based artist Alyssa Adams, especially, has her artistic footprint in several room features, from the tropically vibrant kimonos and beach bags to the face masks. Bathrooms are spacious and well stocked with fragrant local bathroom amenities. Elsewhere, the living and bedroom areas (got to love the silky four-poster beds in each room) have wood and rattan interspersed with desaturated jewel accents from the rugs, furnishings, and lovely wall art, and it all blends seamlessly with the lush views seen through the floor-to-ceilings windows.

Food and drink

The pedigree of executive chef Olivier Barré (L’atelier de Joel Robuchon, Cheval Blanc) assures quality dining in Mango House’s five distinct venues. You can’t miss with any of the restaurants, whether ordering poolside yellowfin tuna poke bowls at Soley or luscious Wagyu beef robatayaki in the Japanese-themed Azido, but the musts are Moutya for a Seychellois-Creole meal and Kokoye for elevated libations. Moutya is a rare chance for many to sample local cuisine, so to eat authentically-cooked dishes (over hot coals, inside coconut husks, etc.) such as slipper lobster and spicy chickpea cake is a real treat. Kokoye, their Indo-Seychellois cocktail bar, is the most handsome of all the F&B venues, fitted with palm tree wallpaper and yesteryear-inspired decor. It has the Seychelles’ largest gin collection, and twists like the Dark Rum and Dark Chocolate Old Fashioned and martini glasses filled with house-made tea-infused gin makes it one of the coolest cocktail bars on the island. (Pro tip: Ask around about the cocktail-making classes.) Muse is the hotel’s breakfast hub and Italian restaurant in homage to the former owner’s heritage; it’s quite popular with non-staying guests during dinner, so best to grab your seats early before the sunset crowd arrives.

The spa

What the Main House-based anpe (Creole for “at peace”) lacks in spa amenities, it makes up for in signature treatments and restorative upper-floor ocean views. Try the Lavi Anpe, a scalp-to-toe banana oil massage with heated granite stones, for locally-flavored wellness.

The neighborhood/area

There’s not much to do in the immediate jungly surrounds, but one can honestly gaze at the stunning bay views—from the beach, the three pools, or one’s own terrace or balcony—for hours and feel revitalized. There is one pitstop-worthy place a short seven-minute walk away: Michael Adams Art Studio, where the acclaimed painter’s 250-year-old whitewashed residence hosts his many artworks amongst extravagant garden grounds. To visit more livelier areas of the Seychelles, the hotel team can arrange trips to Victoria, other Mahé-based destinations, and even excursions to other islands.

The service

Hospitality took a hit absorbed globally by the pandemic, most apparent—from many guests’ point-of-view, at least—with generally shakier service. This is not the case at Mango House, which opened in the thick of the pandemic. The staff are true all-stars, delivering warm, organic service to a tee. If you’re into overly deferential service, look elsewhere: The team here isn’t afraid to strike up a chat while you’re lazing at one of the three pools or passing by along the manicured grounds. It’s the informal friendliness coupled with attentive service that really makes Mango House shine.

For families

Bring the kiddos, as they’ll be well looked after here. Mango Pips, the kids’ club, hosts activities that change weekly, such as arts and craft sessions (fitting given the home’s legacy), jewelry making, spirited treasure hunts, sandcastle building, and more. There are also children’s menus in the restaurants, and they can splish-splash in a children’s pool. The resort’s two- to three-bedroom villas and suites cater perfectly to families.

Eco effort

There is real effort for sustainability and “keeping it local,” which is a hallmark of LXR-branded properties. Drinking water on the premises come in refillable glass bottles, as do the organic, plant-based bath amenities from local skincare brand Belliche; hand-painted floral ceramics hail from Mahe-based Seyramics. There’s a growing organic garden and a recycling program that includes churning coffee capsules into fragrances. All coffees are fair trade, and fans of adult beverages should delight in knowing 90 percent of the rums and gins on offer come from the region (a taste of the nationally-loved Takamaka is essential).

Anything left to mention?

It’s important to know before arrival that the resort’s beachfront is really small—its length likely falls short of half a football field. So don’t go expecting endless sunset strolls on the coastline in front of the resort. But if it compels you to venture off-campus to visit some of the Seychelles’ many magnificent (and large) beaches, or to visit the hotel’s water sports center to get out on the glistening sea via glass-bottom kayak, paddle board, or snorkeling, consider it a plus.

Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List?

It requires Herculean efforts to make a hotel feel like “home” to guests no matter the room count, and this new opening has hit it out of the park from the beginning with exceptional, genuine service. Island residents love the beachfront hotel just as much as those flying halfway around the world to stay here for its top-notch cuisine and creative vision, and the championing of local artisans and suppliers makes one feel truly connected to the location.