District · Port Louis
Chinatown and the Jummah Mosque
Compact streets of shops and canteens; best on weekdays.
Key facts
- Suits
- Dumplings, a mosque and a temple
- Sights here
- 2
- Eats here
- 2
What it's like
- Feels:
- Compact and lively; shops, canteens and a mosque
- Suits:
- Dumplings, a mosque and a temple
- Best time:
- Weekday mornings
- Watch out for:
- Evenings.
- In short:
- Compact streets of shops and canteens; best on weekdays.
About these names
The centre lies along the harbour: the Caudan Waterfront at the west end, Place d'Armes and the museum just inland, the Central Market and Chinatown to the east, and the Champ de Mars racecourse and Fort Adelaide on the south-east edge. The airport is on the far south-east coast, and the main beaches are 25–60 minutes away.
Where exactly
This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Chinatown and the Jummah Mosque
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Compact streets of shops and canteens; best on weekdays.
Suits: Dumplings, a mosque and a temple
On the map: Kwan Tee Pagoda, Jummah Mosque
District guideWalk: Chinatown & Jummah MosqueIn the districts table
Off the map: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) (55–80 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Plaine Verte and Sainte-Croix, Ébène and Moka, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Caudan Waterfront: Waterfront arcade, cafés, the Blue Penny Museum and hotels; flat and easy. Suits: A first morning; short stays with bags. Price band $$$.
- Market and Aapravasi Ghat: The Central Market and the immigration depot; go before 13:00.The Central Market and the immigration depot; go before 1:00 PM. Suits: Street food and heritage.
- Chinatown and the Jummah Mosque: Compact streets of shops and canteens; best on weekdays. Suits: Dumplings, a mosque and a temple.
- Champ de Mars and the Citadel: The racecourse below the hilltop fort; go by taxi. Suits: Early views and race days. Price band $.
- Plaine Verte and Sainte-Croix: Residential quarters; Sainte-Croix has the Père Laval shrine. Suits: Local life and a pilgrimage shrine.
- Ébène and Moka: Business district and suburbs 15–25 minutes south of the centre. Suits: Business stays and modern hotels.
- Grand Baie and Flic en Flac: The main beach bases; day trips to Port Louis. Suits: Beach holidays.
- Sleep area Caudan Waterfront (hotel): suits A first morning; short stays with bags, price band $$$.
- Sleep area Champ de Mars (guesthouse or hotel): suits Early views and race days, price band $.
- Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), 55–80 min by the usual route.
Stay here?
Not a base in this guide
See
Opening hours and prices from each place page; (check) means typical hours, not yet verified.
A small Chinese temple in Chinatown, dedicated to a deity of loyalty and protection: a 10–15 minute quiet stop in the Chinatown walk; check that it is open.
- Hours:
- Desk estimate: daytime; confirm locally.(check)
- Entry:
- Free; donations welcome
- Jummah MosqueBook a time
The city's main mosque, a 19th-century landmark on Royal Road: a 15–20 minute respectful visit outside prayer times, dressed modestly and with shoes off.
- Hours:
- Desk estimate: open to visitors outside prayer times; confirm locally.(check)
- Entry:
- Free; donations welcome
Eat
What to order and what locals pay, from each eat page. Prices are estimates; check the menu.
- Boulettes in Chinatown
Chinese-Mauritian steamed dumplings in a light broth (boulettes), sold from small shops and carts in Chinatown: a warm, cheap lunch on a weekday.
Order: Boulettes: Say "boulettes" and the filling.
Price: A bowl is Rs 50–120 for everyone (2026 estimate).
- Briani lunch canteens
Mauritian biryani (briani) with chicken, mutton or vegetables at small lunch canteens near the market and mosque: a filling Rs 150–300 plate.
Order: Briani: Say "briani poulet" or "mouton".
Price: A plate is around Rs 150–250 (2026 estimate).
Shopping
Markets and shopping streets from the Port Louis buying guide that name this district.
- Textiles and saris · Market streets and ChinatownAsk the price per piece; bargain for several.
Getting there and around
Where to get off
- Walk from the market district · for Jummah Mosque
- Walk from the Chinatown streets · for Kwan Tee Pagoda
- Chinatown streets near the Jummah Mosque and Kwan Tee Pagoda · 3 min walk to Boulettes in Chinatown
- Small canteens near the mosque and the market (ask your hotel for a current pick) · 3 min walk to Briani lunch canteens
Walks inside the district
- Chinatown and Jummah Mosque walk → Jummah Mosque: 3–6 min on foot (Walk)
- Jummah Mosque → Kwan Tee Pagoda: 5–9 min on foot (Walk)
- Chinatown and Jummah Mosque walk → Kwan Tee Pagoda: 4–7 min on foot (Walk)
- Chinatown and Jummah Mosque walk → Boulettes in Chinatown: 2–4 min on foot (Walk)
- Kwan Tee Pagoda → Boulettes in Chinatown: 3–6 min on foot (Walk)
On to the next area
- Walk west: about 8 min to Central Market & Aapravasi Ghat
- Car south-east: about 12 min to Champ de Mars & Fort Adelaide
From other sleep areas
- From Caudan Waterfront (hotel): 13–18 min walk to Chinatown & Jummah Mosque
- From Champ de Mars (guesthouse or hotel): 12–18 min walk to Chinatown & Jummah Mosque
Minutes are this guide’s typical walking and ride times (p50–p90); traffic and heat stretch them.
Walking loop
A loop that starts and ends at the same place, through this district's sights and eats. Pick a length; download it for Organic Maps, OsmAnd or Google Earth.
About 44 min in all: 9 min on foot, the rest at the stops. 3 stops, back to where you started.
- Kwan Tee PagodaStart here · stop about 10 min
- Jummah Mosque5 min walk · stop about 10 min
- Boulettes in Chinatown1 min walk (estimate) · stop about 15 min (snack, or note it for later)
- Back to Kwan Tee Pagoda: 3 min walk
Walking minutes come from this guide’s route graph where it has one; “estimate” means straight-line distance plus a quarter for street detours at an easy pace. Opening hours are not checked: look at “Open now” below before you set off.
Photo and sunset spots
Light: Mid-morning
Photograph the outside; ask before going in.
Safety at night and noise
Chinatown and the mosqueday: oknight: caution
Quiet after shops close; go by day.
Nearby districts
Built from this guide’s Port Louis districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.