Eat · Central Market & Aapravasi Ghat
Alouda and cane-juice stallsAlouda
Alouda, a cold sweet drink of milk, basil seeds and agar jelly, and fresh sugar-cane juice: a cooling Rs 40–80 break on a hot morning near the market.
Key facts
- Per person
- MUR 40–120
- Mauritian
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Walk in
- 09:00–16:00
- easiest window
- Seating
- counter
- Card
- no
- carry cash
- Getting there
- Drink stalls beside the market and in nearby streets
- 3 min walk
Go now?
Open?
Hours vary; midday to afternoon is the usual window
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
09:00–16:00
Reservations
Walk-in, no reservation
Paying
Cash only
Per person
MUR 40–1202026 estimate · check
- Cold sweet drink
- Rs 40–80
- Hot-day break
- Order: Alouda or cane juice
- Counter seating
- Walk-in window: 09:00–16:00
- Queue risk: before 09:00
- Cash only
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
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- Port Louis ↗Sunday is quiet: many shops and stalls close or shorten their hours, so plan visits Monday to Saturday and check hours locally.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay
Walk-in windows
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
When to go, hour by hour
Quietest listed hour: 09:00 (quiet).
- 09:00quietlittle or no wait
- 10:00lightlittle or no wait
- 11:00busya short wait is possible
- 12:00heavyexpect a line
- 13:00heavyexpect a line
- 14:00busya short wait is possible
- 15:00lightlittle or no wait
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; weekends and holidays run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Pick a busy stall.
- 2Say what you want.
- 3Ask for less sugar or no ice.
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | Ki manyer? | kee man-yair |
| How much is this? | Konbien sa? | kom-byen sa |
| Not spicy, please | Pena piman, souple | pe-na pee-man soo-play |
| No meat, please | Pena lavian, souple | pe-na la-vyan soo-play |
| Help | Lekour | le-koor |
| Hello | Bonzour | bon-zoor |
| Thank you | Mersi | mair-see |
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Ask about chilli: say 'pena piman' for none.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 5–10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
- Pay in cash.
- Check the price before you order.
- Cash (rupees).
- Carry small notes; street stalls do not give change for big ones.
At the table
- Eat where the turnover is fast and the food is hot.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- Rs 40–120 per person
Paying
Accepted everywhere; the only method at most stalls.
Not accepted at street stalls.
Not used.
Mobile wallets at some shops (check).
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianyes
Milk-based drink.
Show: I am vegetarian.
- Veganno
Milk.
- Halalyes
Check jelly.
Show: No alcohol.
- Gluten-freeyes
Naturally gluten-free.
- Nut allergyask
Ask.
- Allergynot on file
Milk and sugar; show a note.
Show: I am allergic to ___.
What is in the dishes
- Alouda (milk, basil seeds, jelly, rose syrup)Aloudadairy
Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- Walk-up only.
- How far ahead
- Not needed
- No-show / cancel fee
- Not applicable
- Dress code
- Casual.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sundays | check before you go | Many stalls close. |
| Evenings | check before you go | Most close early. |
On the ground
Hygiene and comfort
- Seating
- Counter seats
- Kids
- Sweet and cold; ask for less sugar
- Access
- step-free: yes · Street-level counters
Hygiene
- Ask for no ice if unsure of the water.
- Choose busy stalls.
Facts
- Reservations
- Not taken — Walk-in.
- Capabilities
- food
- Getting there
- Drink stalls beside the market and in nearby streets · ~3 min walk
Cons
- Sweet; not for diabetics.
- Ask about ice and water quality.
- Cash only.
Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Alouda | Cold sweet drink with milk, basil seeds and jelly. | Say "alouda". |
| Jus de canne | Fresh sugar-cane juice. | Ask for no ice. |
| Sirop | Syrup. | Ask for less syrup. |
Price check
- locals pay
- A glass is Rs 40–80 (2026 estimate).
- tourist price
- No known two-tier pricing.
- rule
- Check the price before you order.
Deep dive
Questions, nearby food and sources
Questions and answers
What is alouda?
A cold sweet drink of milk, basil seeds and jelly; a Mauritian favourite.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is the ice safe?
Ask for no ice or choose bottled drinks.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
- Dholl puri stalls (Central Market area)3 min walkA snack.
- Gato piment and snack stalls1 min walkFried snacks by the piece: gato piment (chilli fritters), samosas, gato arouille (taro fritters) and bread rolls with chutney; a Rs 50–150 mid-morning bite in the market streets.
- Briani lunch canteens5 min walkMauritian biryani (briani) with chicken, mutton or vegetables at small lunch canteens near the market and mosque: a filling Rs 150–300 plate.
- Boulettes in Chinatown6 min walkChinese-Mauritian steamed dumplings in a light broth (boulettes), sold from small shops and carts in Chinatown: a warm, cheap lunch on a weekday.
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h3 mph.
All places to eat in Port Louis, with filters →
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Used as a seated rest node in Port Louis in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Port Louis