The Grand Market

What would discovering a city be without visiting its market! You’re now at the entrance to the Grand Market of Saint-Denis, also known as the Malagasy Market. This beautiful cast iron hall dates from 1866 and is the island's very first civil cast iron building. It's the perfect place to soak up Réunion's culture and discover authentic Malagasy craftsmanship. Wooden statuettes, vibrant tablecloths, woven baskets, colourful hats, traditional solitaire or domino games. You'll definitely find treasures here, whether you're hunting for souvenirs to take home or memories to cherish. The market's back walls regularly showcase photo exhibitions, so take a moment to explore those as well. If all this browsing has worked up an appetite, you're in the perfect spot to dive into Réunionese cuisine with its famous caris and rougails. Let me tell you about Creole cooking to help you navigate the menu. This cuisine was born during colonial times from the beautiful fusion of European settler traditions, African slave culture, and successive waves of immigration, particularly from India and China. Quite a melting pot! The result is naturally spicy and flavourful food that tells the island's entire story on your plate. For aperitifs, accompanied by good local rum, you can enjoy samosas, those delightful little triangular parcels filled with spiced vegetables or meat, bonbons piments, which are small savory and spicy fritters, and bouchons, delicate steamed Asian-inspired bites. For main courses, the stars are the caris, Réunion's take on Indian curry, available in countless varieties. You'll also encounter rougail, a zesty accompaniment rather than a dish, traditionally made from chopped vegetables or fruits with onions and fiery bird's eye chili. Most dishes come with rice topped with peas, lentils, or beans. Then there are all the "smoked" specialties, a preservation technique borrowed from the island's trappers and pirates who needed to keep their meat fresh longer. These involve marinating, salting, drying, and smoking perishable ingredients over wood fires. Vegetarians should try chouchou gratin or cari de babafigue (banana flower curry). The island's tropical fruits are absolutely divine: lychees, mango, pineapple, passion fruit, guava. You definitely won't struggle to get your five portions of fruit and vegetables here! Sweet treats aren't forgotten either: cakes made with sweet potato, banana fritters, or honey-drenched confections. Bon appétit and enjoy your culinary adventure!