Best restaurants in Antananarivo

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Antananarivo

One of the best addresses in the city for real gourmet cuisine, La Varangue serves an elaborate melange of French gastronomy and Malagasy flavours. Meals are served either in the beautiful dining room, with its low lighting and fabulous antique collection, or on the terrace, which overlooks a charming garden. Booking is advised.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

Playing on the region’s reputation for political instability may not be very PC, but it really would take a coup d’état to unseat this stylish bar-restaurant from its position among the top of Tana’s fashionable eating scene. The menu makes imaginative use of local ingredients, creating a sophisticated fusion cuisine that suits the chic ethnic decor perfectly. Bookings are advisable.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Antananarivo

Run by Landy, the teacher at Tana Kitchen cooking school with which this restaurant shares premises, Toko Telo is our pick to try expertly crafted Malagasy specialities. In addition to soups, there are pork, zebu, seafood and chicken mains, as well as sorbets (try the baobab flavour) and pastries. For a real local delicacy, try the zanadandy, fried local caterpillars.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Antananarivo

Striking the perfect balance between gastro French and straightforward local cooking, Le Saka is a Tana institution. The restaurant is housed in a gorgeous wooden house full of old black-and-white photos and local artwork. The chef whips up some mighty desserts using Malagasy chocolate. Make sure you finish your meal with a house rum or coconut punch. Booking essential.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Antananarivo

Tana's best Italian restaurant is one of those places you'll find yourself coming back to time and again. Artful Italian cooking of pasta, pizza, meat and fish leave plenty of room for choice, the dining area is stylish and softly lit, and the service friendly.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

This excellent place next to the entrance of Musée de la Photo has soft lighting, assured cooking and friendly service. The menu is predominantly French but has a few Malagasy and vegetarian options, ranging from stuffed crab, lobster curry and seared duck breast with chocolate sauce and caramelised apple to pork with crushed cassava leaves.

Top ChoiceRestaurants in Antananarivo

In a stunning setting whichever way you look – the 19th-century building or the city views from the terrace – Lokanga serves a mix of Malagasy and international dishes. Try the duck breast with pineapple reduction, seafood romazava or zebu chimichurri. Professional service rounds out a fine culinary experience.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

Around since 1946, this excellent patisserie is a popular meeting place for local businesspeople and a great place for breakfast, a quick lunch or an afternoon treat – the cake selection is Tana's best and the ice creams are popular, too. It also sells gourmet chocolates, which make fantastic presents.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

Fabulous pan-Asian fusion in a casual cafe setting make L'Orient a real find. Dumplings with ginger, creative salads and terrific rice and noodle dishes – it's all good and our pick in Tana for Asian food.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

Superchef Mariette Andrianjaka has cooked for notables as diverse as Paloma Picasso and Prince Albert of Monaco during her long career. These days she entertains guests in her 19th-century villa, preparing elaborate multicourse set meals based on haifi cuisine – traditional royal banquets. Advance reservation is mandatory. Chez Mariette is up in the Haute-Ville – taxis know where to find it.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

Not content with having one of the loveliest locations in town (just 100m from the Rova, with great views), Grill du Rova serves delicious food, including homemade pasta, brochettes, vegetarian dishes and Malagasy specialities such as romazava (beef and vegetable stew) and tilapia. It's especially popular on Sundays when it sometimes has live music and dancing (set menu only).

Restaurants in Antananarivo

Sucett's popularity has somewhat slipped recently, but it's still a good choice. The Malagasy and Creole (a blend of African, Asian and European influences) dishes are still good but steer clear of the Asian dishes that aren't as well executed. We enjoyed the duck with olives and Creole sauce and looked longingly at the zebu steak.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

The snack cafeteria and takeaway outlet in Hôtel Sakamanga is the best place in town for lunch on the go. There are pizzas, kebabs and sandwiches, all bursting at the seams with fillings. There are a few tables inside, which fill quickly at lunchtime. Delivery to nearby hotels is possible.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

Part patisserie, part cafe, Bread Mafan' is a cool choice if you're stocking up for a picnic, with great breads, and a range of enticing pastries and sweets. It also does breakfast, good coffee and a selection of teas. It has a small but carefully chosen range of packaged gourmet delicacies as well.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

This cheerful little restaurant in the heart of Isoraka serves hearty Malagasy meals such as pork with greens, zebu stew and omelettes. It's also a good place for breakfast: the pastries are excellent and there is an espresso machine. It doesn't look like much, but it's all about the food.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

For a real slice of France down the lower end of Isoraka, this Breton crêperie does all manner of savoury galettes and sweet crêpes, allowing you to take care of all of your cravings in one place. Ingredients range from quality French cheeses to zebu.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

A well-organised supermarket close to Pl de l'Independance.

Restaurants in Antananarivo

This tiny red-brick bistro, spread over three floors from cellar to mezzanine, scores high on homey atmosphere and hearty French food. There is a tasty selection of meat and fish dishes and the wine selection is the best in Madagascar (261 references from around the world, including some local vintages).

Restaurants in Antananarivo

Perched on a 2nd floor above Ave de l’Indépendance, La Terrasse is a fantastic vantage point to admire the hustle and bustle of Tana’s main thoroughfare. The delicious food is Malagasy with a hint of French, with dishes such as tilapia in ginger and spring onion and zebu romazava (traditional Malagasy beef-and-vegetable stew).

Restaurants in Antananarivo

This Chinese-run bakery heaves at weekends, when locals come for a treat. As well as pastries, it has a range of quiches and sandwiches for a light lunch. It's a bit rundown, but the best choice in this corner of town.