Anse Takamaka
The verdict on Anse Takamaka
- Who it suitsFor photographers and diners who want a classic palm fringed bay with a long established beach restaurant, and who respect the surf.
- Best spotChez Batista sits right on the sand, a long running beachfront restaurant; current menus and any minimum are to be confirmed.
- One thing to knowIt is beautiful, but the open south west swell brings strong waves and currents in the trade season, so swimming needs real care.
Published 26 January 2026. Last reviewed 10 April 2026
Anse Takamaka is the beach the postcards use. A broad golden crescent backed by leaning palms on the south west coast of Mahe, it is genuinely one of the most beautiful and most photographed beaches in Seychelles, and the drive over the hills to reach it only adds to the sense of arrival. On looks alone it is hard to beat.
It also has something most wild Mahe beaches do not, a proper restaurant on the sand. Chez Batista is a long running beachfront kitchen and a local landmark, a place to sit in the shade over a long Creole lunch with the surf in front of you. Current hours, menus and any minimum spend are to be confirmed, but the setting is the draw and it has anchored this beach for years.
The honest warning is the water. Anse Takamaka faces the open south west, with no close reef to break the swell, so the waves and currents can be strong, especially during the south east trade season from around May to September. It can look like a perfect swimming beach and be anything but, so judge the conditions carefully, watch where locals do and do not go in, and never assume it is safe.
Come for the scenery and the lunch, swim only when the sea is calm and you are confident, and pair it with the gentler nearby cove at Anse Soleil if you want easy water. Bring sun cover and respect the surf. For organised daybeds and clubs with current spend bands, see our Seychelles beach clubs directory.
Clubs on and near Anse Takamaka
There is no daybed beach club on the sand at Anse Takamaka, but Chez Batista, a long running beachfront restaurant, sits right on the beach. Current hours, menus and any minimum spend are to be confirmed. For organised clubs and current spend bands elsewhere on Mahe, use the Seychelles beach clubs directory.
Photo: Boba Fat via GoogleChez Batista
A long running beachfront restaurant set right on the sand, a local landmark for a shaded Creole lunch by the surf, with hours and any minimum spend to be confirmed.
Public sand at Anse Takamaka
The wide public beach itself, free and palm backed, used for photographs, long lunches and careful swimming when the surf allows, with no loungers for hire.
Anse Takamaka, Mahe, Seychelles
Anse Takamaka sits on the south west coast of Mahe, reached by a scenic drive of roughly forty five minutes to an hour from Victoria, either over the Sans Souci mountain road or around the coast. It is a well known stop on a south west Mahe tour, so it is easy to find and combine with other beaches nearby.
There is informal parking near the beach and the restaurant. Bring sun cover, judge the surf before swimming and stay out when the swell is up, and plan a long lunch in the shade. Conditions here are typical of an open ocean beach rather than guaranteed, so always read the water on the day.
Reserve a daybed near Anse Takamaka
Send your details and we will help arrange a beach club booking near Anse Takamaka. We confirm current minimum spend and availability with the venue before you commit. Nothing is charged here.
Anse Takamaka FAQ
Can you swim at Anse Takamaka?
With real care. The beach faces the open south west with no close reef, so the surf and currents can be strong, especially in the trade season. Swim only when the sea is calm and you are a confident swimmer, and watch the conditions first.
Is there a restaurant at Anse Takamaka?
Yes. Chez Batista is a long running beachfront restaurant set right on the sand and a local landmark for a Creole lunch by the surf. Current hours, menus and any minimum spend are to be confirmed.
When is Anse Takamaka safest for swimming?
Generally in the north west season from around November to April, when the south west swell tends to ease. Even then, conditions vary day to day, so always judge the water before going in.
How do you get to Anse Takamaka?
By road on the south west coast of Mahe, around forty five minutes to an hour from Victoria over the Sans Souci road or around the coast. It is a popular stop on a south west Mahe driving tour.
How does Anse Takamaka compare to Anse Soleil?
Takamaka is bigger, more dramatic and more exposed to surf, while the nearby cove at Anse Soleil is smaller and usually calmer and better for an easy swim and snorkel. Many visitors pair the two on the same day.