Quick answer
Seychelles is harder for vegetarians than Mauritius. Creole cooking centres on fish, octopus and shark, and many curries use fish stock. Lentil curry, breadfruit, vegetable curries, fruit chutneys and tropical fruit are the safe staples, and hotels cook vegetarian on request. Mahé has a handful of Indian restaurants; on Praslin and La Digue choice is thin, so self-catering helps.
How easy is it to eat well?
Vegetarian & Jain friendliness
5 = easy everywhere, 1 = plan every meal
Indian food availability
5 = Indian restaurants everywhere, 1 = rare
What to order (and what to ask about)
Kari koko
Mild coconut-milk curry, usually with fish, octopus or chicken. Vegetable versions exist — ask for 'kari koko legim'.
Kari zourit
Octopus curry in coconut milk, the classic Creole dish.
Pwason griye
Whole fish grilled with Creole spices, served with rice and chutneys.
Satini reken
Shark chutney: boiled shark flaked and cooked with bilimbi and lime. Easy to mistake for a fruit chutney on a buffet.
Bouyon bred
Light soup of local greens, often made with fish stock or eaten alongside fish. Ask for it plain.
Lantiy
Lentil curry, often served with rice at Creole takeaways — the most reliable vegetarian staple.
Breadfruit chips
Fried slices of breadfruit, salted or spiced, sold at beaches and markets.
Ladob
Dessert of ripe plantain or breadfruit simmered in coconut milk with nutmeg and vanilla. A savoury version uses salted fish, so check which one you are getting.
Green papaya satini
Grated green papaya with ginger and chilli; a vegetarian side on many plates.
Nougat koko
Coconut and sugar sweet sold at markets and roadside stalls.
Phrases that help
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mon vezetaryen | I am vegetarian. |
| San lavyann, san pwason | Without meat, without fish. |
| Legim | Vegetables. |
| Mersi | Thank you. |
Is Seychelles easy for vegetarians?
Not as easy as Mauritius or the Maldives. Seychellois Creole food is built on the sea — fish, octopus and shark — and many curries, soups and even some chutneys use fish or fish stock. Hotel restaurants will cook vegetarian on request, but menus elsewhere are short, and Praslin and La Digue have far fewer options than Mahé.
What can vegetarians eat?
The safe staples are lentil curry (lantiy), vegetable curries made without fish stock, rice, breadfruit in its many forms, green papaya and mango chutneys, and tropical fruit. Creole takeaways often serve a plate of rice, lentils and a vegetable side for a fraction of restaurant prices — ask what is in each tray. Pizza and pasta are widely available at tourist restaurants.
Indian food in Seychelles
Seychelles has a small, long-established Indian community, largely Tamil and Gujarati in origin, and a handful of Indian restaurants on Mahé, mostly around Victoria and Beau Vallon. Hotels used to Indian groups often add dal and paneer dishes. On Praslin and La Digue, Indian food is limited to what your hotel kitchen can make.
Is self-catering worth it?
| Option | Good for | Cost per person per day |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel half board | Couples on a short trip | Included, plus ₹1,500–3,000 for lunch |
| Restaurants for all meals | Short stays only | ₹5,000–8,000 |
| Self-catering guesthouse | Families, strict vegetarians, Jains | ₹1,500–3,000 |
Supermarkets on Mahé and Praslin sell rice, lentils, flour, spices and vegetables, though imported goods are expensive. Many Indian travellers pack ready-to-eat meals, theplas and instant poha for the first couple of days.
On catamaran and island-hopping trips, lunch is usually a fish and chicken barbecue. Order a vegetarian meal when you book, and repeat the request on the boat.
Plan your trip with things to do in Seychelles, the 6-day Seychelles itinerary and the Seychelles trip cost guide. Entry rules are in the Seychelles visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can vegetarians manage a week in Seychelles?
Are there Indian restaurants in Seychelles?
Is Jain food possible in Seychelles?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
