Places to eat in Mali

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Probably the best meal we had in Mali. Well prepared, well served and not too expensive considering the reputation they have. We ate in the pleasant garden just steps from the Niger river.

Update since my trip in January 2009 - David Guindo, the owner died two years ago and to say the least the resto has gone to pot. There is a group of young boys trying to make a go of it and they deserve some support as the food is not bad at all. But I cannot say now it is the best meal in Mali.....

Favorite Dish: The Capitaine fish taken freshly from the river grilled on an open fire.

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A small resto located in Badalabougou, on the south side of the river. The food is good and cheap, Kadia ,the owner is very friendly. At 8 in the evening,as she is part of the local "feed the children effort", about 40 local kids come around for a bit of food that she hands out. A good chance for you to do your bit as well as 20000 cfa buys a sack of rice that feeds these kids for a month!!!!. She also runs a concession across the road where the kids sleep at night.
Very close for anyone staying at the Catholic mission in Badalabougou.
Omelette or capitaine with fries around 5$ including a coke and coffee.

Update from visit in January 2009 - The restaurant has expanded giving more seating in slightly more comfortable surroundings.

Favorite Dish: I loved the braised Capitaine

Stopped here for lunch on the road from Bamako up to Mopti. Nothing special but very friendly, nice atmosphere and very cold Castel to wash the dust down. There are rooms but I didn't see them. San also has a nice mosque that's worth the time to have a look at, not the same size as Djenné but in the same style.

Favorite Dish: Going to the markets and see, what is available, was always the most exciting part for us! And the meals out of what was there, were always quite an adventure! Have you ever tried a Yams stew?? Or tomato stew with peanuts?

From the mother of my fosterchild Fatoumata I learnt, that the women of her village are now planting their own vegetable gardens with tomatos, cucumbers, peppers and the like to improve their own diet and to get a little additional income. Fatoumatas father is a farmer and plants millet, peanuts, sorghum and tobacco.

Little stalls selling freshly cooked rice cakes were found everywhere. These cakes were deliclious.

I must admit I wasn't particularly careful about what I ate in Mali, most restaurants were simple in the extreme or just street stalls - but I was not ill once during the two weeks we were there!

Set inside its own grounds (which means that generally speaking the hustlers and beggars stay out) Chez Baba makes for a relaxing night out.

Food is generally the same wherever you go, no great culinary delights, but hearty and good food.

One very unsual feature at this restaurant was the table lights - glass bottles with candles covered in plastic bottles (see photo)

Tessalit is a very small village in northern Mali. It is the border town towards Algeria. We spent 24 hours there, hoping that they would let us pass, although we did not have a "permission de circulation"....

To pass the time, we decided to go out for dinner. We found this place where we got a typical Malian goat stew - quite an experience!!!

Favorite Dish: Cuisine francaise. They have good pizzas. Ok I know you're not going to Mali to eat pizzas. But you know sometime it's good to be sure of what you're eating.
They have very good fish dish as well (Capitaine)