The island nation of Maldives consists of twenty-six atolls located in the Indian Ocean, about 400 kilometres south-west of India. Maldives is the world's lowest country in terms of ground level, with each island boasting diverse and fascinating marine life. Maldives benefits from truly wonderful weather and a plethora of fantastic restaurants to choose from. Maldives has long been a world-class, popular holiday destination, and the superb cuisine is one major Maldivian highlight.
Local cuisine
One of the best underwater restaurants in the world, Sea Fire Salt.Sky goes far beyond the underwater gimmick to deliver a truly unforgettable fine dining experience. The underwater vista is spectacular but it is just one facet that makes this restaurant so appealing. The food - served up while fish swim meters from your face - is what makes this restaurant truly impressive and earned it two international distinctions. The cuisine here is international in scope but heavily inspired by Maldivian and Indian culinary traditions. A real treat.
The Farivalhu Restaurant is an affordable and casual local eatery that serves fine and unpretentious Maldivian food in large portions. The relaxed atmosphere and fine dishes have made critics exclaim that the food here is "edible art". The Farivalhu is family friendly and its extensive menu boasts several dishes that are perfect for children of all ages. The restaurant attracts surfers and divers who come here after long days at the beach, as well as families with children who come for the accessible menu and easygoing attitude.
Located in the heart of Male, the Ocean Breeze boasts a great view over the capital's ferry terminal and serves all kinds of local dishes to tourists visiting Maldives and people fresh off a ferry to Male. The cuisine here is modern in its approach to traditional Maldivian dishes, resulting in an interesting dining experience that most visitors praise highly. The atmosphere is very relaxed and easygoing, making the Ocean Breeze a suitable restaurant for families with children and tired travellers who wish to relax and grab a delicious local bite.
The Huluhlhe airport hotel restaurant offers the best food in Male's international airport and has become a very trendy place to dine for island hoppers and people who only stay in Maldives for brief periods of time. The menu is not particularly large but each item is carefully selected for maximum gastronomic pleasure as well as serving promptness. Even the most intricate orders are served very quickly here, as the restaurant's administration understands that many airport visitors have limited time to enjoy its impressive culinary creations.
European cuisine
The Pizza Buona is the best pizzeria in Maldives and one that might surprise even long time pizza lovers. This pizzeria serves traditional Italian pizza as well as Maldivian inspired pizzas as the restaurant 'pizzafies' dishes to create novel and exciting new pizza sensations. The pizzas here are pure fusion cuisine with definite European style. The Buona's chefs don't hesitate to experiment with creating new pizzas and the results are often incredible, earning this eatery international fame as one pizzeria tourists much visit while in Maldives.
The Olive Garden hotel restaurant in Male is a Mediterranean restaurant that serves Italian, seafood and Latino-inspired dishes. The restaurant is child friendly and very accessible, with low prices and generous portions of food. The Olive Garden also accepts large tourist groups and excels in preparing food for large numbers of people in relatively short timeframes. The food itself is great and often praised for its unpretentious simplicity and strong, genuine flavours.
As the most popular European restaurant in Maldives, Sala Italia Ristorante enjoys a great reputation. Drawing inspiration from Italian cuisine, infusing it with local culinary elements, Sala Italia creates unique pasta and Italian seafood dishes that aren't found anywhere else in Maldives. This fine dining restaurant is pretty upscale, with prices to match, but a dining experience here will remain unforgettable to even the most discerning diners.
British
If you are looking for hearty English breakfast and a casual atmosphere to start (or end) your day, then look no further than the Jazz Café. This laid-back bistro serves snacks during the day and as soon as the night falls, jazz sounds fill the air, often thanks to live music shows. This is a very cosy and inviting establishment, perfect for homesick Brits or for those who wish to meet other tourists from back home here in Maldives.
Asian
Maldives' top Thai 'boutique' restaurant, the Sala Thai is an exotic eatery serving impressive, ultra-fresh Thai dishes. Famous for flying all their ingredients to Maldives on a weekly basis, the restaurant's chefs successfully manage to reproduce the most complex Thai dishes in Maldives. The prices are quite steep but match the restaurant's world class quality and the food is sublime. The restaurant's décor is quite refined and reflects the first-rate cuisine.
One of the best authentic Indian restaurants in Maldives, the Rehendhi serves hot and spicy dishes to tourists seeking well known as well as obscure Indian tastes. The restaurant boasts a huge menu that includes the widest possible variety of Indian dishes, ranging from the familiar to the utterly exotic. The menu also includes child-friendly and mildly hot dishes for the uninitiated in spicy Indian cuisine, making dining here a true pleasure for the whole family. The prices are fair and the portions are generous.
Thai Wok is a modern Thai restaurant and one of the best Asian eateries in Maldives. Competing with the Sala Thai for flying in the freshest ingredients, the Thai Wok successfully manages to serve dishes that rival those found in the best restaurants in Bangkok. The chefs here carefully select the freshest local fish to use with their imported produce in order to create incredible culinary delights.
The Kings Corner is a casual and accessible Asian restaurant serving a wide gamut of Chinese, Indian and continental Asian dishes with a Maldivian touch. The food is delicious and very diverse, offering the best from each of the top Asian cuisines in one menu. The restaurant is much loved not only by tourists but locals who come here to broaden their gastronomic horizons.
The Lemongrass Fifth restaurant is a popular Asian and Thai restaurant known for flying all of their exotic ingredients from Thailand directly to Maldives. The dishes served here are definitely Thai in heart but are also heavily inspired by local culinary influences, resulting in uniquely delicious fusions of Maldivian and Thai cuisine. The Lemongrass Fifth is a classy restaurant that adheres to the tenets of the slow food movement, resulting in a novel and exciting dining experience.
International
Serving a wide range of international dishes but definitely focusing on Indian cuisine, Ilaafathi Restaurant is famous for its tasty curries and scrumptious meat and fish dishes. The restaurant's menu may seem short but every single dish has been meticulously planned by the head chef. The food here can be spicy but mild dishes are also available for children and those with milder palates. Prices are reasonable and the staff here is very helpful and polite.
The Symphony Solo is an art inspired eatery that specialises in fusion cuisine, merging European with Asian and Maldivian tastes and culinary styles. The food creations are unique in their execution and f course, their taste here, with unusual takes on classic dishes as well as novel and never before seen foods available throughout the Symphony Solo's menu. The restaurant's prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is casual enough to be suitable for families with children and large groups.
Classy and upscale, One & Only Reethi Restaurant is a fine eatery located inside the eponymous 5 star hotel. The restaurant is known for its Kobe beef and toro from Japan, cooked with ingredients flown in Maldives on a regular basis. The dishes are carefully designed and innovative; and this is one of the highest rated restaurants in Maldives.
Aioli is a modern fusion restaurant that is named after the eponymous French sauce "Aioli", used to hold together different flavours. In this restaurant, diners find modern chefs create fusions of the best characteristics of various different cuisines to create fascinating and unusual dishes. This might not be the most inexpensive restaurant but the food is spectacular and the atmosphere very upscale. Aioli's staff is helpful and polite in explaining the rather unusual menu.
Located inside the Beehive Nalahiya Hotel, the Hive Restaurant is an international restaurant with a trustworthy a la carte menu that spans a wide range of local and international dishes. The restaurant is popular for its English breakfast, its fresh Italian ice cream and its tasty desserts.
Fine dining
Ithaa is one of the most prestigious restaurants in Maldives and the first underwater eatery in the world. This upscale restaurant serves contemporary European dishes 16 feed under the surface of the sea. The Ithaa's signature 180 degree panoramic view of the ocean and its internationally famous six course meal have earned it a spot as one of the most distinguished restaurants in Asia. The food is incredible, the atmosphere regal and the scenery brilliantly surreal thanks to the underwater setting. The prices match the Ithaa's reputation and top tier quality.
The Symphony (not to be confused with the Symphony Solo) is a fine dining restaurant where patrons fully experience food with all their senses. Music, fine art and even finer dishes excite all five senses to create a unique dining experience. The restaurant may seem casual but the food is definitely on par with the best restaurants in the region. The atmosphere here is immersive and the food delectable. The Symphony is family friendly, too.
Cafes & bistros
The Shell Beans is a welcoming café / bistro in Male serving fine coffee blends and seriously delicious desserts throughout the day. This charming café is a popular meeting spot for locals and tourists alike.
Seagull Cafe House is a great open air café in Maldives' capital, Male. The café specialises in light snacks, delicious desserts and non-alcoholic beverages and cocktails that rival their alcohol laden counterparts. The Seagull is much favoured by a young crowd.
Friendly and welcoming, the I-berry Café is a café and bakery that serves English breakfast and amazing pastry alongside very good coffee. The café is also known for its delicious desserts and for not having any Maldivian dishes in its menu; here you will find mostly British and European food, with no Asian influences whatsoever, making it a great option for homesick tourists.
Jade Bistro is a popular deli bistro in Male that sells imported food that can't be found anywhere else in Maldives. The food selection includes imported items from Europe and the US, catering to homesick tourists who long for a taste from back home, as well as for curious locals.
Seafood & grills
Open - The Grill Poolside is an upscale and trendy grill restaurant that redefines the way many tourists think about grills and BBQs. The food here is unpretentious and brilliantly simple, while packing a seriously tasty punch with local and international seafood and grill dishes. The restaurant is beautifully located next to the sea and offers a great view under the shade of exotic trees.
Chop Chop is a modern and low-key eatery that serves freshly cooked grills and several international dishes. The food here is well-priced, delicious and comes in large portions, while the restaurant has a definite 'fast food' feel that nonetheless doesn't subtract from a quality culinary experience.