The Best Restaurants in the Maldives – Wiotto  Recommendations

Since the opening of the first resort island in 1972, the Maldives has been associated with unsurpassed service, including the restaurant business. The best chefs in the world prepare exquisite and delicious dishes to satisfy the most demanding visitor. Maldivian resorts compete with each other: they invite Michelin-starred chefs, develop author’s menus, and design solutions generally make your head spin. An expert in booking exotic islands – wiotto.com – will help you understand the intricacies and choose the best restaurant in the Maldives.

A few words about wiotto 

Wiotto.com has been in the exotic island booking market for over 8 years. The main office is located in Geneva. The direction from which we started is Maldives. Wiotto.com works directly with host operators in the Maldives as well as other exotic islands. Thanks to this, the site presents competitive prices for hotels and their services.  Developers, testers, journalists and others worked on the development of the site. It took about two years to create a program that would instantly calculate the cost of a villa. As it turns out, this is not an easy task. Many agencies still manually calculate the cost of the holiday, and it sometimes takes several days. Everything is tied to a complex pricing system for hotels in the Maldives and other exotic islands. For example, only one hotel can enter up to 10-15 variables: every 5th night in a certain type of villa is free, children under 3 stay free, 20% discount when booking 15 nights, and so on. It is this complex pricing system that explains, for example, the fact that 5 days of rest can cost as much as a whole week.

A few more words should be said about the unique filter system in the wiotto.com catalog. Many years of experience working with clients on exotic islands has allowed us to create filters that are specific to the Maldives and other islands. Thus, in the catalog, you can filter, for example, only those hotels that provide the opportunity to dine in an underwater restaurant. Or by the type of food, the presence of a wine cellar, a kids club, a butler, villas with a pool, and so on.

Features of restaurants in the Maldives

• Resorts of the Maldives differ significantly from hotels in other countries. As a rule, one hotel occupies the whole island, which can be bypassed in 20-40 minutes. There are no shops on the resort, only the infrastructure of the hotel, including restaurants. Depending on the size, there can be from one to 20 restaurants on the island.

• On the local islands where the local population lives, there are also restaurants and cafes. They are not as expensive and sophisticated as on resort islands. Most often this is an option for budget travelers. Nevertheless, once on a local island, try dishes in local taverns. It is there that you will find out what the real Maldivian cuisine tastes like. After all, in restaurant dishes there is often an author’s vision of the chef. Tip: check out any restaurant where locals frequent. Don’t guess.

• There is a ban on alcohol on the local islands; this also includes restaurants, cafes, shops… The only place on the local islands where you can buy alcoholic drinks is the so-called floating bars located on the water near the coast. Enterprising Maldivians get around the law in this way. The ban on alcohol does not apply to resort islands of the Maldives. The tourism business brings the lion’s share to the budget of the Maldives, because the state allows the sale of alcohol in resorts designed for visiting foreign tourists.

• There are 6 underwater restaurants in the Maldives, which are literally located under water. Visitors can enjoy a delicious dinner while watching the marine life through panoramic windows. There are not many places in the world where you can dine underwater, and the Maldives was the first in this. It is worth noting that the queue for dinner in an underwater restaurant can sometimes stretch for several months. It is also important to note that not all resorts provide such an opportunity. Contact the wiotto.com online chat, where managers will help you choose a hotel, as well as book a table for you on the desired dates.

• Romantic dinner on the beach by candlelight. If desired, the chef will prepare your favorite dishes, and maybe even the fish you caught on the Maldivian fishing trip. All this at a table on the beach overlooking the sunset – just for the two of you.

The best restaurants in the Maldives

It’s quite hard to choose the best restaurants in the Maldives, since most of the establishments are of a really high level. However, wiotto.com’s extensive experience and traveler reviews helped us choose the best of the best.

Sea.Fire.Salt Restaurant – Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort

Fresh Maldivian seafood on the grill, wok, tandoor… this is the highlight of the Sea.Fire.Salt restaurant, which is part of Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort. For the best steak, come here. A wonderful dinner will complement the romantic sunset, as the restaurant is located literally above the water.

Kandu Grill Restaurant – Four Seasons Kuda Huraa Resort

The most tasty freshest fish on the grill waiting you in restaurant Kandu Grill at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa Resort. We especially recommend this hotel and its restaurant for its romantic atmosphere. Private tables by candlelight will create the perfect setting for your special evening. 

Edge Restaurant – Niyama Private Islands Maldives Resort

Imagine having dinner in the middle of the ocean on a small artificial island. You do not need to go to the restaurant by car, but by boat. It’s going to be a very special evening at the Edge restaurant of the five-star hotel Niyama. The chef specializes in international cuisine and seafood. Complement a delicious dinner with a luxurious wine list.

Thila Restaurant – Kurumba Maldives Resort

Kurumba was the first resort to open in the Maldives. It still serves the best continental breakfasts on the islands. Thila is the main restaurant on the island and, in comparison with other five-star resorts, has fairly affordable prices, while not inferior in quality. In the menu you can find a wide selection of not only seafood and meat dishes, but also vegetarian options, as well as a specially designed children’s menu.

Vista Del Mar Restaurant – Ozen Reserve Bolifushi Resort

Restaurant Vista Del Mar in Ozen Reserve Bolifushi serves world cuisine with a Spanish twist. The cheese appetizers and desserts are especially worth trying. Traditionally, the restaurant is located on the beach with incredible views. 

Yasmeen Restaurant – Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi Resort

Authentic Yasmeen Restaurant is located at the Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi. The atmosphere of the establishment will take you to the home of an Arab village. Here you should definitely try wood-fired bread and juicy meat with a side dish. You will be delighted.

Muraka Restaurant – Mirihi Island Resort

Restaurant Muraka in the idyllic resort of Mirihi Island is known for its many awards. The chef’s specialty is veal steak cooked in triple gin and tuna tartare. What can we say about delicious lobsters! Mirihi is one of the smallest resort islands in the Maldives. Ideal for a romantic and secluded getaway. The wiotto catalog has the filters “Small Island” and “Big Island”. Choose exactly what you need. 

Ithaa Underwater Restaurant – Conrad Rangali Island Resort

The history of underwater restaurants began with Ithaa Undersea Restaurant at Conrad Rangali. In the institution, not only the walls, but also the roof is transparent. You will dine in a huge glass capsule while watching the colorful underwater world. One of the best chefs in the world will prepare Maldivian and European cuisine for you.

Origami Restaurant – Anantara Veli Resort & Spa 

Japanese Cuisine connoisseurs should visit Origami Restaurant at Anantara Veli. Not only the cuisine, but also the interior of the establishment create a real Japanese atmosphere. Sashimi, sushi, Alaskan king crab, teppanyaki dishes… your taste buds will be delighted.

The list of the best restaurants in the Maldives can certainly be continued. Only a small part is mentioned in the article. It is important to note that visiting all these restaurants in one trip will be quite difficult, since the distance between the islands is significant and often needs to be overcome by seaplane. Managers of wiotto.com are well aware of the restaurant map of the Maldives – contact the online chat on the site and they will help you choose a resort based on your restaurant preferences.