Great dining places in Maldives – Maldivian taste

That is no easy thing to even think of dining undersea. But that is completely a possibility in Maldives at Itha Undersea Restaurant. You will be able savour a range of delicacies including European cuisine five metres below sea level. Itha means mother of pearl in Dhivehi, the national language of the Maldives. The restaurant offers a good assortment of cuisines such as yellowtail kingfish with a saffron champagne risotto, Malossol imperial caviar with sour cream potato blinis and beurre blanc foam. And for dessert, you can take delight in vaniclla chocolate along with mango sorbet. If you happen to visit Ithaa between morning and afternoon, you can order a mid-morning cocktail before lunch. Or if you travel with your significant other, the restaurant has romantic dinner option as well. But what matters above all is none other than its surrounding view. When you see the coral gardens outside along with occasional fish swimming by, you will forget everything else for a moment.

You will find this wooden restaurant on the end of a jetty above the island's lagoon. At Muraka, you can easily go for your favourite dishes (as they offer an international menu) along with any kind of seafood indigenous to Maldives. Muraka's specialty is Maldivian tuna loin crusted with pink peppercorn coated by fried bok choi. The menu also serves decliacies such as bisque with papaya salad and potato wanton. You can also order a table with a whole fish on it. Like Ithaa, Muraka also offers a breathtaking exterior view. It also has an open-floor section where you can observe the sea below. If you are staying somewhere such as Maafushivaru Maldives, it is a short trip to Muraka.

Surrounded by the wooden furniture and Asian artwork, you will be in for a healthy meal at Sala Thai. Although you fill find a quiet environment, this restaurant is popular among locals as well as foreigners. Since it is located inland in a quiet atmosphere, Sala Thai would offer you the welcome escape from the city that you were travelling. The line of trees outside is simply perfect to have an outdoor meal. Here the menu includes spicy fish marinated in shrimp along with Thai herbs, sticky jasmine rice with mango and Penang curry (an indigenous Thai dessert offered in almost every Maldives resort).

Its friendly environment and staff will tempt you to make a second visit here. Shell Beans has allured many expatriates, sightseers and youngsters. Here you will be given wireless internet as well free of charge. As for food, you will get a wide range of delicacies across the globe: tandoori chicken, teriyaki beef and the café's special croissantwiches (croissants plus sandwich). If you are a coffee fan, here is good news. The café serves the best coffee in the area.

Seagull Café House is the ideal place to try out ice cream in Male. You can try about 30 flavours such as pineapple, mango and most interestingly coconut. Seagull's menu includes Indian cuisine as well in addition to western and Maldivian. Roast turkey breast topped with Normandy cream is a specialty here.