Roger Gary
As a popular beach holiday destination the Maldives is also home to some of the region's top restaurants. From Maldivian cuisine to continental fare the country's best dining hubs are as follows.
Revered as one of the best restaurants in the Maldives Fish offers a unique and signature dining experience unlike any other. Located within the W Retreat & Spa Maldives this culinary hotspot set itself apart from typical dining hubs located within a luxury resort in Maldives. A favorite stopover for gourmet food lovers this trendsetting new restaurant's Ocean to table" approach to cuisine focuses on brining the best of local ingredients to diners in a romantic outdoor setting. Serving delectable seafood offerings with a decidedly Asian twist, the freshness of the dishes at FISH makes it one of the true heroes of the Maldivian food scene.
Occupying pride of place in Male's Faradhee Magu precinct lies a veritable icon in the capital's cafe and bistro landscape. Spread out across two levels the outdoor and indoor dining spaces of this charming bistro also affords breathtaking views of the city below and landmarks such as the Grand Friday Mosque. Serving an eclectic mix of Indian, Maldivian and continental favourites the Seagull Cafe House brings the best of both worlds to diners. Some of the must-try menu items include its snapper steak with parsley rice and a dollop of mango salsa while the venue is also reputed to serve the finest ice cream in the Maldivian capital. Offering over 30 fruit based flavours sampling the coconut, mango or pineapple ice creams at the Seagull Cafe House is an experience to savour on a Maldivian holiday.
Situated on a quaint alleyway near Ameer Ahmed Magu the Aioli Restaurant is another top dining hub in Male. Specializing in its own brand of Asian dishes with a Mediterranean flair the Aioli Restaurant is equally well-known for its chic and stylish interiors that make it one of the most visually stunning diners in the capital. Offering two massive dining areas including an alfresco dining hall located on a balcony this popular restaurant is the best place to sample traditional Maldivian fare such as the "addu kukulhu reha" and saffron rice with crispy cuttlefish.
Ideal for those with a hankering for authentic Chinese cuisine while on a holiday in paradise, Palace Sichuan is the brainchild of Terence Tsui who wishes to bring Cantonese cuisine to diners in the Maldives. Spacious and elegantly furnished the venue features private dining rooms that can be reserved for special occasions and business meals as well. With its menu littered with staple favourites hailing from China's Sichuan Province. Boasting a Chinese staff and imported ingredients specially flown in from China some of the hot-pick dishes at the venue include delicious white fungus and served with papaw sauce and shrimp meat items.
With a decade's long history as one of the capital's most popular cafe's Shell Beans is another must-dine hotspot in the paradise archipelago. A fashionable meeting point for the city's youth the Wi-Fi enabled confines of this tranquil cafe exudes an atmosphere that is both trendy as it is cosy. The venue's signature offerings include tandoori chicken and its famed croissantwiches' which is a stuffed croissant with a filling. The coffee served at Shell Beans is also among the finest in the capital while mouth-watering selection of cakes and salads are also found on the extensive menu.
