CHAPTER 3
Eating In Maldives
The amazing archipelago of the Maldives is not only home to a myriad of magical tropical islands fringed by white sandy beaches and marine life. The country also offers some of the most delicious Cuisine in the region called Dhivehi Cuisine. Traditional Maldivian cuisine provides a wonderful variety of tastes and flavors, ranging from crunchy snacks and street foods to Luxury restaurant food.
Maldives Attractions
Where To Stay
Resturants & Street Food
Nightlife
Hotels
Flights
Maldivian Cuisine is a rich assemblage of traditional flavors with strong influences from its neighboring countries, such as India and Sri Lanka. In the past, Maldivians depended on essential ingredients such as fish, coconuts, breadfruit, millet, and over time, with the influence of foreigners from ancient trade and travel, Maldivian cuisine developed a distinctive blend with its own unique hot spicy flavors.
Where to Eat?
Unlike any other country, the Maldives is totally different. You have the option to eat at the resort restaurant. Every Maldivian resort has at least one restaurant, and better ones have as many more.
Guesthouses restaurant nearly all guesthouses have restaurants and serve meals to their guests.
Then last in Male city to try and enjoy many delicious street foods. So many Cafes and Teashops serve simple local eateries that serve up cheap and delicious food and are the best place to try local dishes and interact with Maldivians.
So if you are staying at a luxury resort so the option is the resort restaurant, while if you are staying on a smaller inhabited island though, guesthouses will be where you eat for the most part. And finally, if you are in Male so there’s a much broader choice, the most obvious place for authentic Maldivian ‘street food’ is in a teashop.
Your best bet for local street food is in Malé. Head to the markets as well as cafés where you will discover traditional Maldivian snacks,
Here is a list of popular food, evening snacks, desserts, drinks, and where to find them whatever in street kiosk, Cafes, Restaurant.
Garudhiya
It is a traditional dish of Maldives which is also one of the basic food items of the local population. Garudhiya is a fragrant fish soup that is usually cooked using fish, water, and salt. It is served with lime, rice, chili, and onions.
Mas Huni
The dish is the most popular Maldivian breakfast, eaten with chapati bread called Roshi. It is shredded smoked Tuna that served with grated coconuts, lemon and onions.
Boshi Mashuni
Boshi Mashuni is a blend of shredded banana flowers, fresh coconut, and spices known as the banana flower salad. While curry leaves, turmeric, and cumin provide a delightful flavor to the dish you can add also lime and chili to give it a tangy twist.
Bis Keemiya
Bis Keemiya is one of the Maldivian vegetarian short eats, same as a samosa and spring roll. It’s a pastry filled shredded cabbage, onions, and hardboiled eggs.
Masroshi
It is a snack or shortest eaten for an evening tea or breakfast.
consisting of stuffed and fried dough. The dough is made with flour, oil, warm water, and salt, while the filling includes smoked tuna, grated coconut, hot peppers, onions, garlic, ginger, minced curry leaves, and lime.
Saagu Bondibai
Called also sago pudding, is one of the most popular Maldivian desserts. It’s is made by warming it with coconut milk, rose, and cardamom then lacing it with condensed milk.
Following I will list some restaurants and cafes they offer a variety of Maldivian food and drinks.
Maldives Restaurant And Cafes
Just Tea located at Addu Atoll (Abdu city)
Don’t be fooled by the name. You certainly can get more than just tea. The place is a local meeting point on the main road between the airport and Hithadhoo. Specialized for Parota and grilled very spicy fish. Cardamon and Bombay Tea are available Best masroshi, fihunu mas and Parata available here. A perfect place to taste the local food extremely low price.
Suvadive Cafe Located In Abdu Atoll (Abdu city)
Nice place to go to eat and have fun with your friends. This cozy spot is a bit off the main road not facing sea either, but the food, service, and the environment are European standards. it’s popular for local families as well. Friendly staff, Serves food pretty quickly, and reasonable prices.
Summer Kitchen And Bakery Located In Maafushi
The restaurant rated as the best restaurant in Maafushi. If you want to visit Maafushi it is just 45min by boat. Enjoy local and Chinese cuisine with a variety of choices, pizza, seafood, and desserts. Friendly staff, good service at a fair price.
Newport Located In Male city
This cool spot on Male’s is a marine drive in front of hulhule ferry booth. A comfortable place for dining with family or colleagues.
They serve most traditional Maldivian food such as falafel, seared tuna cubes, sandwiches, giant prawns and burgers. Friendly staff, good location, simple decoration, and prices are great.
Seagull Café House Located In Male
Nice place and an amazing atmosphere to grab a bite, great choice of smoothies, ice cream, and cakes. The Seagull is one of the hot spots in Male boasts an impressively designed space complete with a charming garden. Escape from the crowded streets of Male and enjoy love with the ginger beer they serve here. They import it from Australia and available only here.
Try the Ginger beer absolutely you are going to love it. The menu is extensive and includes sandwiches, burgers, curries, wraps, pasta, fish and grills. Friendly staff, amazing atmosphere, good prices.
Royal Garden Café Located In Male
Royal Garden
Royal Garden housed in a rare surviving example of a ganduvaru (historical spot), a nobleman’s house with a stylish dark-wood interior and charming garden. Located near Sultan park with an amazing historical view. They serve Italian, Indonesian, American and Indian cuisines.
Try the delicious satay chicken or the ever-good nasi goreng or Chicken Manchurian and the Toblerone, shake and spicy grilled Tuna if you want to amp up the hotness. The cheapest Lavazza coffee is available in town. Friendly staff, service is slow but at a reasonable price.
Dawn Café Located In Male
Feel full with a Dawn Cafe, a great place to try local food. Keep in mind this is not a restaurant or Cafe here, the spot to serve street food and short eats. Great For Tea when you are in a hurry with varieties of Short eats. Amazing Food and friendly but slow staff, very good price.
Sala Thai Located In Male
The restaurant is a specialist in Thai cuisine. It is a beautifully designed restaurant that generally held the best on the island feel like a Thai spa. They serve a huge choice of soups, noodles, and curries. Meals are served al fresco in a charming walled terrace, or inside in a plush dining room. Good ambiance, friendly staff, excellent service, fair prices.
Sea House Located In Male
The restaurant situated on the first floor of the ferry terminal, the view is wonderful to sit by the seaside with a nice environment. They serve a great menu especially good for groups. Not bad and not high quality if you are in a budget this is yours. Friendly staff, slow service, good prices.
Palm Village Located In Addu Atoll (Abdu City)
Place with wooden nice interior considered one of Addu City’s best restaurants. It seems like you are in India and it smells Indian spice all around. It is a great place popular with local families, young people, and the occasional tourist. The food is excellent, friendly staff, reasonable prices.
Family Room Cafe Located In Hulhumale
The best coffee place on the island located on the seafront. They are specialists in coffee as well they service juices and cakes, you must try the tonicpresso. The food is good with limited choices, but everyone will find something to eat. Great location, friendly staff, excellent service at a reasonable price.
Bombay Darbar Located In Hulhumale
Enjoy a Wonderful experience with Indian cuisines in the Maldives. Some times too crowded for dinner so you have to be patient to get the seats. They serve a large menu of cooking from all over the subcontinent.
Whether you are carnivores or vegetarian all the options are here. Try the excellent prawn masala or the traditional Tangdi kebab from the tandoori oven or you may like to try The Palak Paneer, the Biryani is also a wonderful option you have to try.
Thai Wok Located In Male
A cozy place to hang out with family and friends. The restaurant serves Thai cuisine with good value and authentic. Thursday nights are pretty much packed or fully booked since Friday’s are considered to be weekend. Some of their best dishes are Tom Yum soup, papaya salad, mango with sticky rice and Beef kangkung. Friendly staff, good service, reasonable prices.
Shell Beans Located In Male
A great place with a great view of the Male harbor. Great place for breakfast with a large section of juices, smoothies, milkshakes, and coffee to choose from, as well as other options food such as sandwiches and burgers. Friendly staff, good service, a bit pricey.