Destination Dining Experiences of a Lifetime at Luxury Resorts in the Maldives

1 Underwater Dining

Ever wonder if you can eat while you’re underwater? Dining under the sea is a growing trend in the Maldives that enables diners to enjoy a great food and incredible underwater views all at once. Luxury underwater restaurants are the most unique dining experiences in the world and not every day you can say you ate with the fishes. Imagine feasting on oysters while submerged beneath the Indian Ocean, or sipping Dom Pérignon with the company of a sea turtle. No matter you want to have a romantic dinner with your beloved one or take your family for a very special lunch, the handful of underwater restaurants around the Maldives are ready to provide the WOW factor! The breathtaking underwater restaurants in Maldives must to visit for making your holiday experience on these honeymoon's islands an affair to remember.

The Hurawalhi's star attraction is the world's largest panoramic underwater restaurant, called '5.8 Undersea', which allows you to dive into gastronomic pleasures to a depth of 5.8 meters. Featuring only 8 tables, and surrounded by hypnotic views of the underwater world, a restaurant with a minimalist design is focused outward; and the prices for romance are high - each table is served only for two guests. The menu concept is a tasting extravaganza from several dishes, also available with wine, and comments by the sommelier. 

2 5° North at Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives

Installed on a special platform, which is located exactly 5 degrees North of the Equator, this whole new level of destination dining experience at Finolhu Maldives offers a blissful seclusion in the heart of the tropical lagoon. Available for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 guests, this is an exclusive experience in every sense of the word. With water all around and nothing but sky above, the evening truly belongs to you.

Whether you choose to indulge in a romantic dinner with a special someone or a celebratory meal with family or friends, indulge your taste buds with a delicious set menu of your choice. Prepared by your very own chef and served by your dedicated butler, the choice of carefully curated menus includes the finest steak, seafood and vegetarian delights. It is time to start planning your holiday at Finolhu and make this gastronomic escapade part of your itinerary.

3 The Borderless Dining at Dusit Thani Maldives

If the idea to stay on the Maldives in a Thai-style hotel raises your eyebrows, think about what it gives you. The warm hospitality of Thailand in an unprecedented luxury setting: two of the best aspects of an Asian luxury trip in one magnificent package. Located on Mudhdhoo island in Baa Atoll, the Maldives' first and only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Dusit Thani seduces guests with pearly white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, lush vegetation and a fantastic house reef with one of the most abundant marine life in the Maldives.

Fine cusine in an exotic setting is another highlight of this resort. The Borderless Dining concept at Dusit Thani Maldives presents guests with dining options in unbelievable settings, featuring sumptuous menus designed to suit every occasion. Exquisite settings offer sweeping views of Indian Ocean, immersing guests in a truly multisensory dining experience. Carefully crafted dishes and innovative beverages complete the experience. READ FULL REVIEW

4 Cora Cora Maldives - Premium All-Inclusive Resort

Best Experience:   couples, families, solo, foodies, all inclusive, diving, house reef snorkeling, activities

Focused on all inclusive holidays, Cora Cora Maldives is a brand new island resort in Raa Atoll. Stay and play – the resort's Premium All-inclusive concept means the guests can enjoy most thrilling adventures on land and sea as much as you like. Freedom to indulge – all guests are on the Gourmet Meal Plan® , which includes almost everything. Opened 1st October 2021, a contemporary 5-star retreat features 100 villas spred in lush vegetation and spread over an expansive blue lagoon, six dining options, a luxury spa, dive & watersports centre, fitness facilities, outdoor cinema, kids club and heritage museum. Designed for couples and families alike, Cora Cora Maldives offers a vibrant, colourful vacation with an emphasis on excellent, healthy food, a lush interior landscape, and beaches, waters and reefs that are wonderfully preserved. READ FULL REVIEW

Elevate your Maldives experience with the resort's new destination dining option, enjoy dining above the tropical foliage that envelopes the resort. Immerse yourself with breathtaking sunset views and raw jungle vibe. In the evening, watch the stars sparkle above while savouring on delicious lobster and tender steaks perched above the resort’s highest peak.

5 Piano Deck at Baros Maldives

Baros is a perfect getaway located in the North Malé Atoll only a 25-minute by speedboat from Malé Airport. With a variety of villas to choose from, these very stylish settings make this the ideal island retreat for couples young and old. Located on a beautiful private island with a crystal clear coral lagoon, Baros is a 5 * star boutique hotel in the Maldives that will surpass all of your highest fantasies of the "dream island". READ FULL REVIEW

Baros Piano Deck is a unique dining expeerience on a stand-alone deck isolated in the heart of the beautiful, turquoise lagoon – a symphony of fine cuisine served in exclusivity in the exotic setting of the lagoon. This deck, whose profile resembles a grand piano with wooden steps like a piano keyboard, is just minutes by boat from the resort’s shore with access only through prior reservation. With a muslin canopy billowing in the breeze and providing shelter from the sun, the Piano Deck is extremely popular with guests who want a different experience in sophisticated style. There is no permanent structure on the deck, making it possible to create the perfect backdrop for any occasion whether during the day or on a moonlit night. While the Piano Deck is more frequently chartered for a couple to share a romantic meal, whether breakfast, lunch or dinner in privacy, it has also been used as a venue for small cocktail parties, for yoga enthusiasts and for renewal of wedding vows for both newly married and couples commemorating a wedding anniversary. It’s ideal for a melody of Baros cuisine discreetly served on the deck in the lagoon under the stars. 

6 Aqua dinner at Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa at Dhonakulhi is a luxury island hideaway in the untouched Haa Alifu atoll in the north of Maldives. Boasting with long white sandy beaches on each side of the island, crystal-clear waters, and beautiful turquoise-blue lagoon, Hideaway Beach offers guests the luxury of space and privacy across 297,000 square metres. Each villa is carefully positioned to offer peace, comfort and privacy to guests. To ensure the absolute absence of stress during your holiday, each of the villas is assigned a butler, to deal with anything from unpacking luggage to food, activity and transfers. READ MORE

Sunset Pool Cafes in a beach club style at Hideaway is located next to the resort's magnificent infinity pool with sunset views. Asian and European cuisine and the taste again is amazing. They serve the best of the cocktails and boast the most spectacular infinity pool of the resort. Cocktails is part of the holiday, you are dreaming, sipping your favourite drink during sunset and the view over the glistening infinity pool blending seamlessly into the mesmerizing ocean gets even better. Try their an excellent mixes: Mojito, Mai Tai, Bloody Mary and others. Feast on a gourmet tailor-made menu as you sink your toes into the cool waters of the main pool. 

7 Treetop Dining at Niyama Private Islands

Niyama offers more than a luxury retreat in the Maldives. Going beyond conventional concepts of lavish accommodation, sumptuous cuisines, and lavish services, Niyama presents every visitor with myriad opportunities to create their own exceptional island experience. With twin islands Play and Chill, Niyama offers you the true luxury of choice, with everything expected from an island resort and so much more. Niyama Private Islands Maldives is particularly known for its dining experiences in surreal settings. And two of its three signature restaurants are headed by female chefs. READ FULL REVIEW

Asian avant-garde cuisines in a surreal tree top setting of NEST restaurant. Teppanyaki, Thai, Chinese and Indonesian. Climb into the tree house, Nest, for an unforgettable dining high. Navigate the jungle on a labyrinth of wooden walkways to your private perch in the tree tops. Chilled sculptures of sashimi arrive in a globe of ice. Avant-garde presentations by Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian chefs grace your table in one of the most spectacular restaurants in the Maldives. 

8 Private Destination Dining at Huvafen Fushi Maldives

Located just 30 minutes by speedboat from the main airport, Huvafen Fushi ideally mixes Maldivian style with hip and chic features; The adults-only island’s 44 enrapturing, naturally modern villas – all with private pools – are refreshed; unique amenities, sophisticated design, contemporary furniture, high-tech equipment, and last but not least cool events which all contribute to make Huvafen Fushi a truly dreamy island. Encircled by one of the best house reefs in the Maldives, this private island paradise is home to the world’s first and only underwater spa, and with only 44 rooms it is the ultimate in luxurious privacy and intimacy. New culinary experiences include modern Japanese cuisine with a Latin twist at Feeling Koi and designer drinks dreamt up by mixologists from London’s PURL, complimenting the established gastronomic lineup including subterranean wine trove Vinum, alfresco Italian Forno and relaxed deck dining at Celsius.

Also the glamorously grown-up Maldivian hideaway Huvafen Fushi offers private dining experiences in sumptuous settings. Dine at a table immersed in the waters of the infinity pool or at the starlit chic of Cardamom Lounge. Surrender to Siamese Dreams under the palms or enjoy sensuous culinary moments on a private sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean. On the menu: from Rock and Star-Lit dinners to Dream Island Sandbank lunch, from Dream Dhoni cruise to underwater-spa breakfast. READ FULL REVIEW

9 Sandbank Dining at Baros Maldives

Baros is a perfect getaway located in the North Malé Atoll only a 25-minute by speedboat from Malé Airport. With a variety of villas to choose from, these very stylish settings make this the ideal island retreat for couples young and old. Located on a beautiful private island with a crystal clear coral lagoon, Baros is a 5 * star boutique hotel in the Maldives that will surpass all of your highest fantasies of the "dream island". Surrounded by clean, warm waters and snow-white sands, with groves of coconut palms and fragrant flowers, this cozy resort landscape is really worthy of fainting. The team is serene modern rooms (including water villas), fine dining, a fantastic spa, a large swimming pool and water entertainment from a luxury yacht to diving and yoga.

Dining on a sandbank under the stars as the sea gently laps the sand, a soft breeze cools the evening, lanterns flicker and chefs create gastronomic treats in the open air, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Baros Maldives has an unique pop-up à la carte restaurant on a sandbank, creating an unforgettable Maldivian experience for its guests. The guests are taken to the sandbank on a speedboat to be greeted with a glass of champagne in time to watch a magnificent sunset. READ MORE

10 Stargazing - Anantara Kihavah; Rooftop SKY Bar

Anantara is passionate about bringing story collecting travellers closer to the natural, cultural and historic allures of each destination, and nowhere is this more deliciously articulated than at Anantara Kihavah Villas’ one-of-a-kind dining experience. Here, diners are spoilt for choice with six restaurants and bars, each offering a distinctive setting, menu and ambiance that divulge a different view of the world’s most envied utopia, as well as a diverse culinary journey. As the day slowly drifts away with the setting sun, guests also can indulge in the ultimate romantic dining with personalised “Dining by Design” experiences, where a specially devised menu is prepared by a personal chef, and served at a table for two in dreamy locations, from an isolated sandbank in the Indian Ocean to the deck of a private yacht – anywhere of the guests' choosing.

“Sky” is a double storey lounge bar in Thai style with over scale rocking chairs, perfect for taking in the awe inspiring view of the Baa Atoll island archipelago or stargazing on the open rooftop deck. Anantara Kihavah's overwater observatory and SKY bar allows guests to drink in the atmosphere under a starry night sky as the night unfolds, while experiencing a stargazing session with the SKY Guru through Maldives’ most powerful overwater observatory. The resort's in-house astronomers will guide guests through the secrets of the stars and constellations. With little light pollution around this private island resort, guests will be rewarded with dramatic views of the planets and moons on perfect display. Each session is limited to eight people. Couples can book a special Honeymoon Stargazing option, allow honeymooners to name a star after their loved one as an infinite gift and toast champagne to an extraordinary night of illuminating romance. READ MORE

11 Treehouse Magic at One & Only Reethi Rah

The One&Only Reethi Rah is the all-villa ultra-luxury resort in the North Male atoll, accessible by a short luxury yacht jorney from Malé. From extensive outdoor adventure options, including snorkelling and diving in the exotic underwater world, to the mesmerising One&Only Spa, guests are spoilt for choice. Sleek and spectacular, with unprecedented privacy this award-winning resort, a favourite among A-listers, is perfect for couples and families in search of privacy and the ultimate in laidback luxury.

The new Tree House set high above the tropical canopy serves a delicious seven-course menu to discover world-class gourmet cusine, personalised for a perfect moment. Wrapped in the treetops and serenaded by the sounds of the forest, an incredibly private location to enjoy romantic evenings and intimate celebrations, offering one of the most spectacular settings to watch the sun set overlooking the Indian Ocean. READ FULL REVIEW

12 Fresh in the Garden at Soneva Fushi

In 1995, the award-winning luxury resort Soneva Fushi set the standard for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways in the Maldives. Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi pairs Robinson Crusoe fantasy with intelligent luxury. If the experiences are magical, the philosophy is simple: No news, no shoes. No pretensions either. Sixty-two private villas with their own stretch of beach are hidden among dense foliage within touching distance of a pristine coral reef. Intuitive service is provided by Mr./Ms. Friday butlers. Highlights include the open-air Cinema Paradiso, counting Saturn's rings in the high-tech Observatory, the home-made chocolate and ice cream rooms, five hundred wines to choose from, six different restaurants and countless destination dining options.

Very few properties in the Maldives can boast as large and functional a garden like the one on Soneva Fushi, which is used daily to provide fresh produce to guests and staff. Even better? Settled above all the beds of edible greens and vegetables is the Fresh in the Garden dining outlet. Open for dinner, this treehouse restaurant is accessible via rope bridge (yes, it’s a good place to channel your inner child — there are a few opportunities on the island to indulge). The menu offers a selection of healthy options, many cultivated from the garden below. Vegetarian diners should be quite happy.

If you want to dine this way every day - book the five-bedroom Villa 37. Set on the island's sunrise side the five-bedroom Villa 37 is a huge beach house with main highlight is the 11 metre tall viewing tower, reached by a winding staircase, with a dining table called the Moonlight Table at the summit. This viewing tower is now the tallest point on the island and the ideal spot to take in the panoramic views, sunrises, sunsets, dining experiences and stargazing.