Good to know
Good to Know
- Food is heavily imported and expensive compared to mainland Asia; nearly everything arrives by boat, driving up costs significantly
- Local islands have 'hotaas' (family-run cafes) offering authentic Maldivian meals for USD 10-20 per meal—far cheaper than resort dining
- Alcohol is prohibited on local islands but freely available at resort islands and duty-free outlets; local islands observe dry law
- During Ramadan, restaurants and eateries outside resorts are closed during daylight hours; eating, drinking, or smoking in public is disrespectful
- Traditional Maldivian meals are eaten communally from a shared central platter; eating with the right hand is customary
- Tipping is not compulsory as 10% service charge is typically added to bills at restaurants
- Tap water is mostly desalted seawater; drink bottled water—1.5-liter bottles cost under MVR 10
- Friday is a non-working day; most shops and businesses are closed
- Maldivian cuisine is naturally rich in fish, coconut, and spices; heat from Scotch Bonnet peppers is standard and can be adjusted on request
Supermarkets
AGORA Supermarket (Majeedhee Magu)
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Description
- Multi-storey supermarket with food, groceries, consumer electronics, and imported items
AGORA Supermarket (Sosun Magu)
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Description
- Full-service grocery and general merchandise
AGORA Express
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Description
- Compact supermarket location for quick shopping
Redwave Supermarket
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Description
- Wholesale and retail supermarket chain with food, household items, and groceries
S.T.O Trade Centre
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Description
- Large supermarket with imported and local products, basic and specialty items
GannaMart (Online Grocery)
- Neighborhood
- Male/Hulhumale
- Description
- Online grocery delivery app serving Greater Male area with wide range of products
Budget
Iberry Café
- Price Range
- MVR 75
- Neighborhood
- Hulhumale
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Local Maldivian comfort food, fish soups, curries
Crystal Sands
- Price Range
- MVR 100
- Neighborhood
- Maafushi
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Maldivian, Mas Huni, curries
The Seagull Café House
- Price Range
- MVR 120
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Local Maldivian fare, traditional dishes
Jazz Café
- Price Range
- MVR 100
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Traditional Maldivian, breakfast and lunch specials
High End
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant
- Price Range
- MVR 4,500
- Neighborhood
- Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Modern European with Maldivian twist, fine dining
5.8 Undersea Restaurant
- Price Range
- MVR 4,000
- Neighborhood
- Hurawalhi Island Resort
- Cuisine Or Dish
- International cuisine with sustainable ingredients, six-course tasting menu
Flying Sauces
- Price Range
- MVR 5,000
- Neighborhood
- Soneva Fushi
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fine dining with rotating Michelin-starred chefs, seasonal menu
Alba
- Price Range
- MVR 4,500
- Neighborhood
- The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fine dining, international and Mediterranean cuisine
Mid Range
Café Rio
- Price Range
- MVR 300
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Maldivian and Asian fusion, salads, curries
Amore
- Price Range
- MVR 350
- Neighborhood
- Guraidhoo
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Maldivian and international cuisine, vegetable curries
The Sea House Maldives
- Price Range
- MVR 400
- Neighborhood
- Male
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Fresh seafood, Mas Huni, local fish dishes
T for Tea House
- Price Range
- MVR 200
- Neighborhood
- Furanafushi Island
- Cuisine Or Dish
- Tea service, Maldivian snacks and pastries
Delivery Services
Foodies
- Notes
- Operates from over 100+ restaurants and home cooks across Maldives; real-time GPS tracking and cashback/loyalty programs available
AVAS Food
- Notes
- 40+ restaurants available in Male and Hulhumale; live order tracking and cash-on-delivery/online transfer payment options
Gaadiya Eats
- Notes
- Multi-service app offering food delivery alongside taxi and general delivery services; live order tracking and exclusive deals
Eeezap
- Notes
- Multi-service superapp offering food delivery, grocery delivery, and on-demand services; in-app wallet and card payment options
Michelin Restaurants
Ithaa Undersea Restaurant
- Location
- Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
- Description
- World's first undersea restaurant at 16 feet below sea level with panoramic marine views; six-course set menu featuring modern European cuisine with Maldivian twist
5.8 Undersea Restaurant
- Location
- Hurawalhi Island Resort
- Description
- World's largest all-glass undersea restaurant at 5.8 meters depth; six-course exclusive tasting menu with sustainable ingredients; recently collaborated with Michelin-star chef Stefan Heilemann
Flying Sauces
- Location
- Soneva Fushi
- Description
- Unique saucer-shaped restaurant accessible via ziplining; hosts rotating Michelin-starred chefs offering seasonal fine dining menus
Alba
- Location
- The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
- Description
- Signature fine-dining restaurant; part of resort's rotating Michelin chef program featuring cooking classes and unique dining experiences
So Hands On
- Location
- Soneva Fushi
- Description
- Eight-seat private sushi dining space in partnership with three Michelin-starred Japanese chef Kenji Gyoten
Summer Pavilion
- Location
- Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
- Description
- Intimate 40-seat Cantonese restaurant; collaboration with Singapore's Michelin-starred restaurant of same name; features roasted duck and fine Chinese teas
Local Must Try Dishes
Mas Huni
- Description
- Traditional Maldivian breakfast of shredded smoked tuna mixed with grated coconut, chili, onion, and lime, typically served with roshi flatbread
Garudhiya
- Description
- Clear fish broth made with fresh tuna, salt, and water, served with steamed rice, lime, chili, and onions—considered the national comfort food
Dhon Riha
- Description
- Creamy and spicy tuna fish curry made with coconut, mango, cinnamon, and ginger
Fihunu Mas
- Description
- Grilled fish (typically snapper or grouper) marinated with local spices and served with chili paste
Gulha
- Description
- Small bite-sized savory dumplings filled with tuna, onions, chili, and grated coconut, deep-fried and served with tea
Bis Keemiya
- Description
- Pastry similar to samosa filled with tuna or hardboiled eggs, onions, and sautéed cabbage
Kulhi Boakibaa
- Description
- Baked fish cake made from smoked tuna, grated coconut, rice, onions, and spices—popular evening snack
Banbukeylu Harissa
- Description
- Steamed breadfruit curry infused with chili, onion, and coconut milk
Boshi Mashuni
- Description
- Refreshing salad of shredded banana flowers mixed with coconut, turmeric, curry leaves, lime, and chili
Saagu Bondibai
- Description
- Sago pudding served with warm coconut milk, condensed milk, cardamom, and rose water—popular dessert
Vegan Vegetarian Dining
- Description
- Vegetarian and vegan options exist, though fish dominates local cuisine. Luxury resorts accommodate plant-based requests; local options are more limited.
Venues
Shades of Green (Soneva Fushi)
- Description
- Plant-based fine dining experience featuring five-course gourmet tasting menu with vegetables from the resort's gardens; collaboration with chef Carsten Kyster
Botanica (Soneva Jani)
- Description
- Plant-based fine dining created in collaboration with Australian Michelin-starred chef Brent Savage; set in an organic garden with innovative vegetable-based tasting menus
Just Veg (Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives)
- Description
- Year-round vegetarian restaurant hosting an annual gourmet festival
Halal Dining
- Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Description
- All food on local islands and most resort dining is halal. The entire nation follows Islamic dietary laws as the Maldives is an Islamic country. Meat and seafood preparations comply with halal standards.
International Cuisine
- Overview
- Resort-based fine dining dominates, with Thai, Italian, Indian, Japanese, and French cuisine widely available at luxury properties. International menus are standard across mid-to-high-end establishments.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this food & dining research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.tripadvisor.com
- 2.maldives-magazine.com
- 3.islandhopperguides.com
- 4.esim.holafly.com
- 5.baros.com
- 6.maldives-magazine.com
- 7.holidify.com
- 8.brightbrothers.com.mv
- 9.redwavemaldives.com
- 10.holidify.com
- 11.travel-4-fun.com
- 12.play.google.com
- 13.apps.apple.com
- 14.play.google.com
- 15.gaadiya.app
- 16.play.google.com
- 17.addictedtomaldives.com
- 18.blog.slantco.com
- 19.brightbrothers.com.mv
More About Maldives
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.