Food and dining at Maldives resorts

On a resort holiday, every meal is eaten on the same island, so food matters more than you might think. The good news is that Maldives resorts take dining seriously. Depending on where you stay, you might have breakfast by the lagoon, Maldivian curry for lunch and dinner in a restaurant below the sea.

This guide explains meal plans in plain terms, the local dishes worth trying, special dining experiences and how resorts handle dietary needs. Restaurants and menus vary by resort, so check what's on offer before you book.

Meal plans in brief

Most resorts sell stays on one of these meal plans. What's included varies by resort, so we always confirm it in your quotation.

Because there's nowhere else to eat, many guests choose half board or more. Our meal plans guide explains each plan in detail, including premium all-inclusive and what to ask before you choose.

Maldivian dishes to try

Maldivian cooking is built on fish, coconut and spice, with influences from South Asia. Many resorts serve local dishes at breakfast or on themed evenings, and some offer Maldivian cooking classes. Look out for:

• Mas huni. Shredded tuna with grated coconut, onion, chilli and lime, eaten at breakfast with roshi, a thin flatbread.
• Garudhiya. A clear fish broth served with rice, lime and chilli.
• Fish curries. Tuna and reef fish cooked in coconut milk and spices.
• Hedhikaa. Savoury "short eats" served with tea, such as bajiyaa (small pastries), mas roshi (tuna and coconut parcels) and kulhi boakibaa (spicy fish cake).
• Bondi baiy. Sweetened sticky rice, often made for celebrations.

Tuna is central to Maldivian food, and much of it is caught by pole and line. Our fishing guide explains the tradition.

Underwater and overwater dining

A handful of resorts have underwater restaurants, where you eat in a glass-walled room surrounded by reef fish. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and Anantara Kihavah Villas are two well-known examples. Seats are limited, so book well ahead.

Overwater restaurants are much more common. Many resorts have at least one restaurant or bar on stilts over the lagoon, ideal for sunset. Speciality restaurants like these often cost extra, even on all-inclusive plans, so check what your plan covers.

Private dining

Resorts are good at private dining, and it's a favourite for honeymoons and celebrations:

• On the beach. A table on the sand, lit by lanterns, with your own waiter.
• On a sandbank. A short boat ride to a strip of sand in the lagoon, usually for lunch or a sunset dinner.
• In your villa. A set menu or barbecue served on your deck.
• Cooking sessions. Some resorts arrange a private class with a chef.

Private dinners depend on the weather, and resorts may move them indoors or to another evening if it's windy or rainy.

Dietary needs and allergies

Resorts can usually cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets, and for allergies, with notice. Tell us about any dietary needs when you enquire, so we can pass them on, and remind the restaurant team when you arrive. Children's menus are common, and many resorts are happy to prepare simple dishes for younger children.

Drinks

Alcohol is served at resorts, but visitors can't bring alcohol into the Maldives, including duty-free. Resorts provide drinking water, and many now bottle filtered water on site. Fresh coconut water is worth trying too.