The Maldives, renowned for its natural beauty, luxury resorts, and serene surroundings, is also a growing hotspot for fine dining experiences, including a selection of Michelin-star-quality restaurants. While the Michelin Guide does not cover the Maldives, a number of top-tier chefs and Michelin-starred culinary artists have lent their expertise to the island nation’s dining scene. Many resort-based restaurants here are operated or guided by Michelin-starred chefs from around the world, bringing refined and inventive dining experiences to guests. Below is an overview of some of the most notable dining establishments with Michelin star connections or world-class acclaim in the Maldives.
1. Ithaa Undersea Restaurant – Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
- Chef: Various guest chefs, rotating seasonal menus
- Highlights: Ithaa is the world’s first undersea restaurant, located 16 feet below sea level and offering panoramic views of marine life while dining. The restaurant serves European cuisine with a strong influence of fresh seafood and premium ingredients, presented through seven-course meals that align with the restaurant’s unique setting.
- Specialty Dishes: Lobster carpaccio, caviar, and line-caught reef fish are some highlights. Ithaa combines these with seasonal truffle ingredients, Champagne, and high-quality imported meats.
2. Aragu – Velaa Private Island
- Chef: Gaushan de Silva, with a background in Michelin-starred restaurants
- Highlights: Chef Gaushan brings a sustainable, fresh approach to modern European cuisine at Aragu, focusing on ingredients that are as organic and locally sourced as possible. The restaurant’s blend of eco-friendly fine dining, paired with views over the lagoon, has gained Aragu widespread acclaim.
- Specialty Dishes: Aragu’s tasting menus often feature dishes like Wagyu beef paired with root vegetables, locally sourced fish with herb-infused oils, and desserts that combine tropical fruits and European pastry techniques.
3. Tapasake – One&Only Reethi Rah
- Chef: Varied chefs with regular collaborations by Michelin-starred guest chefs
- Highlights: Tapasake is an Asian fusion restaurant with a focus on Japanese and Peruvian flavors. The restaurant offers stunning ocean views and serves high-end sushi, sashimi, and robata grill dishes, featuring culinary input from Michelin-star chefs on certain seasons.
- Specialty Dishes: Yellowtail sashimi with truffle oil, Wagyu beef with Japanese mustard, and sushi platters that highlight the quality and precision of traditional Japanese techniques are standouts.
4. Terra – Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
- Chef: Alessandro Verdenelli, with influence from Michelin-star mentors
- Highlights: Terra offers a unique experience with private dining pods elevated in the treetops, and a menu that draws heavily on truffle and caviar-based dishes. Chef Verdenelli’s experience in Michelin-starred kitchens brings sophisticated techniques to the table.
- Specialty Dishes: Wagyu A5 beef, Alba white truffle dishes, and Champagne pairings are some exclusive offerings. Terra is renowned for its curated, often personalized tasting menus featuring the best seasonal ingredients.
5. Niyama Private Islands – Edge and Subsix
- Chef: Guest Michelin-starred chefs for special events
- Highlights: Edge is a sophisticated overwater restaurant that offers contemporary European cuisine, while Subsix, located six meters below sea level, is famed for its underwater dining ambiance. Niyama’s frequent Michelin-star chef residencies bring seasonal high-end dining experiences to the island.
- Specialty Dishes: Seasonal seafood delicacies like grilled Maldivian lobster, scallops with caviar, and truffle-infused risottos.
6. 5.8 Undersea Restaurant – Hurawalhi Island Resort
- Chef: Maximilian J. Weininger, a chef trained in Michelin-starred establishments
- Highlights: The world’s largest all-glass underwater restaurant, 5.8 Undersea offers an exclusive six-course tasting menu featuring international cuisine with a focus on sustainable ingredients.
- Specialty Dishes: Sashimi platters, king prawns, and dishes garnished with edible flowers and microgreens. The ambiance and meal presentation cater to a memorable underwater dining experience.
7. By the Beach – Soneva Fushi
- Chef: Consultant Michelin-star chefs for seasonal pop-ups
- Highlights: Set right by the shore, By the Beach emphasizes a Japanese and Korean-inspired menu with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and fresh catch. Soneva Fushi regularly collaborates with guest chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide, elevating the standard of cuisine served here.
- Specialty Dishes: Tuna tataki, grilled octopus with yuzu dressing, and sushi crafted with tropical twists.
8. Fine Dining Experience at Joali Maldives – Saoke
- Chef: Hideki Matsuhisa, a Michelin-starred chef
- Highlights: The Maldivian location of Saoke, a Japanese-inspired floating restaurant designed by Japanese architect Noriyoshi Muramatsu, brings omakase and Japanese fine dining by Chef Matsuhisa, known for his Michelin-starred establishments.
- Specialty Dishes: Freshly prepared sashimi, uni sushi, and dishes with a fusion of Japanese and local Maldivian flavors create an exotic dining experience.
9. Botanica by Brent Savage – Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences
- Chef: Brent Savage, an Australian Michelin-starred chef
- Highlights: Botanica is a plant-based fine dining experience created in collaboration with Chef Brent Savage. The restaurant’s setting, an organic garden, makes it a unique option for vegetarians and health-conscious diners in the Maldives.
- Specialty Dishes: Innovative vegetable-based tasting menus featuring seasonal produce, wild herbs, and house-made botanical infusions.
10. Overwater Restaurants and Dining Events at Cheval Blanc Randheli
- Chef: Regular collaborations with Michelin-starred chefs, notably Yannick Alléno
- Highlights: Cheval Blanc Randheli is a luxury resort known for high-profile culinary residencies, featuring chefs like Yannick Alléno. The resort offers several dining experiences, with the White restaurant being one of the main highlights. Special events bring Michelin-quality tasting menus and wine pairings.
- Specialty Dishes: Dishes crafted during Michelin-starred events range from fine seafood plates to truffle-based pastas and artisanal pastries.
Michelin-Inspired Pop-Ups and Events in the Maldives
Many high-end Maldivian resorts host temporary Michelin-starred restaurant pop-ups and guest chef residencies throughout the year, providing visitors with exclusive dining experiences. These pop-up events bring some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs to the Maldives for limited-time engagements, allowing them to incorporate local ingredients and culinary inspiration from the region.
- Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa: Four Seasons hosts seasonal Michelin-starred chef events that showcase modern interpretations of international cuisines. Dishes here are crafted with a fusion approach, blending Western techniques with Maldivian and Southeast Asian flavors.
- Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani: Soneva resorts often invite top chefs from around the world for their pop-up dining series. Past events have included collaborations with three-starred Michelin chefs who create custom menus featuring the freshest local ingredients, including seafood from the Indian Ocean.
- Amilla Fushi: Known for wellness and fine dining, Amilla Fushi’s events frequently host chefs from Michelin-starred establishments, creating multi-course meals focused on organic, farm-to-table principles. The “visiting chef” series includes both fine dining and more casual events, such as seafood barbeques and beachside culinary festivals.
The Unique Appeal of Michelin-Starred Quality in the Maldives
While the Maldives doesn’t have Michelin-rated restaurants, the Michelin-starred chefs and world-class culinary talents frequently present in the archipelago ensure that diners experience some of the highest standards in cuisine. Chefs in these high-end resorts bring a wealth of international experience, blending refined techniques with local ingredients and culinary traditions. The lack of a Michelin Guide specific to the Maldives has not deterred the islands from becoming a premier destination for gourmet dining, especially in unique and luxurious settings like underwater or treetop venues.
The exclusive nature of these restaurants and pop-ups, combined with the Maldivian scenery, allows diners to enjoy meals that are as unforgettable as the location. From underwater experiences to garden-grown organics and seasonal tasting menus featuring the finest ingredients, the Maldives offers a dining experience that, while not officially Michelin-starred, is certainly Michelin-quality.
