20 Best Places to Eat in Maldives: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Dining in the Maldives is an extraordinary journey that ranges from world-first underwater glass restaurants to local teashops (hotaa) on inhabited islands. Maldivian cuisine (Dhivehi kaana) relies heavily on three core ingredients: fresh tuna fish, coconut, and starches like rice and taro.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

When traveling across the atolls, savor these authentic Maldivian delicacies:

Mas Huni: A traditional breakfast dish of shredded smoked tuna mixed with grated coconut, onions, chili, and lime, eaten with roshi flatbread.
Garudhiya: A fragrant, clear fish broth served with steamed rice, lime, chili, and fresh coconut.
Bis Keemiya: A savory Maldivian pastry samosa filled with sautéed cabbage, hard-boiled egg, and spiced onions.
Kulhi Boakibaa: A savory, spiced fish cake baked with smoked tuna, coconut, and rice.
Reef Fish Curry: Fresh snapper or grouper slow-cooked in rich coconut milk and aromatic spices.

20 Best Places to Eat in Maldives

1. Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

Cuisine: Modern European Fine Dining
Location: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Must-Try Dish: Seared yellowfin tuna with caviar and reef lobster panache
About the Place: The world's first all-glass underwater restaurant, located 5 meters below the Indian Ocean surface with 180-degree coral views.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

2. SEA Restaurant

Cuisine: International Fine Dining & Wine Cellar
Location: Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
Must-Try Dish: Pan-seared Maldivian lobster with truffle butter
About the Place: An extraordinary underwater restaurant featuring the world's first underwater wine cellar surrounded by swimming marine life.
Explore More: Read our full guide to SEA Restaurant

3. Subsix

Cuisine: Modern Seafood & Champagne Dinners
Location: Niyama Private Islands
Must-Try Dish: Pan-roasted tiger prawns with coconut foam
About the Place: Reached by speedboat and located nearly 6 meters underwater, featuring clam-inspired bar seating and parrotfish views.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Subsix

4. Symphony Restaurant

Cuisine: Maldivian, Indian & Chinese
Location: Malé City
Must-Try Dish: Traditional Maldivian Reef Fish Curry with Roshi
About the Place: One of Malé's oldest and most beloved restaurants, serving comforting fusion meals and traditional local dishes.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Symphony Restaurant

5. Sea House Maldives

Cuisine: Asian Fusion & Maldivian
Location: Ferry Terminal Rooftop, Malé
Must-Try Dish: Mas Huni breakfast platter and tuna short eats
About the Place: Offers open-air rooftop dining overlooking the ocean harbor, famous for buffet breakfasts and evening harbor views.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Sea House Maldives

6. 5.8 Undersea Restaurant

Cuisine: Gourmet Multi-Course Tasting Menu
Location: Hurawalhi Island Resort
Must-Try Dish: Seared red mullet with saffron ocean broth
About the Place: The world's largest all-glass underwater restaurant, located 5.8 meters beneath the sea in a pristine lagoon.
Explore More: Read our full guide to 5.8 Undersea Restaurant

7. Shell Beans

Cuisine: International Cafe & Pastry
Location: Malé & Hulhumalé
Must-Try Dish: Smoked tuna wraps and artisanal espresso coffee
About the Place: A trendy local cafe chain popular for relaxed breakfasts, fresh baked cakes, sandwiches, and sea views.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Shell Beans

8. Sala Thai Restaurant

Cuisine: Authentic Royal Thai
Location: Malé City
Must-Try Dish: Tom Yum Goong and spicy green papaya salad
About the Place: Intimate restaurant in central Malé serving authentic Thai dishes prepared with fresh herbs imported directly from Thailand.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Sala Thai Restaurant

9. Muraka Restaurant

Cuisine: Seafood & Grill
Location: Mirihi Island Resort
Must-Try Dish: Whole grilled red snapper with local kaffir lime
About the Place: Open-air gazebo restaurant perched over the water, offering romantic lobster dinners and glass floor sea viewing panels.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Muraka Restaurant

10. Reethi Restaurant

Cuisine: Asia-Pacific & Mediterranean
Location: One&Only Reethi Rah
Must-Try Dish: Tandoori ocean king prawns and wood-fired flatbreads
About the Place: A spectacular overwater dining pavilion featuring open show kitchens divided into Earth, Fire, and Aqua culinary concepts.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Reethi Restaurant

11. Fresh in the Garden

Cuisine: Organic Mediterranean Farm-to-Table
Location: Soneva Fushi
Must-Try Dish: Plant-based garden tasting menu with wild herbs
About the Place: Open-air restaurant suspended above an organic vegetable garden in the jungle canopy, reachable by rope bridges.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Fresh in the Garden

12. The Lighthouse Restaurant

Cuisine: French-Modern Mediterranean
Location: Baros Maldives
Must-Try Dish: Flambéed cognac lobster bisque
About the Place: An iconic overwater pavilion topped with a glowing white sail roof, serving fine food paired with ocean views.
Explore More: Read our full guide to The Lighthouse Restaurant

13. Cafe Gadhoo (Local Hotaa)

Cuisine: Traditional Maldivian Short Eats (Hedhikaa)
Location: Maafushi Island
Must-Try Dish: Bis Keemiya, Gulha (tuna coconut balls), and hot milk tea
About the Place: An authentic local teashop where locals gather for fresh afternoon "hedhikaa" snacks and sweet Maldivian tea.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Cafe Gadhoo

14. Terra

Cuisine: Executive Multi-Course Gastronomy
Location: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Must-Try Dish: Miyazaki A5 Wagyu beef and white truffle pairings
About the Place: Features elevated dining pods crafted from natural bamboo suspended high among the treetop canopy with ocean vistas.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Terra

15. Malé Fish Market Stalls

Cuisine: Fresh Maldivian Seafood
Location: Malé Waterfront
Must-Try Dish: Freshly seared yellowfin tuna steaks and dried fish chips
About the Place: Vibrant harbor market where local fishermen unload daily catches of tuna, grouper, and snapper cooked fresh at nearby stalls.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Malé Fish Market Stalls

16. Tribal

Cuisine: African, Central & South American Outdoor Grill
Location: Niyama Private Islands
Must-Try Dish: Ostrich tenderloin and South American open-fire steak
About the Place: An atmospheric sand-floor jungle restaurant featuring tiki torches, open fires, and exotic spiced outdoor grilling.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Tribal

17. Just Veg by Atmosphere

Cuisine: 100% Pure Vegetarian & Vegan Fine Dining
Location: Atmosphere Kanifushi
Must-Try Dish: Tandoori paneer tikka and Mediterranean kofta
About the Place: The first strictly vegetarian fine dining restaurant in the Maldives, serving gourmet meat-free creations over the turquoise lagoon.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Just Veg

18. Lemongrass Hotel En'Famille

Cuisine: Maldivian, Indian & Thai
Location: Malé City
Must-Try Dish: Garudhiya fish soup set with lime and chili
About the Place: Popular multi-story restaurant in Malé offering affordable family meals, traditional Maldivian curries, and fresh juices.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Lemongrass En'Famille

19. Ba'theli by the Reef

Cuisine: Gourmet Island Spice & Maldivian Heritage
Location: Milaidhoo Island Maldives
Must-Try Dish: Slow-cooked octopus in coconut curry sauce
About the Place: Shaped like three traditional wooden dhoni boats floating over a lagoon, serving historic spice-route Maldivian cuisine.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Ba'theli by the Reef

20. Family Room Cafe

Cuisine: Specialty Coffee & Light Bites
Location: Hulhumalé Oceanfront
Must-Try Dish: Cold brew local roast coffee and avocado toast
About the Place: Relaxed beachfront coffee house in Hulhumalé, renowned for artisan barista coffee and sunset ocean balcony views.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Family Room Cafe

Featured Image

Underwater Fine Dining in the Maldives