Malé, the capital, has a few simple restaurants which serve local and international food. On the other islands, there are a few restaurants in addition to those run by the resorts. Cuisine is international, with all food other than seafood imported. There are no bars, except in the resorts, where there is a good range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available, reflecting the demands of the visitors.
Things to know: All bars are situated in tourist resorts (no alcohol is available on Malé). Locals do not drink at all. During the month of Ramadan, visitors are
not allowed to drink alcohol in public except in the tourist resorts.
National specialties:
• Seafood such as tuna, grouper, octopus, jobfish and swordfish is widely available.
• Kavaabu (deep-fried snacks made from rice, tuna, coconut, lentils and spices).
• Curries, such as chicken or beef, are widely available. Curry leaves are added to a lot of Maldivian dishes.
National drinks:
• The Maldive Lady (a powerful and delicious cocktail, the composition of which varies from bar to bar and island to island).
Tipping: This is officially discouraged.
NightlifeThere is little or no organized nightlife, although most resorts have informal
discos around the
bar areas, sometimes featuring
live bands playing either traditional or Western music. Beach
parties and
barbecues are also popular. On some evenings, many resorts have
cultural shows and some show
films.
Many different types of traditional national
dancing and
singing may be enjoyed across the islands.
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