Maldives — Food and Dining
Cuisine
Malé, the capital, has a few good restaurants that serve local and international food. On resort islands, there are between one and ten restaurants, usually depending on the resort's size. Note that all restaurants on resort islands are run by the resort - there is no access to private enterprise. 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, often at extremely high prices.
Things to know: All bars are situated on resort island (no alcohol is available on Malé, though it is available on the nearby Airport island). Locals do not drink at all.
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:
• Sai (tea; a Maldivian favorite).
• Raa (toddy tapped from palm trees, sometimes left to ferment and thus slightly alcoholic - the closest any Maldivian gets to alcohol).
Tipping: Service charges are invariably added onto all chargeable services in resorts. Extra tipping is not expected, though cash tips (US$1 per bag) for porters is appreciated.
Nightlife
There 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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