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The last decade or so has seen Indian food gain immense popularity around the world. Whether it is the diversity of the recipes, the possibility to enjoy vegetarian meals, or the robustness of the flavors, Indian cuisine promises a tastebud-enticing experience like no other.
Food in the Maldives already takes much inspiration from coastal Indian cuisine along with showcasing an Arab and Southeast Asian influence. However, the flavor profiles are markedly different, as are the ingredients that tend to be more local.
Consequently, if you are craving a spicy curry or a tandoori naan, the best option to relish authentic food is to dine at one of the best Indian restaurants in the Maldives.
Is Indian food available in the Maldives?
Due to India’s proximity to the Maldives, Indian dishes or their local renditions are popular across the island nation.
There are a few restaurants in Malé that serve Indian food. However, Indian restaurants in resorts offer some of the most flavorful dishes outside of the country. Moreover, they typically present a menu that includes classics from across India, not just a specific region.
It’s also interesting to note that many resorts have chefs from India working in their kitchens. As a result, the food often has an authentic homemade quality that makes it all the more palatable. Furthermore, the chefs can quickly adapt to individual dietary preferences, should a need arise.
If that wasn’t enough, Maldivian resorts, from time to time, invite celebrity chefs for a limited period. These culinary greats bring years of experience, allowing food-loving guests to enjoy a plethora of unique Indian recipes.
Indian food in Maldivian resorts
Indian food often makes an appearance in one form or another at most multi-cuisine restaurants in resorts. Whether a part of the daily breakfast and dinner buffet or as a snack, you can usually find something with an Indian touch. Still, it is not always guaranteed, and the choice of dishes in such cases is restricted.
Many resorts create their buffet menu based on their clientele. On a private island that is popular with Indian travelers or one that sees a higher number of vegetarians, Indian food might be more prevalent.
If you specifically want Indian food, it’s worth emailing the resort before booking a stay in the Maldives and asking them about their culinary options.
Most Maldivian resorts also cater to individual requests, like the need for Jain or plant-based food. Again, inform the retreat a few days before your arrival about any requirements. This allows them to make the necessary arrangements to suit your nutritional needs.
But if it is a variety you want, book yourself a table at any of the following Indian restaurants in the Maldives.
East – Amilla Maldives Resort
East brings myriad flavors of India to your table in the form of delicately prepared regional dishes. However, the highlight of a meal here is the restaurant’s tandoor that helps give the much-loved smokey charred aroma and taste to Indian breads and meats. Moreover, the curries arrive in a copper thali, adding a sense of authenticity to the presentation.
The menu reads like a charm, featuring classics like dhal makani, fish fry masala, butter chicken, and pakoras. Those wanting tandoori items should go for the garlic naan, lamb chops, and the seekh kebabs. Desserts aren’t far behind, with the mango kulfi and rice pudding helping you end a perfect meal on a sweet note.
Among the best Indian restaurants in the Maldives, East has a very zen-like minimalistic décor. There’s plenty of design on the chairs, the floor, and the ceiling. Still, everything works seamlessly, creating a relaxed and sophisticated look. When planning a stay at Amilla Maldives Resort, book a table at East for a memorable epicurean journey across India.
Southern Star – Sun Island Resort & Spa
Guests staying at Sun Island Resort & Spa can enjoy an assortment of Indian dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Southern Star. Although not an exclusively Indian restaurant, Southern Star serves a daily buffet with a “specialty Indian menu.”
The advantage of dining at the Southern Star is the sheer variety of diverse food available. There are dishes from around the world and an extensive selection of Indian curries, rice, vegetables, meats, and desserts.
The restaurant’s open and spacious setting, next to the water, makes it a favorite when wanting a casual meal while taking in the refreshing sea air. The service is immaculate, as expected, and the staff often goes out of their way to please their guests.
IndoCeylon – Ozen Life Maadhoo
Feasting above the water is one of the many charms that resorts in the Maldives offer their guests. Ozen Life’s IndoCeylon capitalizes on the romantic setting of the private island by inhabiting a scenic overwater location that grants diners endless panoramas of the ocean.
The ambiance at IndoCeylon is tranquil, perfect for a meal featuring colorful dishes with robust flavors. This fine-dining restaurant’s menu consists of meaty kebabs, aromatic coconut-based curries, charred tandoori tikkas, and smooth lentils. Each recipe presents diners with epicurean delights from the length and breadth of India and Sri Lanka.
With utmost importance given to ingredients, cooking styles, and presentation, the final product impresses with its look and taste. Dinner at IndoCeylon is an experience to cherish slowly while admiring the beauty of your surroundings.
Masala Hut – Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa
Located inside a large and airy, high-ceiling pavilion, Masala Hut is Sheraton Maldives’ casual Indian restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner, it serves an array of North and South Indian delicacies cooked in an authentic manner.
The relaxed ambiance of the restaurant calls for a leisurely meal. Start with the spinach and lentil thin soup and order the vegetable kebab or the chicken tikka as your starter. The mains can be a combination of dal makhni, lobster curry, mixed vegetables, and lamb ordered along with biryani or naan. For dessert, try the super sweet gulab jamun or the homemade lychee kulfi.
However, if you want to taste the full range of Indian food, opt for vegetarian or non-vegetarian thali. It is the perfect choice for diners unfamiliar with Indian cuisine.
Tradition Saffron – Ozen Reserve Bolifushi
Dining at Tradition Saffron is a royal affair done tropical island style. The beachside setting of the restaurant amidst a Maharaja-style garden exudes grandeur. At the same time, the open cabanas create intimate nooks where couples can enjoy a delectable meal in their own private universe.
Accentuating this gastronomic affair is the three-course plated saffron-themed thalis, packed with aromatic and palatable dishes that highlight India’s culinary heritage.
Additionally, the service at Traditional Saffron is discreet, allowing guests to enjoy the romance of the food, the lit-up ambiance, and the live musical performance.
Rated among the best Indian restaurants in the Maldives, Tradition Saffron is an unforgettable adventure, especially for honeymoon couples staying at Ozen Reserve Bolifushi.
Mahal – Kurumba Maldives
With both alfresco and indoor seating, Mahal at Kurumba is one of the most atmospheric Indian restaurants in the Maldives. While the outdoors has a contemporary feel, the inside has a more traditional décor with mood lighting, artifacts on display, and pretty chandeliers.
The menu at Mahal comprises a wide range of vegetarian and meaty delicacies. Guests can enjoy finger-licking snacks like onion bhaji, paneer tikka, and aloo chaat. The Goan prawn curry, gosht rogan josh, tadka dhal, and aloo matter masala introduce you to the authentic spices and flavors of Indian cuisine. Completing the meal are biryanis, rice, naans, and paranthas with fillings.
The food arrives in small copper bowls called handis, making it easier for everyone to share the contents. Moreover, the handis are put on top of a burning flame to keep the food warm for longer. Mahal also has one-person thalis, ideal for diners who want to taste various curies and vegetables in smaller quantities.
Baraabaru – Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa
With an over-the-lagoon location, mood lighting, and open-air seating, Baraabaru is magical even before the first plate of food arrives on your table. The décor consists of deep color tones, dark wood, and contemporary table settings that add a sense of sophisticated seductiveness to the ambience.
As one of the few award-winning Indian restaurants in the Maldives, Baraabaru shines for taking familiar Indian flavors and presenting them in a modern avatar.
The Mysore scallops and chole samosa are two delicious bites to start your dinner. The tandoor menu is all about comfort eats, from ajwaini fish tikkas to tandoor-baked cauliflower. The mains are a mouthwatering list of delectable dishes such as tandoori lobster, crab masala, lamb curry, and boneless chicken in slow-cooked tomato gravy.
Things get especially interesting as one reads the dessert menu at Baraabaru. On the one hand, you’ll find the usual suspects, like homemade ice cream, gulab jamun, and ras malai. At the same time, there’s also mango kulfi with a coconut sponge and the absolutely divine masala tea panna cotta with berries.
Tandoor Mahal – Kuramathi Maldives
Dinner at Tandoor Mahal is as much about relishing the serenity of Maldivian islands as it is about tasting great food. Located amidst the island’s foliage, the restaurant has an extravagant gazebo-like construction. Elevating the ambiance are hanging lights, low-level bench seating, and accent wall lighting that creates flickering patterns on the white walls.
As the name suggests, the menu at Tandoor Mahal focuses on Indian tandoori preparations, from kebabs to bread. Accompanying the often succulent and well-cooked pieces of meats and vegetables are curries and biryanis.
Tandoor Mahal opens only for dinner service on all days except Tuesdays. They also serve an extensive “Discover Indian Food” buffet once during the week. The buffet allows guests to enjoy a greater variety of food. It is especially perfect for diners trying Indian cuisine for the first time.
Tamarind – Lily Beach Resort & Spa
The exoticness of Tamarind at Lily Beach is what makes it one of the best Indian restaurants in the Maldives. First of all, its menu is not limited to Indian food. Instead, there are separate sections for Indian and Thai dishes, bringing a wide range of Asian flavors to the table.
Giving Tamarind an oomph factor is its circular-like design and overwater location. Dining on tasteful preparations with the sounds of the sea in the background is truly a magical affair. The restaurant’s décor, with its eye-catching central chandelier and rich color schemes, further adds to the already amorous environment.
The Indian side of Tamarind’s menu has comfort food like aloo tikki and seekh kebab. Then there’s butter chicken, vegetable kofta, and prawns with mussels in a yellow curry. Although limited in its offerings, the restaurant carries a fair number of quintessential dishes, enough to satisfy your Indian food cravings.
Taste of India – Sun Siyam Iru Fushi
The poolside Taste of India is one of the best Indian restaurants in the Maldives that you can enjoy during a stay at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. The eatery is an inviting open-air spot ideal for a casual dinner while taking in the fresh ocean breeze at the end of an eventful day.
The philosophy of Indian food rests on the idea of sharing. Taste of India carries this concept as it presents a menu featuring some of the most loved dishes from the country. From slow-cooked lentils and tandoori kebabs to spicy curries and mouthwatering desserts, there’s plenty to savor with your loved ones.
Although Taste of India is one of the resort’s many gastronomic offerings, it remains a guest favorite. Open only for dinner, you can plan a meal here at the last minute as the restaurant does not require a reservation.
N.B.: All the information in the article is correct as of the date of publication. The prices mentioned, if any, are subject to change.
