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Italian food is among the most loved across the world. From pizza and pasta to region-specific seafood and vegetarian creations, Italian recipes are as much about flavor as they are about the love for cooking.
In the Maldives, private resorts have some of the world’s best restaurants. And as guests, you can savor Maldivian food, Japanese sushi, or even plant-based vegan delicacies.
However, when traveling, whether we admit it or not, most tourists like to indulge in some Italian preparations one way or another. It can be a slice of pizza or a plate of spaghetti carbonara; Italian food’s deliciousness makes it hard to resist.
Consequently, the best Maldives Italian restaurants in resorts offer some of the most authentic food in the archipelago. Be it casual bites on the beach or fine dining over the water, there are plenty of choices for eating Italian delicacies when holidaying in the island nation.
Our ultimate guide to Italian restaurants in the Maldives features the best places to eat on private resorts that can help elevate your vacation through unmatched culinary magic.
La Locanda – Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Island
La Locanda at the Ritz-Carlton Maldives gets to be among the best Italian restaurants in the Maldives for having a genuinely enchanting aura. Unlike typical eateries, La Locanda uses its open space as a free-flowing “living room.” Guests can mingle, eat, drink, read a book, and have an all-around merry time in this area.
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the place stays busy throughout the day, carrying its casual vibe from one service to another.
With an emphasis on Southern Italian cuisine, it is mostly during lunch and dinner that the kitchen prepares Mediterranean must-haves. Gourmands wishing to indulge can start with fennel and octopus salad and a Siciliana pizza. Then, move on to spaghetti with crispy pancetta or a breaded chicken cutlet. Have the cassata Siciliana or coconut panna cotta to finish, and you’ll be in culinary heaven.
Isoletta – Vakkaru Maldives
Transport yourself to a premium Italian dining experience by booking a table at Isoletta during your stay at Vakkaru Maldives. Moreover, the restaurant is incredibly unique in offering guests different seating arrangements.
From a communal center table to intimate al fresco dining for two, you eat and socialize as per your mood. If that wasn’t enough, Isoletta also has a lounge space to enjoy a relaxed drink and munch on snacks.
Giving diners a pool and beach access and a view of the open kitchen further adds to the charm of eating here. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner with food covering the basics of Italian cuisine.
Pepperoni pizza, lamb chops, gnocchi, carbonara, and tiramisu are some of the most-loved dishes on the menu. You can also expect contemporary versions of traditional preparations while dining here.
73 Degrees – Anantara Veli Maldives Resort
You get to enjoy the best of both worlds at 73 Degrees, a Maldives Italian restaurant at Anantara Veli. In the morning, the place serves breakfast, full of healthy bowls, fruits, and fresh juices.
Come evening and dinner time, the restaurant transforms into its Italian avatar. Further giving the place a tropical outlook is the sandy floor, a chance to enjoy fine dining but still stay a little casual.
The food at 73 Degrees capitalizes on local produce and Italian cooking. Among their signature dishes, you’ll find seafood soup, black Angus beef carpaccio, tagliolini with fresh truffle, and the Maldivian lobster.
There’s also the opportunity to make your own pizza before enjoying a sweet treat like a chestnut mousse or a pistachio tart.
La Pasta – You&Me Maldives
With a romance-filled beach setting, red and white chequered table cloths, and the tagline “Italians do it better,” there’s no doubt La Pasta is among the top Maldives Italian restaurants.
Exuding a beach shack look, encouraging diners to mingle, the rustic nature of La Pasta at You&Me Maldives transfers into a menu that consists of pizzas and pasta.
Since the restaurant is relatively small, it has two fixed lunch and dinner seatings. The food is pastoral in taste and look. You can expect woodfire oven-cooked margarita pizza, bruschetta, gnocchi, spaghetti, and tasty Italian desserts when dining here.
Barolo Grill – Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences
For guests staying at the Amilla Maldives, Barolo Grill is a family-friendly poolside Maldives Italian restaurant that presents Mediterranean cuisine with a local touch.
Giving importance to sustainable food, the menu at Barolo features an array of traditional recipes that are colorful to look at and delicious to taste.
Seafood lovers will enjoy the reef fish tartare or the Maldivian tuna steak. At the same time, carnivores can bite into the Cape Grim striploin or the chicken Maryland. The minestrone, saffron risotto, and the spaghetti Pomodoro with handmade pasta are the essential eats for vegetarians.
Rabarbaro – One&Only Reethi Rah
In the open, under the trees, by the pool, and almost on the beach, that’s Rabarbaro in a nutshell. Of course, the soul of this eatery at One&Only Reethi Rah is its authentic Italian fare.
The menu of Rabarbaro might fit on one page, but emerging from the dishes on it are a myriad of definitive Italian flavors. The pizzas, cooked in a woodfire oven, highlight any lunch at the restaurant. If you want more, there are scallops, Mediterranean-style fish soup, baked eggplant, lamb chops, beef lasagna, and sweet ravioli.
Since Rabarbaro opens only for lunch, tasting its homemade ice creams and sorbets is a must. Flavors for the same range from pistachio and strawberry to blackberry, coconut, and passion fruit.
Azzuri Mare – Centara Grand
The overwater location of restaurants is a common theme across the archipelago, and Azzuri Mare fits it quite well. The 58-cover Italian restaurant in the Maldives, with an open kitchen, rests over the lagoon creating a pleasant and romantic setting.
The menu comprises genuine Italian and seafood recipes, all made using the freshest in-season ingredients. Open for lunch and dinner, Azzuri Mari also has a kid’s menu.
The food ranges from oven-baked pizzas and lamb chops to pasta and the catch of the day.
Vista Restaurant – Mercure Maldives Kooddoo
The scenic Vista Restaurant places you right over the lagoon, granting stunning ocean views with its open seating plan that flows from the inside to the outside.
This Maldives Italian restaurant is open for lunch, evening drinks, and dinner. The lunch menu primarily features pizzas, whereas the evening menu is all about booze and watching the sunset.
The dinner service is slightly elaborate, with handmade pasta, pizzas, and mains like Maldivian tuna steak and Roman-style beef loin.
A part of the island’s all-inclusive package, a meal at Vista comes with access to over 40 different international wines.
Allegria – The LUX* South Ari Atoll
Allegria, meaning “cheerfulness,” is not only the most popular dining option at LUX* South Ari Atoll but is undoubtedly among the best Italian restaurants in the Maldives.
The set-up of Allegra spans a large area indoors and outdoors on the beach. The look remains elegant with immaculate service through and through. While on the island, al fresco dining is a great experience, but at Allegria, pick a table near the open kitchen to view the chefs work their culinary magic.
The menu here is distinct and features seafood, meats, and plant-based vegetarian dishes. The king crab fettuccini, veal Milanese on the bone, and vegetable frito misto are starters that set the mood for a memorable meal. As for mains, try the confit duck ravioli, creamy gorgonzola gnocchi, or the truffle beef cheeks.
Allegria is a hot favorite with resident guests. So, book a table at the restaurant as soon as you arrive at the resort.
Gusto Restaurant – Baglioni Resort
Dinner at Baglioni Resort’s Gusto Restaurant involves total immersion into the holistic beauty of the Maldives. First, guests get to relish the gorgeousness of the restaurant’s waterfront location. Then, they get to appreciate the delicately plated preparations that are visually spectacular. Finally, each nibble allows the taste buds to savor the freshness of the ingredients and the taste of Italy.
Under the watchful eyes of Gaspare Greco’s Executive Chef, the restaurant’s menu features classic recipes with a modern twist. Some of the must-haves are the squid ink risotto, traditional fish soup in tomato broth, homemade beetroot pasta with spinach and ricotta, and grilled octopus.
Gusto is open only for dinner and boasts a Wine Cellar with a collection of Italian and international wines.
Ristorante Al Tramonto – Paradise Island Resort
Situated at the very end of the main jetty, walking all the way to Ristorante Al Tramonto does build up your appetite. But, the walk is worth it because the restaurant’s location, on stilts over the house reef, facing the setting sun, is simply beautiful. No wonder then that the bar at Al Tramonto is a popular hangout with guests for a sundowner.
Moreover, the ambiance at this Maldives Italian restaurant in Paradise Island Resort, whose name means “at sunset,” is intimate. If out on a date, pick a table in the open by the water. However, the décor is typical island-like, with tiled floors, comfortable chairs, and a wooden terrace.
The kitchen at Al Tramonto delves into classic Italian fare sending out tasty seafood, pizzas, pasta, and desserts. The restaurant starts serving just before noon and stays open till an hour before midnight.
Ristorante Al Pontile – Sun Island Resort
Translating to “at the jetty,” Al Pontile is one of Sun Island Resort & Spa’s signature restaurants. Situated over the water, it oozes a refreshing ambiance with an inviting and laid-back aura.
Al Pontile has an indoor and outdoor table set-up. However, sit by the water, and you can spot rays and sharks swimming about in the sea.
Furthermore, the menu at Al Pontile is quite extensive and consists of a la carte items as well as set seafood, meat, or lobster menus. The dishes range from Italian favorites like carbonara and pizza with prosciutto to meaty delights such as hand-cut fillet mignon and the black burger with minced striploin.
Nonna – Kagi Maldives
A poolside restaurant granting endless ocean views, Nonna encapsulates the traditionality of Italian cookery with its authentic menu. However, using locally sourced ingredients give the age-old recipes a Maldivian edge without interfering with the sanctity of the original dishes.
Although Nonna, meaning “grandmother,” has a relaxed look, it does expect guests to arrive in smart-casual attire. The restaurant’s exclusivity further comes from opening only for dinner service on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Nonna’s menu might be limited, but it doesn’t hold back on flavors. Their two amazing starters are the hand-cut Angus beef carpaccio and the pan-seared quail breast and crispy legs. As for mains, the reef fish wrapped in parma ham and double-cooked Maldivian lobster are delectable. For dessert, go with the cannolo featuring house-made ricotta cheese.
The Trio – Sun Siyam Iru Fushi
The Trio at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi captures the essence of Italian cooking. The restaurant’s indoor-outdoor seating is welcoming, and its menu is authentically comforting.
A casual place to chill and bite into classic preparations, Trio is among the best Italian restaurants in the Maldives, famous for its delicious stone-baked pizzas and handmade pasta.
Open for lunch and dinner, Trio has a package, a la carte, exclusive, and kid’s menus. Extensive and featuring dishes from all over Italy, start with the Nothern Italian chicken liver pate or the melon and prosciutto as the antipasti. The Diavola pizza with the Milano salami and lobster spaghetti are two more dishes that never fail to impress. Of course, there’s tiramisu and the lemon raspberry semifreddo to end the perfect meal.
Bellinis – Joali Maldives
Italian food is versatile enough to include both comfort and fine dining recipes. For connoisseurs of gourmet cuisines, staying at Joali Maldives, a meal at Bellinis, one of the best Italian restaurants in the Maldives, is an unmissable affair.
Featuring a menu created by Michelin-star chef Theodor Falser, Bellinis impresses its guests with delicate flavors of the Mediterranean, often recreated using local ingredients.
Bellinis offers an a la carte and a tasting menu. Their handmade pastas are genuinely delectable, with the squid ink spaghetti being a favorite. For more “Italianista” treats, order the zucchini fries, the classic Caprese salad, seafood risotto, or the slow-roasted baby chicken.
And while enjoying a romantic meal at the airy and open restaurant, you have to indulge in the house-made limoncello and bespoke bellinis.
Forno – Huvafen Fushi Maldives
Forno is all about a beach shack food experience done in Italian style. The waterfront eatery that serves Mediterranean delights is a favorite spot with guests staying at Huvafen Fushi Maldives.
At the heart of the kitchen at Forno is its wood-fired oven, filling the air with enticing culinary smells that draw you in for a relaxed lunch. Adding to the restaurant’s charm is its open-air setting on the beach, where guests get to sit in the shade of the trees.
The must-haves at Forno include the chef’s special Maldivian tuna pizza and chicken tandoori pizza. You should also taste the gazpacho, octopus carpaccio, linguini funghi alfredo, and the screwpine panna cotta.
Forno also has a few classic Spanish dishes, such as gambas al ajjilo – Spanish garlic shrimps and seafood paella.
Island Pizza – Sun Siyam Olhuveli
Holidays are all about indulging in gastronomic treats that put a smile on our faces. Pizza is a universal favorite, loved equally by all ages.
Guests staying at Sun Siyam Olhuveli have a chance to taste an array of pizzas at their casual beach and poolside hangout, Island Pizza.
The eatery serves pies with classic and seasonal toppings, many of which are from the resort’s garden. Gastronomists with a penchant for seafood should try their octopus pizza.
Additionally, on the menu, you’ll also find deli-style sandwiches and burgers.
Open from noon to six in the evening, the restaurant has a casual and beachwear dress code.
Fiamma – JW Marriott Maldives Resort and Spa
Al fresco dining at its best, Fiamma is a poolside Italian restaurant in the Maldives that promises a refreshing culinary affair.
A must-visit while staying at JW Mariott Maldives, the bistro opens only for lunch and has an informal atmosphere.
The menu comprises the who’s who of Italian comfort food. Freshly prepared wood-fired pizza cooked on-site in a brick oven is an essential order. Also worth tasting is the restaurant’s pasta dishes and risotto.
Deelani – Cheval Blanc Randheli
Although its name refers to the Maldivian breeze, Deelani at the Cheval Blanc Randheli is very much a contemporary Mediterranean restaurant. Serving lunch and dinner, the menu here focuses on Italian classics in original and modern avatars.
Spacious, inviting, casual, and yet elegant, Deelani’s interiors capitalize on the tropical colors and ambiance of the island. The restaurant is close to the arrival jetty, hovering over the water on stilts. Its idyllic setting is another high point of having a meal here. Pick a table by the water, and you might even spot a shark or two during your meal.
The seafood at Deelani is a must-have, especially the fish of the day. Pasta lovers should go with the degustation of pasta. It includes the famous orecchiette of the Puglia region. Lastly, try the ricotta gnocchi, house-made pizza, and eggplant parmigiana for more tasty Italian delicacies.
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.
