Best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the Maldives

What makes a good travel destination?

There are, of course, a few fundamentals. It needs to be safe, should have excursions for all ages, and offers a unique experience that you can’t find elsewhere.

The Maldives checks all these boxes with ease. After all, there aren’t many places that can counter the raw beauty of the archipelago. And then the Maldives has some of the best luxury resorts in the world, incredible marine life, and it offers several one-of-a-kind experiences.

However, for a tourist destination to remain at the top, it must also be open to changes.

In the Maldives, we’ve recently seen that more and more resorts are shifting from being only couple-centric to family-friendly. As a result, while still a honeymoon destination, the island nation is fast becoming a great vacation spot for groups and families.

Another essential change is their efforts toward eco-friendliness. Sustainable practices are rising, and resorts are busy taking proactive measures to reduce their carbon footprint.

Introduction to vegetarian and vegan food in the Maldives

We see a similar openness to variation in terms of food. Maldivian resorts are known for going out of their way to accommodate the wishes of their guests. Since many people are turning to a healthier plant-based lifestyle, so are the private island retreats.

However, resorts take a two-point approach to providing their guests with the best vegetarian delicacies. On the one hand, they’ve added vegan and vegetarian dishes to their existing menus. At the same time, some resorts have gone ahead and opened exclusive plant-based restaurants.

However, the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the Maldives aren’t just for people following a specific lifestyle. Instead, they present eager food lovers with an alternative to meat that is equally filling, healthy, and most importantly, utterly delicious.

Botanica – One&Only Reethi Rah

Chef Matthew Kenny’s Botanica follows a garden-to-fork concept that places guests in the lap of nature as they savor freshly prepared plant-based dishes. The setting is classically amorous. Diners sit under the open sky, surrounded by the greenness of the trees and the island’s foliage.  

Serving seasonal produce, most of Botanica’s menu includes dishes made using herbs, spices, and vegetables from the local garden. Or else, the chef uses typical Maldivian ingredients that give the preparations a local flavor.

While the a la carte and tasting menu changes over time, you can still expect delicious creations like avocado tikka, cauliflower soup, fire-roasted beetroot, butternut ravioli, and Botanica’s very own panna cotta.

What is important to know is that a stay at One&Only Reethi Rah doesn’t always guarantee a table at Botanica. Even though it is amongst the best vegetarian restaurants in the Maldives, Botanica only has a dinner service (19:00 to 22:30) on selected unspecified days.

Just Veg – Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives

Just Veg at Atmosphere Kanifushi has the honor of being the “first vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives.” However, that is not its only accolade.

Boasting a scenic, over-water location, Just Veg first opened its doors to enthusiastic diners in 2014. Featuring a menu brimming with vegetarian delights, the restaurant also plates vegan and Jain (no onions, garlic, or potatoes) food.

A part of the resort’s all-inclusive plan, Just Veg serves recipes that take inspiration from Mediterranean, Asian, Indian, and Arab cuisines. Designed by Italian chef Fabrizio Marino, the menu has a comfort food notion, but the final dishes have a delicate temperament that borders fine dining.

Just Veg’s must-try preparations include kofta quinoa with Indian tomato sauce, Maldivian locavore curry, tacos filled with veggies and tofu, ginger-scented wonton soup, and mango sticky rice.

Just Veg opens for lunch (12:30 to 14:30) and dinner (19:00 to 22:30).     

So Wild by Diana Von Cranach – Soneva Jani

Exclusivity has long been an integral part of Soneva. And at So Wild by Diana Von Cranach, the group’s individuality is at its peak.

An entirely plant-based restaurant set amidst the island’s organic garden, So Wild epitomizes sustainability and healthy eating. The force behind the establishment, Diana Von Cranach, has over half a century of experience in raw organic vegan food.

Thus, along with Shades of Green at Soneva Fushi, which follows similar thinking, So Wild at Soneva Jani is by far among the top vegetarian restaurants in the Maldives.  

Open for dinner, except on Fridays, So Wild plates fresh in-season produce, primarily in its raw form. The recipes, often long-forgotten, typically originate from South-East Asia. At the same time, 90% of the ingredients used in the final preparations are from Soneva’s garden.

Although the recipes have historical significance, they take on an innovative persona with new and exotic flavors in their contemporary form. To achieve this and add textural elements, the chef sometimes uses flash-frying, steaming, and dehydrating techniques.

Phat Chameleon – Pullman Maldives Maamutaa

As far as vegan restaurants in the Maldives go, Phat Chameleon shines not just because of its preparations but also its overall ambiance and ethos. Nestled amidst the resort’s lush organic vegetable garden, it places diners in the heart of its food philosophy. However, the setting is only the beginning of this culinary affair.

A part of the all-inclusive benefits at the Pullman, Phat Chameleon is an experience that immerses diners in preparing the dishes. Upon arriving, guests take a garden tour, where the chef explains the intricacies of the various in-season produce. Then you get to select a few vegetables and herbs that eventually become a part of your meal.

Under the watchful eyes of Executive Chef Nyoman, the food at Phat Chameleon incorporates regional ingredients to present vivid epicurean delights. While healthy, they are also filling and often leave diners in gastronomic nirvana.

Phat Chameleon has an a la carte menu and live cooking stations, a feature you won’t find easily in vegan restaurants. The food, though, is quite diverse. It ranges from exotic dishes like banana blossom salad and king oyster mushroom to homemade tofu wrapped in banana leaves and cappuccino brûlée.

Simply Veg – Oblu Select Sangeli

Casual and bright with a colorful personality, Simply Veg is among the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the Maldives. Its location, next to the beach and adult’s only pool of Oblu Select, further gives it a pleasant and airy disposition. Guests can sit inside a glass-walled space in the afternoon or outdoor when the weather is pleasing in the evenings.

Simply Veg plates a host of Asian and European dishes. Their Mexican cheese soup, eggplant fritters, veg kebabs, Maldivian pumpkin curry, samosa, and veg risotto are particularly noteworthy. The restaurant also serves vegan wine.

The menu is somewhat limited, but the flavor profile of each individual dish is outstanding, carefully planned, and presented.

The chef at Simply Veg is passionate about his art and sends out visually impressive gourmet vegetarian recipes. Friendly and eager to mingle with the guests, he is more than happy to prepare a dish per your preferences, should the need arise.

Simply Veg opens for lunch (12:30 to 14:30) and dinner (19:00 to 22:30). It is also possible to include meals at Simply Veg into your package deal at Oblu Select.       

Beach Shack – Kuredu Island Resort & Spa

Indulge in the classic beach shack experience by booking a table at Kuredu’s waterfront restaurant. Having a location on the island’s main beach, diners at the eponymous restaurant can either sit in a covered area or at a table on the sand.

Beach Shack serves primarily organic vegan dishes and seafood. They grow many vegetables, fruits, and herbs on the island. These ingredients eventually form the basis of the recipes at the restaurant.

Guests eating at the Beach Shack can opt between an a la carte menu or their six-course tasting menu. Either way, you can expect delicately presented dishes that promise a world of unusual tastes.

To truly appreciate the restaurant’s “produce to plate” philosophy, try the tomato confit, smoked eggplant tartare, mushroom tortellini, salt-baked beetroot, trio of sorbets, and vegan coconut panna cotta.

Baraabaru – Four Seasons Resort Maldives Kuda Huraa

Baraabaru means “excellent” in Dhivehi, the local language of the Maldives. That it is also the nature of the food coming out from the restaurant’s kitchen is no coincidence.

With an eclectic and seductively romantic location over the lagoon, Baraabaru charms its guests even before the first plate of food arrives. The cuisine here is Indian gourmet. While not entirely vegetarian, you get quite an extensive choice of non-meat dishes.

The menu at Baaraabu consists of classic Indian preparations with an emphasis on coastal cuisine. However, you’ll find all the greats that make India a beloved culinary destination.

The must-try starters and mains at what is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the Maldives include vegan seekh kebab, dahi kebab, samosa chole, dal makhani (black lentils), and bhindi do pyaaza (ladyfingers with onions). If you haven’t had Indian cuisine before and want to taste a little of everything, opt for the vegetarian thali.

For desserts, try the masala tea panna cotta, mango kulfi, or the rasmalai (cottage cheese balls in thick sweet milk).  

Baraabaru opens only for dinner service (19:00 to 22:30) and stays closed on Tuesdays.

Wellness Your Way – Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences

Amilla Maldives takes a novel approach to serving plant-based food to their guests. Instead of opening a separate restaurant on the island, they have developed a range of healthy menus.

Whether you prefer plant-based food, keto, paleo, low-carb, dairy-free, or gluten-free, there is a specific menu featuring an array of appetizing recipes. Moreover, these menus are available at all eight of Amilla’s food establishments, from Feeling Koi, among the top Japanese restaurants in the Maldives, to the Italian eatery Barolo.

The benefit of Wellness Your Way is not just the choice one receives. You can also eat with others in your group who may or may not have the same dietary preferences as you.

Among the highlights in the various Wellness Your Way menus are gazpacho, Fattoush salad, cauliflower steak, falafel burger, tropical vegan meringue, poke bowls, and tofu macaroni. Besides food, you can also ask for vegan ice cream and cocktails.

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.