Gastronomy
Kandooma Café transformed after interior refresh
Maldives.net.mv – Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, has unveiled a spectacular interactive buffet restaurant experience with newly refurbished Kandooma Café on October 21, 2015.
In an effort to create a unique dining experience to leisure guests who are mostly families, couples, and groups of friends, the restaurant has been designed to engage diners while delighting their sense of tastes.
The café’s brand new contemporary interior has been accentuated by the outstanding ambient light and music installations and lowered post ceilings festooned by diminutive fans to provide guests comfort and convenience. Big space of the floorings is made of grayish granite that adds a sophisticated look to the café while the use of white wash wood in select areas provides a bright resort feel.
Kandooma Cafe features an expansive buffet display and presents the most diverse cuisines by showcasing seven distinct stations that will make the guest’s culinary journey dining experience totally complete.
Flare station showcases unmatched live cooking performance from our award-winning chefs. An abode of spiced cuisines from Asian and Middle Eastern countries will make spicy food devotees crave for more, whilst continental gastronomies including vegetarian offerings feature both traditional and innovative dishes to satisfy the most discerning palates.
Asian favorites and various stir-fried delicacies are ready to fulfill the biggest of appetites and those yearning for that perfect roast will be delighted by the carving place.
Desserts are displayed in a climate controlled central showcase. Featuring a 5ft towering chocolate fountain and Teppanyaki ice cream station, enabling guests to flex their creativity in creating their very own sweet tooth fantasies.
Kids will not be forgotten as they always have a space in Holiday Inn Resort® Kandooma Maldives with our specially designed kids buffet display, just for kids and our “Kids Stay and Eat Free” menu program.
October saw the launch of the new Kid’s Menu. The unbelievably awesome “Kids Menu” lets the young ones choose either a Tasty Bite (burgers, soups, pizzas, etc.) or Go Local dish (sweet corn soup, tuna noodle patties, vegetarian congee, etc.) and select from the dessert and drink choices for their free set meal. The main meals provide a balance of vegetables, meat, wholegrain foods, fruits, and dairy. The menu has also been designed to reflect the colors and flavors that kids enjoy eating.
Joseph Della Gatta, general manager, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, said: “The resort has undergone a remarkable development of Kandooma Café over a short period of time, and our greatly anticipated re-opening of our flagship dining outlet is a key highlight of this year’s projects. We couldn’t be happier to be welcoming guests to dine in Kandooma Café as we believe that a big part of any holiday experience is the food we serve.”
Kandooma Cafe can accommodate 260 persons and is open daily for breakfast to dinner from 6:30 am until 10:00 pm.
Cooking
Baros Maldives to showcase sustainable dining for Earth Day
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Drink
Sirru Fen Fushi showcases mixology collaboration during Easter programme
Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort hosted a two-day Behind the Bar experience as part of its Easter programme, bringing together contemporary mixology and craft-led guest experiences.
The event featured collaborations with Modernhaus, led by Bar Manager Upay Aldi, and The Cocktail Club, represented by Co-Founder Mirwansyah Bule, both from Indonesia. Over two evenings, guests were invited to engage with the bartenders’ techniques, flavour profiles and creative processes, with Modernhaus recognised among Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
The programme included a curated selection of cocktails prepared using ingredients such as cempaka-infused whisky, hibiscus ginger maple, wasabi spirit, jasmine peach, coconut chai milk, salted tamarind, yuzu whey, salted fino sherry, sake gomme, guava vodka, Thai tea liqueur and malic. The offerings reflected a combination of tropical elements and contemporary mixology methods.
The first evening took place at Kata, the resort’s Japanese-fusion restaurant, where the experience was set against sunset views over the lagoon. The second evening was held at Raha Market in a beachside setting, offering a more informal atmosphere while maintaining the focus on crafted cocktails.
The event formed part of Sirru Fen Fushi’s ongoing programming, which centres on curated guest experiences and collaborations with international talent in food and beverage.
Cooking
Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa introduces Secret Garden private dining concept
Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa presents a new chapter in destination dining with the launch of its Secret Garden concept, a thoughtfully designed experience that brings guests into a secluded setting surrounded by nature, soft lighting, and carefully curated details.
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the island, Secret Garden is created for those moments that deserve more than a traditional dinner. The space is styled with flowing drapes, warm candlelight, and natural greenery, creating a calm and intimate atmosphere that feels both personal and special. It is a setting that invites guests to slow down, connect, and enjoy the evening at their own pace.
At the centre of the experience is a seven-course menu, crafted to guide guests through a balanced journey of flavours. Each course is presented with care, with live cooking moments adding a sense of theatre and interaction throughout the evening. The service remains attentive yet discreet, allowing the experience to feel seamless and uninterrupted.
Guests can choose between two tailored offerings. The Romantic Escape focuses on the dining experience itself, complemented by a beautifully arranged setup and personalised service. For those looking to extend the evening, the Ultimate Romance Experience adds thoughtful touches such as a welcome glass of champagne, a private cinema moment under the open sky, in-villa breakfast the next day, and special bed decoration to complete the occasion.
The concept also allows for additional customisation, from floral arrangements to bespoke messages and decorative details, giving guests the flexibility to shape the evening around their celebration, whether it is a birthday, proposal, or simply a meaningful time together.
With Secret Garden, Kuredhivaru continues to expand its dining experiences beyond traditional venues, offering guests something more personal and immersive. It reflects the resort’s approach to hospitality, where every detail is considered, and each experience is designed to feel natural, effortless, and quietly memorable.
For any reservations or inquiries, guests are encouraged to contact the resort at Resort.Kuredhivaru.Reservations@ennismore.com or +960 6563000.
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