Connect with us

Drink

One&Only Reethi Rah introduces captivating mixology, inspiring events

Published

on

One&Only Reethi Rah is introducing new culinary and mixology experiences as well as inspiriting events for guests to discover.

Complementing the resort’s diverse restaurants and chic bars and lounges, these new innovations offer guests the opportunity to sip expertly blended cocktails from a floating bar in their own private pool, dance on a secluded sandbank to the sounds of Buddha Bar, and to savour a selection of artisan gins at the resort’s garden-to-table restaurant Botanica.

This November, One&Only Reethi Rah will host a pop-up of the world-renowned Buddha Bar, as DJ Ravin from Buddha Bar Paris, will be on the decks setting the vibrant atmosphere for which the collection of Restaurant-Bars and Beach Clubs are famed.

The pop-up launches on November 21 at Fanditha, One&Only Reethi Rah’s exotic beach restaurant and lounge — guests can relax on carpets in the sand, chill-out swing sofas or inviting day beds to watch the sun go down while enjoying a signature Buddha Bar cocktail as the rhythms of DJ Ravin fill the air. On November 22, the pop-up cruises to an idyllic sandbank with pure white sands surrounded by turquoise lagoon waters, for an exclusive afternoon of music, dancing, cocktails and stunning sunset views. The finale on November 23 will be a full moon party held at The Beach Club, where guests can enjoy music by DJ Ravin along with a selection of Buddha Bar cocktails, chilled champagne and a fine collection of vintage rums.

For the ultimate island hideaway experience, guests can now enjoy expert mixology in the privacy of their own expansive villa, as One&Only Reethi Rah launches ‘Tropical Hours’.

Available between 6pm and 8pm, a personal mixologist will prepare tropical cocktails blended with the world’s finest liquors, from Monkey 47 to Rémy Martin and Crystal Head Vodka, served in the seclusion of guests’ overwater or beach villa. An idyllic way to start to the evening, guests can sip delectable cocktails with the backdrop of lush palms, turquoise waters and stunning views of the Maldivian sunset as it drops behind the ocean. Guests can enjoy cocktails from their personal mixologist served on the soft white sands of their private stretch of beach, on their overwater terrace overlooking the ocean, or revel in the sheer decadence of a floating bar within their private pool.

In addition to in-villa mixologists, the resort has also introduced signature cocktails for each of the diverse restaurants to perfectly complement the restaurant menu and signature flavours. Cocktails include the herb-infused white rum based ‘Herb Garden’ at Botanica, the shaken passion fruit ‘Morrocapolitan Martini’ at Fanditha, and the Japanese Sake blended ‘Otahime Sama’ at Tapasake.

An innovative new gin bar and updated natural cuisine menu has also launched at Botanica, the resort’s garden-to-table restaurant located in a hidden candle-lit potager.

With 34 different gin varieties from artisan distillers around the world to select from, paired with ingredients straight from the Chef’s Garden, Botanica’s gin menu of refreshing and surprising flavours encapsulates the restaurant’s garden concept. The resort’s in-house mixologist has paired garden-grown botanicals to match the flavours of the individual gins to curate an exciting and inventive selection to complement the restaurant’s new menu, which focuses on natural cuisine and sustainably sourced produce paired with fresh herbs and vegetables from the Chef’s Garden.

Bringing a vibrant life and energy to the shores, the resort’s buzzing monthly White Parties take the concept of island chic to new heights. At the newly introduced Havana Nights, guests can dance the night away on the beach to rumba beats while savouring fresh Cuban mojitos and the finest cigars underneath the stars. An experience made truly memorable with sparkling lights illuminating the beach and warm ocean waters mere steps away.

“One&Only Reethi Rah is a resort that offers both incredible privacy and a buzzing life and energy. We have introduced a number of innovative and exciting new experiences for guests to make their stay even more memorable,” Jan B. Tibaldi, the General Manager at One&Only Reethi Rah, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

Set on one of the largest islands in North Male Atoll, the all-villa ultra-luxury One&Only Reethi Rah resort offers an unparalleled array of luxurious options to create an unforgettable holiday. Sleek and spectacular, with unprecedented privacy, One&Only Reethi Rah inspires extraordinary journeys for the soul. From extensive outdoor adventure options, including snorkelling and diving in the exotic underwater world, to the mesmerising One&Only Spa, guests are spoilt for choice.

The resort offers 122 thatch-roofed villas and a wide range of culinary experiences, including the Botanica restaurant, which offers the ultimate in organic garden-to-fork cuisine, and Rabarbaro, which offers genuine Italian fare, as well as a superfoods breakfast menu.

Guests at One&Only Reethi Rah can also enjoy an array of spa experiences, including private sunrise yoga classes on a secluded sandbank, a ‘Twilight Spa Rendezvous’ massage experience under the stars, ‘foot rehab’ – a concept created by the resident yoga instructor and the Bastien Gonzalez therapist which combines yoga and foot massage, Barber+Blade – a men’s grooming and shaving studio and a Spa Courtyard featuring a vitality pool, outdoor sauna and steam room.

Drink

Dare to taste with W Maldives at Island Alchemy Ft. Beckaly Franks

Published

on

This July, W Maldives—The Original Wavemaker—dials up the flavor and the flair as award-winning mixologist, Beckaly Franks touches down in the Maldives for a one-of-a-kind takeover. As part of the resort’s Island Alchemy series—a bold celebration of global mixology talent— Franks brings her trailblazing energy, genre-defying cocktails, and unapologetically original spirit to heart of the Indian Ocean for an experience that’s equal parts spectacle and substance.

Known for turning heads and rewriting the rules, Beckaly Franks is no stranger to shaking things up. From co-founding the iconic The Pontiac in Hong Kong—featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for seven straight years—to launching the Hungry Ghost group and buzzy venues like Call Me AL and ARTIFACT, Franks has long been a driving force behind Asia’s cocktail renaissance. In 2023, she became the second woman to win the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, a recognition for her fearless creativity, inclusive ethos, and magnetic presence behind the bar.

“At the heart of every great cocktail is a story—and this one’s set on a postcard-perfect island,” said Franks. “W Maldives has this incredible energy that mirrors what I love about mixology: it’s immersive, unexpected, and made for people who want to feel something. I can’t wait to have my world collide with the destination.”

At W Maldives, she is bringing it all. The collaboration kicks off with two exclusive guest shifts at SIP on 24 and 25 July, where Franks will serve up a mix of her iconic signature and bespoke creations crafted just for the island. Think sun-drenched flavors, unexpected textures and bold spirits made to match the lagoon views. On 27 July, the experience moves to the resort’s noon-to-moon social hub, WET Deck, for an elevated daytime poolside revelry—an atmospheric day of sensory storytelling, boundary-pushing cocktails, and barefoot glamor under the vibrant Maldivian sky.

“This is more than a bar takeover—it’s a meeting of minds, a celebration of mastery, and a moment to connect with the spirit of W Maldives,” said Amila Handunwala, General Manager of W Maldives. “We are proud to welcome Beckaly as part of our Island Alchemy series and continue offering our guests experiences that are anything but ordinary.”

Part island escape, part liquid installation, this collaboration is more than a moment—it is a statement. Island Alchemy is W Maldives signature mixology program designed to spotlight innovators, connectors, and tastemakers who bring something original to the table. With Beckaly Franks at the helm, this edition serves as both a toast to women redefining the global bar scene and a bold glimpse into the future of mixology—where craft and character collide in all the right ways.

Guests looking to stir things up in paradise can book the Stay, Dine, and Fly package, which includes daily breakfast spread and three-course dinner as well as return seaplane transfer from Male, and get exclusive benefits. Book your stay now and raise the bar on your next escape via this link or contact reservations.wmaldives@whotels.com.

Continue Reading

Drink

Cellar of quiet distinction: Vakkaru Reserve wins fifth Wine Spectator Award

Published

on

At Vakkaru Maldives, wine isn’t merely served — it is curated, conversed with, and quietly revered. This has led to the resort’s European wine cellar, Vakkaru Reserve, being awarded Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for the fifth year — the only resort in the Maldives to have done so.

Vakkaru Reserve, an intimate, striking space at the heart of the island, houses 620 labels selected with care by Head Sommelier Retheesh Kakkareth Mohanan and Assistant Sommelier Vasantha Kumar Nadarajah. Some stars in the collection favour narrative as much as provenance: a Château Cheval Blanc Premier Grand Cru Classé A trio from 1983, 1985 and 1990; Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2009; Krug Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blanc Brut 2002 and Château Pavie 1982, each one a vignette of a time and place, waiting to be uncorked.

“Our intention with Vakkaru Reserve has never been to impress with excess,” says Teddy Susanto Wiryawan, General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives. “Instead, it’s about assembling a collection that invites reflection, wines that linger in the mind as much as on the palate. This fifth award is not a milestone, but a reminder to keep listening to winemakers, regions, and the guests who come here seeking something they can’t find elsewhere.”

In a setting where time is allowed to stretch and the pace remains unhurried, the wine experience is naturally immersive. Vakkaru’s cellar hosts guided tastings, bespoke pairings, and a distinctive offering — a Wine & Chocolate Pairing Experience, where artisanal chocolates crafted in-house are paired with wine labels in unexpected harmony. Think Yuzu and Matcha Bonbon with Sauvignon Blanc, or an Espresso Bonbon set against a Tawny Port, delicious, deliberate acts of indulgence.

Vakkaru Reserve remains a quiet benchmark for those who appreciate depth over display. In this place of timelessness, let your wine journey stand less on ceremony, and more on memory and discovery.

Continue Reading

Drink

Sommeliers and hospitality leaders to gather at Ifuru Island for exclusive Liquid Tasting Event

Published

on

Ifuru Island Maldives has announced the upcoming Raa Atoll Liquid Tasting, an exclusive gathering of sommeliers, F&B professionals, and hospitality leaders scheduled for 26 June 2025. This distinguished event is being presented in collaboration with The Liquid Concept, a premium beverage platform celebrated for its concept-driven approach to wine and spirits curation across the Indian Ocean region.

Established in 2021, The Liquid Concept delivers a comprehensive 360-degree beverage experience. Its portfolio includes fine wines, artisanal spirits, grower and grand marque Champagnes, vermouths, low- and no-alcohol alternatives, and innovative beverage solutions designed for hospitality and lifestyle destinations. The platform’s mission is to transform the beverage experience through purposeful curation, sustainable innovation, and immersive storytelling.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Ifuru Island, the tasting event will feature over 40 exceptional wine labels sourced from around the world. These selections, drawn from The Liquid Concept’s intentionally curated portfolio, invite attendees on a sensory exploration of diverse terroirs, winemaking philosophies, and compelling narratives.

Enhancing the tasting experience, guests will be treated to a specially crafted three-course menu, thoughtfully designed to complement and elevate the wine pairings. This harmonious fusion of food and beverage aims to showcase the artistry of hospitality and refined palate engagement.

As part of a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability, Ifuru Island and The Liquid Concept will also introduce the Bermar Wine & Champagne Preservation System during the event. This advanced technology enables the preservation of opened wines and champagnes, offering resorts a smart, eco-conscious solution to minimise waste and improve wine-by-the-glass service.

The Raa Atoll Liquid Tasting is an invitation-only event, poised to become a signature occasion that reflects Ifuru Island’s dedication to elevating the culinary and beverage scene in the Maldives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright all rights reserved by Maldives Promotion House 2023.