Drink
Lily Beach Resort to host exciting culinary highlights with Michelin-starred Chef Dominik Käppeler

Lily Beach Resort and Spa has announced plans to host an exciting series of culinary highlights with Michelin-starred Chef Dominik Käppeler this March and April.
From March 27 to April 8, the 30-year-old chef from southern German town of Göppingen will join forces with Lily Beach’s Executive Chef Lionel Pean to present an exciting series of culinary highlights at the resort’s restaurants, including Lily Maa, Tamarind, Les Turquoise D’Aqua and Vibes Bar.
“Most discerning diners will get a taste of Chef Dominik Käppeler’s signature cuisine, which he describes as creative dishes inspired by tradition, and embalmed with distinction, refined flavours. This is truly unique and will set a new benchmark in the Maldives,” Michael Wieser, CEO of Lily Hotels & Resorts, was quoted in a statement, as saying.
The main highlight of this series is an exquisite five-course dinner at Les Turquoise D’Aqua, featuring artfully created dishes with bold flavours combined with culinary craftsmanship and wine expertise. The menu has been beautifully paired with quality wines curated by the resort’s head sommelier Joseph Christopher.
“We are very proud to be part of an innovative initiative of our team such as hosting of internationally awarded chefs. Welcoming creative talents like Chef Dominik Käppeler will contribute to enhance the all-encompassing dining experience of our valued guests,” Patrice Aira, General Manager at Lily Beach Resort and Spa, said.
Being the son of a restaurant owner, Chef Käppeler developed his passion for cooking during his early years. After his professional debut at Feinkost Käfer in Munich, he rose to the top league in 2003. In the following years, Käppeler developed his personal culinary vision in upscale gastronomy on Lake Tegernsee. Amongst his stops are the finest addresses in the valley, including the Parkhotel Egerner Höfe, Maiwert’s Fährhütte, the Bachmair am See and the Fährhütte am See.
Käppeler celebrated his breakthrough as head chef at Schweiger2, where he was personally awarded a Michelin star in 2015. Gault & Millau honoured his cooking art with 16 points in 2016, the gourmet with 3 of 5 F — an incentive that inspired his first own restaurant project. He owns a restaurant named Restaurant Showroom, which is defined as a haven for gourmet lovers in Munich.
“You think eel, banana, mustard and Stilton don’t go together? Oh, but they do – it’s all about aroma pairing. Let your palate decide whether it tastes good – not your head!” Chef Käppeler said.

Turbot, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Oil, Malt, Sorrel.

Scallops, Blue Curacao, Samphire, Pineapple.
Lily Beach’s Executive Chef Pean has garnered extensive experience in 14 different countries and worked with international hotel chain over the past 33 years. He has worked in three-star Michelin restaurants with world-renowned chefs, including Michel Guérard, Michel Troisgros, Gérald Passédat and Alain Senderens, which has allowed him to gain a rich level of confidence and perspective of the culinary world.
“With his visions and impressive menus, Käppeler has secured himself to be amongst the crème de la crème in the culinary world of his generation. The avant-garde and straight forward approach of his expressive and fully flavoured dishes is very distinctive and never seeking to dissemble,” Executive Chef Pean said.
The five-star Lily Beach Resort and Spa is located on the 600-metre-long and 110-metre-wide island of Huvahendhoo in South Ari Atoll.
With its “Platinum Plan”, which includes far more than the traditional package of cocktails, premium brands, champagne and international culinary delights, Lily Beach offers luxury all-inclusive holidays at the highest level. These include two excursions, which can be selected from a wide range of activities, including sunset fishing, snorkelling trips or a visit to a local island.
At your disposal are 125 luxurious villas in five categories. Add to this, the Tamara Spa, Prodivers Diving School, a specialty and main restaurant featuring fine dining, three bars, Turtles Kid’s Club, and one of South Ari Atoll’s best house reefs. Guests can also enjoy a diverse entertainment programme with live music and DJs, shisha lounge, traditional cultural performances, fish feeding and much more.
Drink
Tea meets tradition: The Art of Tea cocktail collection debuts at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo

In celebration of World Cocktail Day (May 13), Mercure Maldives Kooddoo has introduced ‘The Art of Tea,’ a curated menu of tea-infused cocktails crafted in collaboration with Art of Tea, the award-winning luxury tea brand founded by renowned Master Tea Blender and CEO Steve Schwartz.
This exclusive menu seamlessly blends organic small-batch teas with premium spirits and island-inspired ingredients, offering guests a slow, sensory cocktail experience.
Art of Tea is internationally recognised for its dedication to organic sourcing, sustainable practices, and hand-blended selections that honour both ancient traditions and modern wellness principles. While its teas are available throughout the day at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo, the new cocktail collection adds a fresh layer of discovery.
Steve Schwartz, Founder and Master Tea Blender at Art of Tea, explained, “At Art of Tea, we believe in the transformative power of tea. Bringing our handcrafted blends into the cocktail experience at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo is an invitation for guests to explore tea in a new, sensory way — where tradition meets innovation in every sip.”
Tea-based cocktails are not merely a twist on the familiar; they represent a transformation. The inclusion of tea introduces natural complexity, depth of flavour, and subtle health benefits, resulting in drinks that are both sophisticated and refreshing. Each blend offers unique tasting notes, ranging from floral to smoky, spicy to citrusy, balancing seamlessly with spirits and house-made syrups.
Featured Cocktails from The Art of Tea Menu
- Coco Bloom – White coconut tea, rum, Malibu, coconut and strawberry syrup, lemon juice
- Velvet Noir – Dark chocolate peppermint tea, vodka, triple sec, mojito syrup, lemon
- Sunrise Spiritz – Bright Eyed tea, gin, triple sec, lemon juice, sugar syrup
- Masala Mule – Masala chai tea, Armagnac, triple sec, sugar syrup, lemon
- Mint Mirage – Pacific Mint tea, beer, blue curaçao, mojito syrup, lemon
- Grey Royale – Earl Grey tea, whisky, cucumber and mojito syrup, lemon juice
Whether guests are sipping Velvet Noir at sunset, enjoying Coco Bloom under the palms, or winding down the day with Earl Grey and whisky, The Art of Tea menu offers an elegant way to pause, reflect, and experience something new, all with the Indian Ocean as a backdrop.
Drink
Sip of Stellenbosch at RAAYA and VARU by Atmosphere

This August, travellers to the Maldives can indulge their senses in more ways than one. At the idyllic island resorts of RAAYA by Atmosphere and VARU by Atmosphere, wine lovers and wine curious are invited to savour a taste of South Africa’s famed winemaking heritage with Glenelly Estate.
The immersive wine events will take place from 10th to 12th August at RAAYA by Atmosphere and from 14th to 16th August at VARU by Atmosphere. All experiences are complimentary on pre-booking for in-house guests as part of the fully inclusive RAAYA Plan and VARU Plan.
Founder of Glenelly Estate, the legendary Madame May de Lencquesaing, affectionately known as Lady May, marked her centenary on 17th May 2025, celebrating a remarkable century of life, legacy, and reinvention. Many would consider an 80-year-old setting off to establish a winery in South Africa a bold, even audacious move. For Lady May, it was simply the next step. She purchased Glenelly Estate, a historic fruit farm nestled on the slopes of the Simonsberg and transformed it into a beacon of French winemaking tradition with a South African soul. Her philosophy of producing wines of grace, complexity, and longevity has earned Glenelly global recognition. The estate’s wines are poured exclusively at Atmosphere Core resorts in the Maldives, as part of a longstanding partnership and shared vision.
In a fitting tribute, her winemaking vision lives on well beyond the vineyards of Stellenbosch. Glenelly Estate returns to the Maldives with a series of exclusive in-resort wine experiences hosted by Dirk van Zyl, the Cellar Master and vineyard custodian. Raised on a vineyard in South Africa’s Robertson Wine Valley, Dirk combines a deep-rooted passion for the land with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Stellenbosch University. His background brings a refined understanding of terroir and craftsmanship to every session he leads.
“Wine is unique, as it truly tells a story of time and place,” shares Dirk. “It reflects both the vintage in which it was made and the site on which the vineyards are grown. As a winemaker, you try your best to capture this as truthfully as possible in the bottle and one of the greatest joys is to be able to share each wine’s story with people from around the world. The upcoming wine events create a wonderful opportunity to tell the story of Glenelly, through our wines, in the incredible beauty of the Maldives”.
In addition to hosting guest-facing events, Dirk will lead specialist workshops and blind tastings for the resorts’ award-winning culinary teams. These sessions are designed to build deeper wine knowledge and empower colleagues to confidently guide every guest, whether a seasoned connoisseur or an eager novice, through the Glenelly experience.
Nicolas Laguette, Director of Wines at Atmosphere Core, adds “It’s not just about great bottles, it’s about celebrating heritage and terroir in ways that are approachable and memorable. And this is possible only through our relationships with partners, like Glenelly Estate, who share our vision. Together we’re transforming our islands sanctuaries in the Maldives into unexpected yet exceptional destinations for wine discovery”.
The initiative is part of Atmosphere Core’s ongoing wine program inspired by its Joy of Giving ethos. Since its debut in 2021 with the ultra-luxury brand THE OZEN COLLECTION, the program has expanded across the group’s brand portfolio. In 2023, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts and COLOURS OF OBLU joined hands with Glenelly Estate and Spain’s Bodegas Martín Códax, followed by a 2025 partnership with Italy’s Bottega SpA.
Whether you’re toasting the sunset with a glass of Lady May or exploring tasting notes during a moonlit dinner, this August promises a unique blend of culinary delights, storytelling, and island charm.
Drink
Master Sommelier Kamal Malik to host exclusive dinner at Ithaa Underwater Gem

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is set to host an exclusive champagne pairing dinner at its iconic Ithaa Underwater Gem on 23 May 2025. Leading the experience is Kamal Malik, India’s only Master Sommelier and judge for the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards.
Guests will indulge in a specially curated six-course menu featuring refined dishes from land and sea, each paired with a selection of Ruinart’s elegant cuvées—including Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blanc and Rosé. This one-night-only event offers a rare opportunity to experience expert wine pairing in one of the world’s most unique dining settings, five meters below the ocean’s surface.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 24 world-class brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard WiFi. Members also have access to contactless technology exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using Digital Key.
For more information or to book your experience, please visit www.conradmaldives.com or email mlehi.experiences@conradhotels.com or contact +960 6680629.
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