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
Lily Beach announces guest bartender residency featuring Vyacheslav Kasitsyn
Lily Beach Resort & Spa has announced an exclusive guest bartender residency featuring Vyacheslav Kasitsyn, one of the most prominent figures in Moscow’s contemporary bar scene, from 2nd to 10th May 2026.
Vyacheslav is the Bar Manager of The Carlton Lounge & Bar at The Carlton, Moscow, one of the city’s most sophisticated social destinations. He began his career at the award-winning City Space Bar, recognised both in Russia and internationally, before contributing to a number of standout bar and restaurant projects at Lucky Group.
Renowned for crafting modern classics with precision and narrative depth, Vyacheslav’s cocktails reflect refined technique, contemporary elegance, and a strong sense of place. Each creation tells a story-balancing innovation with timeless style, elegance and style.
During his residency at Lily Beach, guests will experience a curated cocktail menu inspired by Moscow’s dynamic bar culture, reimagined within the island’s luxury setting. Exclusive evening showcases and limited-edition signatures will highlight his artistry.
This special collaboration underscores Lily Beach’s commitment to delivering elevated culinary and beverage experiences -where global expertise meets barefoot Maldivian luxury.
At Lily Beach the Platinum Plan seamlessly unites exceptional dining with premium inclusions, creating one of the Maldives’ most distinguished all-inclusive experiences. Guests indulge in diverse buffet and à la carte offerings across multiple restaurants, complemented by an extensive selection of premium wines, spirits, signature cocktails, and a replenished minibar. Elevating the culinary journey further, Les Turquoise d’Aqua proudly received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2024, underscoring the resort’s commitment to world-class wine curation. From elegant beachfront dinners to relaxed overwater settings, every moment is thoughtfully crafted to deliver refined flavour, variety, and effortless luxury.
For reservations and further information, please visit the resort’s website.
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
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi hosts Michelin-starred Chef Robin Pietsch
Modern travellers increasingly view a destination as a collection of flavours to be explored, often reserving their dining experiences at the same moment they book their stay to ensure a true sense of discovery.

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi has embraced this trend, aligning its “Premium Island Experience” with exclusive chef residencies that transform an island stay into a sophisticated, curated sensory adventure. This approach reflects the resort’s core philosophy in reimagining the guest experience in its 15 dining venues and bars.

Central to this refined vision, the resort’s Easter programme debuted with a bespoke four-course residency masterminded by Michelin-starred Chef Robin Pietsch. Collaborating closely with Executive Chef Putu Wijana and Beverage Manager & Sommelier Sunil Kumar, Pietsch ensured every ingredient achieved a sensual harmony with its chosen vintage pairing—a true study in the art of culinary chemistry.

The residency was hosted at Islander’s Grill, the resort’s beachfront destination, where the “Land & Sea” menu showcased technical precision through signatures such as Hand-Cut Beef Tartare finished with a silken yolk and garden botanicals; Lightly Cured Cod jewelled with Beluga Caviar; and a succulent Beef Cheek with Seared Foie Gras and winter truffle.
The experience concluded with a Topfen Dumpling accented by papaya, yogurt, and almond. The menu featured curated pairings, including French Champagne and a selection of prestigious French and Italian wines.

“We strive for a synergy between Michelin-standard precision and the evocative pulse of local and regional provenance. This marriage of world-class craft enables us to elevate our flavour profile, establishing a new lineage of bespoke dishes that honour our heritage while setting a sophisticated benchmark for the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi dining experience,” highlighted Abdulla Atham, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Resort Manager.
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