Drink
Festive nature wonderland at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort
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Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives is set to welcome an array of festivities inspired by its natural surroundings to create a unique celebratory backdrop beyond paradise.
From ‘Rooted in Nature’ menus to illuminated banyan trees, private jungle dinners and an exhibition by National Geographic’s ‘Nature Photographer of the Year’, the resort will showcase nature at its best, complemented by a programme of active experiences led by internationally acclaimed Masters in Residence.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives is uniquely located beyond the equator and boasts a unique jungle setting with over 17,000 coconut trees and majestic banyan trees. In celebration of the island’s unique ecosystem and biodiversity, this festive season, the resort will highlight its natural resources with an illuminated décor and sculptures made of handwoven palm leaves, creating a magical enchanting tropical feel.
The festive programme at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives will delight and inspire guests with culinary, recreation and wellness experts from around the world showcasing their unique mastership in harmony with the surrounding nature.
Gastronomic delights
Javvu restaurant will feature specialities from Japan, China and India, with expert chefs preparing à la minute culinary delights, such as sushi, fresh noodles and Indian delights, at their dedicated live cooking stations.
Sumptuous Christmas and New Year buffets will complement the gastronomic feast with international favourites, such as foie gras, Persian caviar, wagyu beef, whole crusted salmon and a dedicated cheese and desserts room to delight the most discerning gourmets.
The restaurant will also have a dedicated ‘Rooted in Nature’ corner featuring the finest locally and ethically sourced ingredients from Addu fishermen and local farmers.
Shangri-La’s ‘Rooted in Nature’ programme aims to respect the natural order of things and reduce the damage on the environment by supporting local agricultural and fishing communities, buying chemical pesticide-free local produce, acquiring sustainably sourced seafood caught through ethical means and serving organic and fair-trade products as indicated by national and local food safety standards.
Dr Ali’s restaurant will also feature ‘Rooted in Nature’ dishes from each of its three Oriental culinary masters: Chef Latif from India, Chef Liu from China and Chef Ahmed from the Middle East. Each chef will craft his own specialties using locally sourced ingredients, in addition to a six-course Asian set menu.
For an intimate and romantic festive celebration, Fashala restaurant, located at the edge of the island where the Indian Ocean meets the lagoon, puts premium products and bounties from the Indian Ocean at the centre of its culinary offerings. The six-course Mediterranean-inspired menu features wagyu tenderloin, Brittany blue lobster, and fresh white truffle.
Entertainment
Each restaurant will offer an entertainment line-up to delight its guests with live bands and DJ performing throughout the evening.
On New Year’s Eve, the countdown party at M Lounge, the resort’s trendy beachfront venue, will enthral guests with fabulous cocktails, a firework display and a live band and DJ performing international favourites. Guests will enjoy a unique show, specially curated for the resort, with acrobats, men on stilts and dancers performing around the theme of nature.
Exhibition by National Geographic ‘Nature Photographer of the Year’
An exhibition by Greg Lecoeur, an award-winning underwater and wildlife photographer, will showcase the natural wonders of Villingili and the seascape beyond. Specially curated for the resort following Greg’s visit earlier this year, the exhibition depicts the uniqueness of the flora and fauna around Villingili, which has the healthiest coral reef in all the Maldives, due to its location close to the Equator.
The exhibition also aims at creating awareness about natural resources and the danger the environment faces. It also promotes environmental protection as part of the resort’s Sanctuary project consisting of coral reef protection and rehabilitation. Two thousand corals have been successfully planted and growing healthily since the initiation of the project in 2015.
The Festive All-Inclusive Package at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives starts from USD 2,000 per night for two persons and is available for stays from December 20, 2019 to January 10, 2020. This offer includes accommodation for two in a luxury villa, a New Year’s Eve gala dinner, full board, an unlimited selection of beverages and unlimited access to non-motorised water sports.
A private hideaway, in a world of its own, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa is the perfect setting for couples, with its secluded location as part of the Maldives southernmost atoll.
For the ultimate luxury experience, Villa Muthee, is the epitome of tropical refinement. The presidential villa nestles in its own luxurious environment with its private walkway entrance, a spacious deck with a private infinity pool and direct access to the ocean, a separate living room, yoga pavilion and even its own spa treatment room to let guests relax without leaving the villa.
Beyond Villa Muthee, the resort offers an extensive choice of accommodation, such as the unique Tree House Villas, Perched on stilts among the emerald green treetops, the villas offer intimate settings with marvellous views of the ocean and a large deck with its own private infinity pool. For true ocean lovers, the Water Villas, positioned over the lagoon, offer the perfect seascape for those who cannot resist slipping into the aquamarine waters teeming with tropical marine life. These open and airy villas come with overwater hammocks for languorous lounging.
The resort offers many options for water adventurers, such as turtle-quest snorkelling, diving to a unique shipwreck site, surfing with half a dozen great wave setups or parasailing for a bird’s eye view of the island. Tropical ‘havenists’ will also find their own piece of paradise in the unique flora and fauna that can be explored while cycling around Villingili’s jungle and coastal pathways or while playing on the only golf course in the Maldives. Couples can also enjoy a range of cultural experiences like no other in the Maldives, with guided tours of the neighbouring islands of Addu atoll, visits to the local farms and samplings of Maldivian cuisine.
The brightest gem in the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean, Villingili island is a haven for those seeking true romance. As if it was meant to be, the resort is located in the heart-shaped Addu atoll, just a five-minute boat ride away from Gan International Airport.
Drink
Atmosphere Core partners with Italy’s award-winning Prosecco Bottega
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Atmosphere Core, a leading figure in the hospitality industry, has announced a unique collaboration with award-winning Italian lifestyle winery Bottega SpA. A 4th generation family estate which first started producing grappa in the 17th century, Bottega presents an enviable portfolio of wines and liqueurs, made world-famous by its iconic GOLD Prosecco DOC.
Driven by shared core values of quality, authenticity, distinctive design, and all-encompassing service styles, this innovative partnership is set to inspire a new wave of wine hospitality in the Maldives. On top of direct product shipments from the Bottega estates for the supply of wines solely to its 9 private-island resorts, Atmosphere Core will also introduce South Asia’s first Bottega Prosecco Bar, a concept created by Sandro Bottega himself to enhance and share Italy’s great wine, genuine food and convivial lifestyle, offering travellers from around the globe a taste of true Italian sparkling life in highly fashionable environments.
Testimony to the quality and popularity of Bottega labels, the family’s estates have won more than 450 awards and accolades with their products now available in over 160 countries worldwide. In 2022, IWRS reported Bottega’s GOLD Prosecco DOC as the top-selling sparkling wine in the Duty-Free channel world-wide.
Commenting on the new collaboration with Bottega, Atmosphere Core Group Managing Director, Salil Panigrahi, stated, “We are committed to providing the best possible guest experiences, and meticulously curate the culinary journeys within our resorts to offer the highest quality of authentic food and beverage concepts, so our guests can return home with life-long memories. We can only achieve this by collaborating with the most dynamic wine producers in the world, and our announcement to partner with Bottega SpA in 2025 is a landmark moment for our company. I wish to personally thank Mr Sandro Bottega for granting Atmosphere Core this opportunity which goes beyond the presence of his labels in our resorts, but also provides us with an exciting platform to explore new immersive lifestyle hospitality concepts”.
With the intent set firmly on growing wine culture, Atmosphere Core regularly hosts partner winemakers and winery owners at its Maldives resorts to lead exclusive and immersive masterclasses for guests, while reciprocating this exchange with wine partners sponsoring resort colleagues to travel and visit their vineyards across the world.
Sandro Bottega, President and CEO of Bottega SpA, comments, “I’m proud to start a partnership with such a prestigious hospitality group as Atmosphere Core. Our main aim is to bring the Italian oenological culture to South Asia. Maldives is a luxury destination, that embraces the same values of quality and elegance of our flagship product: Bottega GOLD Prosecco DOC. Furthermore, we hope to also introduce our Bottega 0 Rosé and White, both without alcohol, they offer the same consumption rituality of the sparkling wines, respecting teetotallers and all those who, for any reason, choose to be cautious in their consumption of alcohol. I’m also excited of the opportunity to open a branded Bottega Prosecco Bar, that will represent an ambassador for Italian cuisine in the islands”.
Wine enthusiasts, global travellers, and valued partners can look forward to a year-round calendar of enriching and immersive wine-focused experiences that embody Atmosphere Core’s commitment to exceptional hospitality and authentic storytelling, fostering genuine connections between guests and partner wineries from 1er Cru Champagne, Stellenbosch, Galicia, the Canary Islands and now Italy.
Cooking
New Tapasake restaurant at One&Only Reethi Rah
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One&Only Reethi Rah introduces the newest gem to its collection of eight distinctive culinary experiences with the debut of Tapasake in the Maldives. The new concept offers Japanese cuisine with Mediterranean influences – a fresh take on culinary excellence. With breathtaking views of the crystal-clear Indian Ocean and the venue’s unique style, the new experiential gastronomic destination delivers a truly unforgettable experience to its One&Only clientele.
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy from Denniston International, Tapasake is a 3665m2 venue suspended over the Indian Ocean’s sapphire surface. Expressive interiors draw the eye in every direction: up to the furthest reaches of the soaring see-through wine cellar; down beneath glass-bottomed floor panels in the sunken lounge to glimpse reef sharks darting across the shallows; left to take in wall-high artworks, intricate panelling and ephemera from the natural world. Playfully composed, Tapasake’s atmospheric surroundings encourage unbridled exploration. Light meets dark. Soft tones meet striking textures. Monochrome elements reflect Japanese design sensibility, while Mediterranean accents are captured in bright splashes of red, orange and yellow. Sweeps of wood, granite and stone ground the space in the essence of the Earth. Water is central to the flow of the design, glimmering in the reflection pool above the sway of the rolling tides. The wind blows a soft sea breeze, energising each new breath, while the fire lights up cigars sourced from the world’s best tobacco regions. This is a setting to savour with every sense.
Golden Hour was made for gathering on the Grand Terrace to toast another remarkable day amid the lush landscape. Here, the inventive cocktail menu mirrors the bold pigments that cloak the coastline at sunset with fragrant violet liqueur, passionfruit and pineapple setting a tropical mood.
A signature One&Only dining experience, Tapasake takes its name from the Spanish “tapas” and Japanese “sake,” with distinctive Mediterranean influences. Guests are invited to indulge in a concept that celebrates the art of sharing, featuring dishes that combine flavours from Japan and the Mediterranean for a truly unique culinary journey.
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The sushi area, and teppanyaki grill stations beckon for intimate meals, grand gatherings and everything in between. Tender Wagyu beef meets the heat of the grill in a spectacle of sizzle before your eyes, while uni (sea urchin), otoro (bluefin tuna belly) and tai (sea bream) provide a flavour of the delicacies sourced from a tapestry of celebrated Japanese culinary provinces. Elsewhere, Mediterranean-inspired seafood fresh from local waters sits beside gyoza, Tokyo-style ramen, and traditional tapas, inviting you to mix and match flavours on your own epicurean adventure.
In the evening, Tapasake transforms into a vibrant hub, enhanced by DJs and live music to elevate the energy after dark. Enjoy multi-national cigars and signature whiskey cocktails in Sombra Lounge, or sip limited-edition sake inspired by the location, produced in collaboration with Yumegokoro Sake Brewery in Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, this clean, light and fragrant Naraman Junmai Daiginjo has a Champagne-like profile shaped for celebrations.
Satisfy your wildest whims with bespoke events or delve deeper into your passions with a mixology class, tea ceremony or sake-tasting session. Celebrate milestones in style in private dining rooms that accommodate up to 12 guests, allowing for ultimate seclusion while basking in the natural beauty that surrounds you. Three spectacular spaces infused with distinctive character bring something extra special to your stay. Yuugen, meaning the mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe, provides a private portal to the mesmerising marine life beneath the ocean’s symphony of blues, with a glass floor to draw your gaze while you dine. Tenkei, meaning heavenly scene, positions you for awe-inspiring views of the horizon to backdrop your experience with the magic of the Maldivian sunset. Mesa Secreta translates as Secret Table and invites you into a world of wonder, tucked away to transform your evening into one that won’t be forgotten.
“Tapasake is a fantastic addition to One&Only Reethi Rah’s impressive selection of eight specialty dining venues. This beautiful setting, paired with the restaurant’s elevated food-sharing concept, makes Tapasake the Maldives’ premier experiential gastronomic destination, promising to delight the senses of luxury leisure seekers from around the globe,” said Jan B. Tibaldi, General Manager of One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives.
Cooking
From pizza to pasta: Alila Kothaifaru Maldives unveils Pibati Sul Mare
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“Pibati” in Sanskrit translates to “to drink, absorb, or imbibe,” reflecting a profound connection to savouring and enjoying sensory experiences such as food and drink. Guided by this philosophy, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives has unveiled a refined concept for its beachside restaurant under the leadership of Executive Chef Frank Wackerhagen. The newly reimagined dining destination invites guests to explore Italy’s cherished culinary traditions.
Renamed Pibati Sul Mare—Italian for “by the sea”—the restaurant serves lunch, specialising in artisanal pizzas and handcrafted pastas. Its menu features a harmonious blend of Italian classics and island-inspired flavours, such as the Margherita pizza and the exquisite Linguini allo Scoglio di Panna, a mixed seafood dish in a garlic cream sauce. These dishes are crafted with high-quality ingredients, including fresh, homegrown herbs cultivated on the island, creating comfort food that captures the island’s vibrant essence.
Nestled against the backdrop of stunning ocean views, Pibati Sul Mare offers a serene retreat for diners seeking a memorable culinary experience. The setting combines coastal charm with contemporary elegance, featuring airy, open spaces designed to immerse guests in the scenic surroundings. Soft, earthy tones and natural materials contribute to a warm and inviting ambiance, while exceptional service ensures every guest feels cared for and attended to.
Whether enjoying a gathering with family or savouring a moment of tranquility, Pibati Sul Mare provides an unforgettable dining experience. It promises to captivate the palate and create cherished memories that linger long after the visit.
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