Featured
Amilla Maldives’ ‘Cracking’ Ministry of Crab collaboration for Easter
Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences has announced a ‘cracking’ new collaboration with the Ministry of Crab.
The partnership with the acclaimed Sri Lankan restaurant brand will see a pop-up Ministry of Crab taking over Wok Restaurant at Amilla for the Easter holidays, from April 1-14.
With a flagship restaurant at Colombo’s Dutch Hospital upscale shopping precinct, the Ministry of Crab also has international outposts in Shanghai, Manilla, Mumbai, Bangkok and at Crossroads Maldives.

Championing the seafood of the Maldives’ next-door neighbour, the Ministry of Crab’s modus operandi is using fresh quality ingredients (with a daring no-freezer policy) to create delicious fine dining cuisine.
In particular, the Ministry of Crab has elevated indigenous wild-caught mud crab to unparalleled levels. Aficionados frequently refer to the Ministry of Crab’s mud crab dishes as ‘the best crab in the world’.
Guests can choose whether to have their crab prepared with chilli, pepper, garlic-chilli, butter or traditional Sri Lankan curry.
The crabs range in size from half a kilo to the legendary two kilogram ‘Crabzilla’. But the Ministry of Crab also excels at many other seafood dishes, including crab liver pate, garlic-chilli freshwater prawns and much more.
As one of South Asia’s most famous chefs, Chef-Restauranteur Dharshan Munidasa’s pop-up Ministry of Crab at Amilla Maldives will be one of the highlights of its thrilling Easter programme.
Amilla’s Easter festivities for guests of all ages will also include magical Neverland-themed entertainment and activities that celebrate the concepts of togetherness, resilience and sustainability.

As an advocate of fresh, local ingredients, Dharshan is an excellent fit for Amilla’s key sustainability philosophy.
Dharshan, who was born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and Sri Lankan father, is the also the mastermind behind Sri Lanka’s famous Nihonbashi restaurant.
He discovered his talent for cooking while studying at John Hopkins University in the US, where he obtained a double degree in Computer Engineering and International Relations.
Dharshan opened Nihonbashi in Colombo to great acclaim in 1995 and Ministry of Crab in partnership with celebrated Sri Lankan cricketers, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, in 2011.
The prolific restauranteur then opened The Tuna and The Crab Japanese seafood fusion restaurant in historic Galle in 2014 and followed up this success with Kaema Sutra contemporary Sri Lankan restaurant, which he opened with Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, in 2017.
In addition, Dharshan launched a Café Nihonbashi in Sri Lanka’s ancient former capital, Kandy, in 2018, and Ministry of Crab, Carne Diem Grill and Nihonbashi Blue at Crossroads Maldives in 2020.
Amilla’s General Manager Jason Kruse and Executive Chef Andrew Smith say they are thrilled that Dharshan will shortly be bringing his signature dishes and sharing his freshness philosophy with Sri Lankan spice and personality with the Baa Atoll resort.
“Ministry of Crab is an iconic brand which will provide additional dining options for our Easter period guests,” Jason said.
For more information about the resort and bookings, please email sales@amilla.mv or visit www.amilla.com.
Featured
Villa Nautica’s festive glow: Yoga at sunrise, fireworks at midnight
Villa Nautica will embrace the festive spirit from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, offering guests an easy island rhythm that flows from bright mornings by the water to music-filled evenings on the sand. The season begins with illuminated beaches and relaxed barbecues, gradually building through creative afternoons and live performances. Christmas Eve will feature a gala dinner, followed by Santa’s arrival on 25 December. The celebrations will culminate in a vibrant New Year’s Eve countdown with fireworks, before settling into a calm reset on New Year’s Day and concluding with Orthodox Christmas.
The programme balances practicality with a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. Mornings will bring sunrise yoga, family pool activities, and interactive cooking sessions, while evenings will feature poolside soirées, wine-paired dinners, and sunset cruises. With simple yet photogenic settings, the lagoon and sky take centre stage in shaping the mood. Guests—whether couples, friends, or families—can participate freely without losing the island’s easy pace.
For younger visitors, the festivities will centre around the kids’ club, where cookie and cupcake decorating, beach games, origami and craft sessions, storytelling, and cosy movie nights will take place. Small groups and attentive care ensure that creativity and play remain the focus, allowing parents to enjoy uninterrupted moments around the island.
A highlight of the season will be the Champagne Lucky Draw & Disco. From 1 to 31 December, each bottle of champagne purchased at resort bars or restaurants will serve as an entry to the draw. Guests are advised to keep their entry stubs for the live draw, held at 01:00 during the New Year’s celebration, where the prize will be a seven-night stay in a Water Villa for two.
Throughout the festive period, private experiences will feel as memorable as the larger celebrations. Guests may enjoy candlelit dinners on the sand, floating breakfasts, or early morning snorkelling sessions to begin the year anew. Whether seeking a lively shoreline celebration or a quiet evening stroll beneath lanterns and palms, Villa Nautica offers an atmosphere where every festive moment can glow in its own way.
Featured
JOALI BEING launches global campaign ‘Joyful Journeys of Well-Living’
JOALI BEING, the world’s first well-being island, has announced the launch of its new global brand campaign titled “Joyful Journeys of Well-Living.” The campaign celebrates the art of self-discovery, inviting travellers to reconnect with their inner selves through bespoke and transformative experiences.
Building upon JOALI BEING’s core philosophy of the “Joy of Weightlessness,” the campaign embodies the essence of harmony between mind, body, and spirit. It encourages guests to explore holistic pathways designed to restore balance and inspire personal growth.
Joyful Journeys of Well-Living serves as an invitation to travellers seeking meaningful change and renewal. The campaign narrates stories of individuals discovering joy through purposeful living, mindful connection, and immersive well-being experiences at JOALI BEING.
The visuals capture the island’s tranquil landscapes and nurturing spaces — from oceanfront sanctuaries to treetop villas and transformative healing sessions led by resident experts. The campaign presents JOALI BEING as more than a destination; it is a journey towards well-being, creativity, and self-transformation.
Each guest journey at JOALI BEING is founded on the resort’s Four Pillars of Well-Being — Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. Through tailored programmes, guests can embark on integrative wellness experiences encompassing sound therapy, movement and fitness, hydrotherapy, nutritional guidance, and energy-healing sessions curated by specialists.
The island features a series of advanced well-being spaces, including:
- CORE: a movement and fitness zone
- AREKA: a transformative treatment centre
- KAASHI: a hydrotherapy hall
- SEDA: a sound-healing room
- Ocean Sala: an open-air meditation and relaxation deck
Each space is designed to nurture a profound connection with nature and the self.
The Joyful Journeys of Well-Living campaign has been conceptualised and produced by JOALI BEING’s in-house team in collaboration with creative partners and visual storytellers from across the globe. The multi-platform campaign integrates film, digital, and print media to convey JOALI BEING’s ethos — a celebration of joy, transformation, and harmony.
The visual narrative draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the Maldives, reflecting JOALI BEING’s immersive design philosophy. The imagery captures the rhythm of the ocean, the play of light, and the flow of energy that define the spirit of the island.
Awards
Coco Bodu Hithi wins Best Waterside Hotel at Condé Nast Johansens Awards 2026
Coco Bodu Hithi has been recognised on the global stage, winning Best Waterside Hotel (Riverside, Lakeside, Seaside) at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2026, held on 3 November 2025 in the UK. It is the second consecutive year the resort has been honoured by the publication, following last year’s win for Best Service, reaffirming its focus on heartfelt Maldivian hospitality and refined island living.
Described by Condé Nast Johansens as an “over-water, over-indulgent Maldivian island outpost,” Coco Bodu Hithi offers an intimate retreat of comfort and calm. The resort’s 32 Water Villas and 24 Coco Residences, each measuring 184 square metres and featuring private pools, provide secluded spaces set above the lagoon, where nature, design, and comfort come together to reflect the island’s romantic ambience.
Known for contemporary design infused with Maldivian heritage, the resort continues to welcome travellers seeking time by the sea, complemented by culinary collaborations with celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs. The experience balances privacy and comfort throughout a guest’s stay. With turquoise waters, quiet spaces, and experiences designed for connection and shared discovery, the resort presents a considered take on island living.
Located 35 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the island combines accessibility with seclusion—close enough for convenience, yet removed for privacy and serenity. As part of Coco Collection, the resort offers bespoke experiences, attentive service, and sustainable practices, shaping stays that feel personal and reflective of relaxed, authentic island life.
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