Featured
Flying sauces featuring Odette’s Julien Royer brings terroir to table at Soneva Fushi

Award-winning luxury resorts operator Soneva has partnered with Chef Julien Royer to bring Singapore’s acclaimed three Michelin-starred Odette restaurant to the Maldives. The modern French restaurant is guided by Royer’s lifelong respect for seasonality, terroir and artisanal produce. While underpinned by the principles of French cuisine, his years in Asia have infused his approach with a sense of place.
The exclusive 10-week residency at Soneva Fushi’s Flying Sauces will take place from now until April 15, 2022. Flying Sauces was launched in late 2021 and is the only fine dining zipline experience in the world where the evolving multi-course menu is enjoyed from an open treetop kitchen 12 metres above the ground, which boasts exceptional views of the island’s lush jungle and sparkling turquoise ocean.

Flying Sauces featuring Odette’s Chef Julien Royer will showcase produce at its seasonal peak reflective of the Odette experience, with an emphasis on native ingredients – without culinary pretence and handled with an astute, restrained touch.
Taking the helm for the 10-week residency is Odette’s Singaporean Chef de Cuisine, Naka Xiong, who brings his reverence for nature and affinity with seafood to realise a gastronomic experience infused with vibrant tropical flavours and an ingenious Southeast Asian identity, befitting of Soneva Fushi’s idyllic island setting.

The concept will offer both a pescatarian and a vegetarian menu to Soneva Fushi’s guests. Highlights include: the Soneva Garden Salad, featuring foraged or farmed ingredients from Soneva’s own organic gardens or the Maldives; Basmati Donabe, celebrating the importance of the humble grain across Southeast Asia, with herbs sourced from the island, accentuated with pomelo, sakura ebi, shallots and puffed wild rice; and Tuna Flower, with sustainably caught local tuna given a citrus kick from the yuzu kosho, tempered by a refreshing green grape and almond nage.
“We are honoured to welcome Chef Julien Royer and the Odette team to Soneva Fushi,” says Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and Co-founder of Soneva. “Chef Royer’s own culinary philosophy is the perfect complement to Soneva’s Slow Life ethos, which emphasises exquisite yet healthy cuisine, using the highest quality ingredients that are organic, sustainable and as local as possible. Alongside our world-class dining destinations and ongoing Soneva Stars calendar of renowned guest chefs, this new residency by Odette further underlines Soneva Fushi’s status as a gastronomic destination in its own right.”
“It is Odette’s greatest pleasure to share our experience with our friends at Soneva,” adds Julien Royer, Chef-Owner of Odette. “We’re delighted to take the heart of Maldives’ terroir to greater heights, with the show-stopping creativity of our Chef de Cuisine, Xiong.”

Naka Xiong Chef de Cuisine, Odette said “This menu will showcase the nostalgic Southeast Asian flavours that I’m familiar with. Surrounded by fresh produce from Maldivian waters and cooking among the lush treetops of Soneva is a dream come true for me.”

Founded in 1995, Soneva is an award-winning sustainable luxury resorts operator. At Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva in Aqua in the Maldives, and Soneva Kiri in Thailand, true ‘luxury’ is defined by peace, time and space. Each day, guests are encouraged to discover the Slow Life, reconnecting with themselves and the natural world through rare, unforgettable experiences that inspire and enthral.
Soneva is a pioneer for responsible tourism, combining a conscientious, proactive approach to sustainability with exquisite luxury and intuitive personalised service. Carbon neutral since 2012, Soneva launched its Total Impact Assessment in 2016, a first for the hospitality industry, measuring its social and environmental impacts. A mandatory 2% environmental levy is added to every Soneva stay, with proceeds going towards the not-for-profit Soneva Foundation to offset both direct and indirect carbon emissions from resort activities and guest flights. The Foundation funds a range of global projects that have a positive environmental, social and economic impact.
Featured
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau unveils Spooktacular Halloween celebration

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is set to transform into a realm of moonlit enchantment this October, unveiling a Spooktacular line-up of Halloween-inspired experiences for guests of all ages. From imaginative family activities to elegant soirées, each detail has been meticulously curated to reflect the spirit of the season in true InterContinental style.
From 29 to 31 October 2025, the resort will come alive with immersive entertainment, themed dining, and creative experiences that blend playful charm with refined sophistication.
At Planet Trekkers, younger guests will enjoy a series of interactive and artistic workshops, including Creepy House Decorations, Pirate Sword-Making, T-Shirt Painting, and Pumpkin Carving — designed to inspire creativity and family connection. As night falls, the fun continues with Kids’ Movie Nights, trick-or-treat adventures, and a lively Spooktacular Kids’ Disco under the island’s starry sky.
For adults, the celebrations take on an air of indulgent elegance. Spooky Mixology Hours at the Pool Bar will offer hauntingly beautiful cocktails accompanied by chilled island rhythms. Culinary experiences reach new heights with The Dark Harvest: A Zombie-Inspired Dinner at The Lighthouse Beach and Secrets of the Cellar: A Wine Pairing Dinner at The Retreat — both five-course affairs that reinterpret Halloween dining through refined artistry and flavour.
The festivities culminate on 31 October with an all-day celebration, beginning with a vibrant Pool Party and leading into Feast of the Shadows: Beach BBQ, where guests can dine by firelight and the ocean breeze. The evening concludes with the Halloween DJ Party at Café Umi Beach, where guests are invited to dance beneath the stars as the rhythm of the waves meets the beat of the night.
Through this curated collection of events, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort captures the true essence of Halloween — a seamless blend of mystery, sophistication, and wonder.
Featured
Intimate, infinite, unscripted: Valentine’s at The Nautilus Maldives

This Valentine’s Day, The Nautilus Maldives invites guests to immerse themselves in Unwritten Nights — a celebration of love that unfolds freely, without schedules or scripts. At this ultra-luxury bohemian private island retreat, romance flows at its own pace: barefoot dinners beneath a canopy of stars, candlelight shimmering across the lagoon, and timeless moments that belong entirely to those who share them.
At the heart of Unwritten Nights lies a one-of-a-kind experience designed for a single couple. From sunrise yoga and sound healing on a secluded sandbank to an intimate art of chocolate alchemy workshop and a private starlit yacht dinner curated by a personal chef, each element is shaped by spontaneity and personal expression — a love story written only once.
As evening descends, Solasta Spa transforms into a sanctuary of stillness and connection. Signature rituals such as Unison Flow and Whispers of Harmony blend touch, aroma, and sound in perfect synchrony, while Eternal Embrace and Moonlit Renewal offer sensual, candlelit journeys of renewal and intimacy.
Dining at The Nautilus redefines freedom, with no menus or fixed hours. Each meal becomes a surprise — from champagne degustation menus at Zeytoun to barefoot dinners on Thyme Beach or secluded sandbank feasts beneath the brilliance of the Milky Way.
While couples embrace tranquillity, young guests are invited to explore Young Wonderers — a world of discovery, creativity, and island adventure designed to ignite imagination and joy.
At The Nautilus, Valentine’s is not bound by time or convention; it is a feeling — a celebration of love, freedom, and connection in all its forms.
Cooking
Flavours of Japan light up Maldives: Sun Siyam Iru Fushi’s International Chefs Day experience

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi will mark International Chefs Day with a week-long celebration of Japanese artistry and flavour from 20th to 25th October 2025. The resort will host acclaimed Japanese Chef Junichi “JT” Tanaka, owner of Binchō Tanaka, and Sake Sommelier Yasuyuki “Sakeyasu” Suzuki for an exclusive series of culinary experiences.
Originating from Japan’s Izu Peninsula, Binchō Tanaka reflects the quiet philosophy of Sumibi Kappo—a charcoal-inspired cuisine that embodies harmony with nature. At Iru Fushi, Chef JT and Sommelier Sakeyasu will present an immersive omakase experience where Japanese sake and tea converge with fire and fermentation beneath the Maldivian sky.
Chef JT, whose career spans Japan, Jamaica, New York, and Australia, is recognised for his soulful omakase creations that blend tradition, wellness, and artistry. Joining him, Sommelier Sakeyasu—America’s first certified sake sommelier and a prominent figure in New York’s dining scene—will curate refined pairings showcasing precision, balance, and craftsmanship.
Guests will enjoy two signature events: an Artisanal Sake and Craft Brew Tea Pairing Dinner at Islander’s Grill, and an intimate beachside dinner under the stars. Each will celebrate the essence of Japanese culinary mastery in a Maldivian island setting.
The collaboration will feature Binchō Tanaka’s refined dishes paired with the renowned sake of Tanaka Shuzo—who recently revived the traditional kimoto fermentation method after 67 years—and the innovative craft brew teas of Marushichi Seicha. Together, they will capture the spirit of Izu in the Maldives through a fusion of fire, fermentation, and leaf.
To commemorate International Chefs Day, Chef JT will also conduct an exclusive workshop for Iru Fushi’s culinary team, offering hands-on training and sharing his culinary philosophy to inspire creativity and elevate the resort’s gastronomic craft.
“At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, we are proud to celebrate International Chefs Day not only by delighting our guests but also by investing in the growth and creativity of our culinary team,” said Abdulla Atham, Resort Manager at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. “Welcoming Chef JT and Yasuyuki Suzuki to share their expertise is a true honour. Their passion for Japanese gastronomy perfectly complements our vision of delivering experiences that are authentic, inspiring, and crafted with heart.”
Part of Sun Siyam Resorts’ (r)evolution, Iru Fushi stands as the only resort within The Luxury Collection—a portfolio inspired by the elements and dedicated to delivering exceptional guest experiences.
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