Featured
New menus at Baros Maldives’ iconic Lighthouse Restaurant, Cayenne’s new grill house concept
Baros is well-known for its exquisite dining experiences ranging from gourmet picnics on deserted island sandbanks, romantic Dhoni dinner cruises and champagne breakfasts on the piano deck, water below and all around. And now Baros’ dining experiences have become even more elaborate with the introduction of sophisticated grill house dining at Cayenne and a new à la carte menu with two new degustation menus at the iconic Lighthouse Restaurant.
Foodies can indulge in modern fine dining at the overwater The Lighthouse Restaurant which is perfectly positioned in the crystal-clear turquoise lagoon and fashioned after the lateen-sails of a traditional dhoni sailing vessel.
Chef Pasindu, Chef de Cuisine of The Lighthouse Restaurant, has created two new bold degustation menus and an exciting new à la carte menu. Highlights of the ‘Discover’ degustation menu include the Foie Gras entrée – nori poached duck liver with pistachio, cacao, fruit gastrique, brioche and acai berry which is complemented by Yalumba Y Series Chardonnay 2020 from South Australia.
The Prawn Carabineros and pan seared Kobe are inspired main course dishes. Guests will delight in the lightly charred prawns served with roasted sweet potato, seasonal baby vegetables and a spicy mango chutney bisque and paired with ‘M de Minuty’ 2020 Rosé from Côtes de Provence, France. The Kobe is served with potato and truffle puree, seasonal baby vegetables, crispy kale and a barbeque Jack Daniel jus which is brilliantly paired with Kanonkop Kadette Cape Blend 2019 from Stellenbosch, South Africa.
A focal feature of the ‘experience’ degustation menu is the goat cheese mousse and textures of fresh fruit entrée paired with a Sileni Estates Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2021 from Marlborough, New Zealand.
A highlight of the à la carte ‘Ocean’ selection is the Mahi Mahi dish – pan-seared dorado served with beluga lentils, cauliflower textures, beetroot and pineapple vierge and finished off with an umami fish emulsion and spiced coconut cream. For the ultimate ‘farm’ experience, the Iberico Pluma (pork loin) is marinated with Hawaii black salt and buttered toast and is served with beluga lentil risotto and finished with verde blu di buffalo cheese, celeriac textures and a tasty barbeque and kombu jus.
One of the biggest transformations to Baros’s vibrant dining scene is the new Cayenne Grill dining concept with a sophisticated grill menu inspired by the Maldives’s fiery sunsets.
Cluster Executive Chef, Ken Gundu, has created a whole new dining concept where every dish has an element of grilling – infusing meat, seafood, chicken and plant-based dishes with a perfectly balanced smoky flavour and melt-in-your-mouth succulence.
“It’s a smart evolution of Cayenne’s cuisine, keeping the emphasis on premium cut meats and authentic grill house specials. We wanted to create the ultimate grill house experience to match Cayenne’s mesmerising views and ambience,” says Shijah Ibrahim, General Manager.

The new Cayenne Grill offers an impressive selection of dry aged steaks ranging from Wagyu Beef Tenderloin to Black Angus Beef Striploin and a superior selection of the freshest seafood, including Yellowfin Tuna, Seabass and Jumbo Prawns.
Share the signature 1.2kg dry aged Tomahawk Wagyu Steak. The Pan Seared Scallops with Green Apples, Celery Juice, and Salmon Caviar is flavorsome and tasty, as is the slow roasted baby chicken with forest mushrooms served with a natural jus.
Set within an open sided thatched pavilion perched over the lagoon, Cayenne Grill inspires guests with its spellbinding ocean views. There is something for everyone to enjoy on the menu ranging from superb appetisers and soups to premium oysters. The vegetarian Tortellini dish is served with sweet potato, water chestnut, oven-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, mushroom velouté and parmesan cheese is delicious and will have guests coming back for more.
Cayenne Grill seeks to provide not only memorable cuisine but with its creative wine and cocktail selection stands for a truly memorable and multisensory dining experience.
The Maldives Icon – Baros is an award-winning luxury private island resort in the Maldives, a short 25-minute speedboat ride from Maldives International Airport. This tropical haven is home to 75 sophisticated villas framed by a seemingly endless powder-soft white beach and a glittering lagoon surrounded by a world-class house reef.
Welcoming guests since 1973, Baros has spent decades honing its services and cultivating its environment, making it the Maldivian Icon. An award-winning resort, and a member of Small Luxury Hotels Of The World, Baros is celebrated for its authentic spirit, legendary service, outstanding comfort, and understated elegance.
Celebration
Villa Park sets holiday line-up with sunset welcome, Santa visit and NYE gala
Villa Park has announced its Festive 2025–2026 programme, running from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. The schedule moves from lagoon-side mornings to music-led evenings on the beach, beginning with a sunset welcome and continuing with beach barbecues, creative workshops, Christmas Eve dinner, Santa’s visit on 25 December, and a New Year’s Eve gala with a midnight countdown. The season concludes with programmes on New Year’s Day and Orthodox Christmas.
Daytime activities include chef demonstrations, shoreline art sessions, and live music. Evenings feature romantic tables, treetop dining for two, and simple set-ups that highlight the island setting. The programme is designed for couples, friends, and families to join as they wish.
Family programming centres on Park Players, presented as the Maldives’ largest kids’ club, with letters to Santa, gingerbread crafts, ocean-themed art, movement classes, story time, and film nights. Group sizes are kept small to ensure attentive supervision.
Villa Park’s family offering has been recognised beyond the festive season, with the resort named among the Best Resorts for Families in the Maldives at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025, a reader-voted accolade reflecting guest feedback on space, programming, and flexible pacing.
Throughout the calendar, private experiences sit alongside larger celebrations, including candlelit beach dining, treetop tastings, floating breakfasts, and open-air cinema for two. Guests can set their own rhythm, whether opting for lively beach gatherings or quiet evenings under lanterns and palms, from sunrise through to the New Year countdown and beyond.
Featured
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas introduces season of wellness with three practitioners
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is inviting guests to embark on a holistic journey guided by three visiting wellness practitioners, each specialising in distinct approaches to healing. Drawing on traditional knowledge and contemporary practice, the practitioners will offer therapies at the resort’s overwater spa designed to align body, mind, and spirit in a tranquil Maldivian setting. Disciplines include Ayurveda, energy-based therapies, sound healing, and mindful movement, with personalised consultations and bespoke treatments available.
A fifth-generation Ayurvedic physician, Dr Jithurag continues a 300-year family lineage rooted in holistic balance. Trained within the Rameswaram Tantric tradition, he blends Ayurvedic principles with elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, integrating marma therapy and acupuncture with Reiki and Pranic Healing. Using wellness screening technologies to assess biomarkers, he designs tailored treatment plans. Guests may book a complimentary consultation and choose from signature therapies such as TCM Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy, Marma Abhyanga, and Back Restoration Therapy.
Holistic therapist and Ayurvedic healer Sharath Ram brings more than 16 years’ experience in supporting physical, mental, and spiritual balance. His work combines Ayurveda with energy practices and therapeutic yoga to encourage both recovery and transformation. His specialities include Chakra Inner Energy Balancing, Ayurveda Deep Fusion Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Maderotherapy, and Mind-Body Healing. He will also lead complimentary workshops, including The Art of Breathing and Dynamic Meditation, focusing on breathwork and movement to promote calm and clarity.
From Kerala, India, Vinod Narayanan offers over a decade of experience in Ayurveda, yoga, and holistic healing across Europe, Africa, and Asia, including service as a personal physician to dignitaries. At Anantara Kihavah he will provide therapies such as Himalayan Sound Healing Massage, De-Armouring Body Therapy, Abdominal Detox, Access Bars Energy Healing, and Gut-Brain Rewiring. Using vibration, touch, and energy alignment, his sessions aim to release emotional blockages, improve circulation, and support the body’s natural rhythm. Complimentary consultations are available, alongside sound-based journeys that seek to harmonise body and spirit.
Together, the practitioners complement Anantara Kihavah’s wellbeing philosophy, extending from Ayurvedic traditions to sound therapy. Guests are invited to the overwater Anantara Spa for bespoke treatments, meditative workshops, and one-to-one consultations that encourage connection with self and nature.
Further enhancing the experience, the resort has introduced reimagined Beach Pool Villas featuring natural textures, open-plan spaces, and private pools set within tropical greenery.
Celebration
Mindful festive escape: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa focuses on connection and renewal
This festive season, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa will welcome guests to a celebration of warmth, wonder and mindful connection. From 19 December 2025 to 7 January 2026, the resort will transform into a serene island sanctuary where nature, gastronomy and meaningful experiences come together in harmony.
Situated in one of the most untouched atolls of the Maldives, Huvadhu Atoll, Hadahaa embodies a refined simplicity that showcases the beauty of the natural world. Throughout the festive period, guests are invited to slow down, reconnect and rediscover the joy of being fully present, surrounded by turquoise waters, lush island greenery and Maldivian hospitality.
“The festive season at Hadahaa is more than a celebration — it’s a homecoming,” said Anshul Sharma, General Manager of Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. “It’s a time to reflect, to celebrate togetherness and to embrace the island’s timeless rhythm where nature and joy coexist effortlessly.”
Highlights of the Festive Season:
- Holiday splendour and timeless traditions – From the twinkling lights of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony to the New Year’s Eve Countdown by the Beach, each event is shaped by the understated elegance that defines Park Hyatt. Familiar festive traditions are reinterpreted with authentic island touches, creating celebrations that feel both comforting and renewed.
- Beneath the holiday surface – Adventure enthusiasts will be able to join Festive Snorkelling and Diving excursions, Turtle Quests and an Exclusive Christmas Night Dive. Each marine experience offers a deeper connection to the ocean’s vibrant ecosystem, enhanced by the festive spirit of exploration.
- Season of renewal – Guests can restore body and mind with holistic spa journeys at The Vidhun Spa, featuring Ayurveda-inspired treatments, island botanicals and festive rituals designed to support inner balance. The resort will also host Dr Jyoti Kodwani, founder of The Sacred Chakras, for a month-long Festive Wellness Residency offering transformative healing therapies.
- Festive flavours and family moments – From Barefoot BBQs by the Bay to elevated treehouse dining beneath the stars, dining experiences are designed to become lasting memories. Younger guests can take part in creative workshops, treasure hunts and Santa’s seaside arrival, ensuring special moments for families and guests of all ages.
This year, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa’s festive programme captures the essence of renewal and joy, celebrating life’s simplest pleasures with a blend of sophistication and soul.
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