Drink
Le Meridién Maldives Resort presents glamorous culinary calendar this November

Internationality and diversity characterise the culinary offerings of Le Meridién Maldives Resort & Spa with its six restaurants and bars since its opening in 2021. Also in November, guests can look forward to various culinary events in a class of their own in the paradisiacal hideaway.
On November 14, Asia-Pacific Brand Ambassador Kate de Fleuriot will take wine lovers on a journey through South Africa’s vineyards. If you are in the mood for some bubbly, you will get your money’s worth on 22 and 23 November, when Champagne Cattier owner Jean Jacques Cattier and his export director Pierre-Samuel Reyne spoil guests with fine sparkling wine at the Sunset Champagne Picnic on the private island of Bodu Finolhu and at the delicious Lobster & Champagne Fête. The culmination of the culinary month is a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on 24 November.

South Africa meets Maldives at South African Wine Dinner
Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa’s culinary event calendar in November starts internationally – as does the F&B philosophy of the island hideaway in the Indian Ocean. Let Kate de Fleuriot, Asia-Pacific Brand Ambassador of South African Wines take you on an epicurean journey through a 5-course degustation menu paired with aromatic wines from her country. At the South African Wine Dinner on 14th November, aromatic South African wines meets a five-course tasting menu crafted by the Executive Sous Chef Siva and his team. Kate de Fleuriot, Asia Pacific Brand Ambassador for numerous South African wineries such as Mulderbosch, Springfield Estate, Mullineux, Testalonga and Southern Right Pinotage, will guide hotel guests through the evening at Velaa Bar + Grill. The curated wine selection is tastefully rounded off with food pairings such as grilled seafood, vegetables and meat. Relish a delectable and interactive wine dinner curated specially for all our guests.
Sparkling enjoyment with Cattier champagne on two unforgettable evenings
Champagne represents the very highest level of excellence in sparkling wine. Friends of luxurious sparkling wine will get their money’s worth on two evenings. On 22 and 23 November, Champagne Cattier owner Jean Jacques Cattier and Export Director Pierre-Samuel Reyne will host guests at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa, as our culinary team will take guests on an gourmet journey paired with exquisite Cattier champagnes. At the Sunset Champagne Picnic on 22nd November on the resort’s exclusive private island Bodu Finolhu, champagne and canapés will be served during the famed Golden Hour of the Maldives. On the evening of 23rd November, the Lobster & Champagne Fête in Velaa Bar + Grill will combine a selection of the finest Cattier champagnes such as the Brut Nature 1er Cru, Brut Icône or Clos du Moulin Brut 2012 varieties with an enjoyable four-course menu. At both events, Champagne Cattier owner Jean Jacques Cattier and Export Director Pierre-Samuel Reyne will share their many years of experience in champagne with our curious and creative minded guests, while they savour the good life with exquisite culinary soirée’s.

Thanksgiving in Paradise
To round off the culinary event calendar, guests at Le Méridien Maldives can look forward to a festive Thanksgiving dinner on 24 November. After two eventful events with a focus on fine wines and champagne, soak up to the traditions of Thanksgiving by adding a delicious culinary element to your island getaway, making it much more memorable. Toast to the warm sense of gratitude over a traditional Thanksgiving American spread along with an array of multi cuisine dishes in eclectic designed restaurant Turquoise, where guests can graze from the dinner buffet with the ocean breezes and endless vistas of Maldives. Families and friends can celebrate this heartwarming holiday together in this heavenly idyllic island, and as tradition would have it, spend beautiful hours with their loved ones over comforting delicious food.
Encounter the unexpected while you sip, sway and savour under the Maldivian sun and make Thilamaafushi island home for this November.

For further information or to make a reservation, please visit www.lemeridien-maldives.com.
Drink
Dare to taste with W Maldives at Island Alchemy Ft. Beckaly Franks

This July, W Maldives—The Original Wavemaker—dials up the flavor and the flair as award-winning mixologist, Beckaly Franks touches down in the Maldives for a one-of-a-kind takeover. As part of the resort’s Island Alchemy series—a bold celebration of global mixology talent— Franks brings her trailblazing energy, genre-defying cocktails, and unapologetically original spirit to heart of the Indian Ocean for an experience that’s equal parts spectacle and substance.
Known for turning heads and rewriting the rules, Beckaly Franks is no stranger to shaking things up. From co-founding the iconic The Pontiac in Hong Kong—featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for seven straight years—to launching the Hungry Ghost group and buzzy venues like Call Me AL and ARTIFACT, Franks has long been a driving force behind Asia’s cocktail renaissance. In 2023, she became the second woman to win the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, a recognition for her fearless creativity, inclusive ethos, and magnetic presence behind the bar.
“At the heart of every great cocktail is a story—and this one’s set on a postcard-perfect island,” said Franks. “W Maldives has this incredible energy that mirrors what I love about mixology: it’s immersive, unexpected, and made for people who want to feel something. I can’t wait to have my world collide with the destination.”
At W Maldives, she is bringing it all. The collaboration kicks off with two exclusive guest shifts at SIP on 24 and 25 July, where Franks will serve up a mix of her iconic signature and bespoke creations crafted just for the island. Think sun-drenched flavors, unexpected textures and bold spirits made to match the lagoon views. On 27 July, the experience moves to the resort’s noon-to-moon social hub, WET Deck, for an elevated daytime poolside revelry—an atmospheric day of sensory storytelling, boundary-pushing cocktails, and barefoot glamor under the vibrant Maldivian sky.

“This is more than a bar takeover—it’s a meeting of minds, a celebration of mastery, and a moment to connect with the spirit of W Maldives,” said Amila Handunwala, General Manager of W Maldives. “We are proud to welcome Beckaly as part of our Island Alchemy series and continue offering our guests experiences that are anything but ordinary.”
Part island escape, part liquid installation, this collaboration is more than a moment—it is a statement. Island Alchemy is W Maldives signature mixology program designed to spotlight innovators, connectors, and tastemakers who bring something original to the table. With Beckaly Franks at the helm, this edition serves as both a toast to women redefining the global bar scene and a bold glimpse into the future of mixology—where craft and character collide in all the right ways.
Guests looking to stir things up in paradise can book the Stay, Dine, and Fly package, which includes daily breakfast spread and three-course dinner as well as return seaplane transfer from Male, and get exclusive benefits. Book your stay now and raise the bar on your next escape via this link or contact reservations.wmaldives@whotels.com.
Drink
Cellar of quiet distinction: Vakkaru Reserve wins fifth Wine Spectator Award

At Vakkaru Maldives, wine isn’t merely served — it is curated, conversed with, and quietly revered. This has led to the resort’s European wine cellar, Vakkaru Reserve, being awarded Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for the fifth year — the only resort in the Maldives to have done so.
Vakkaru Reserve, an intimate, striking space at the heart of the island, houses 620 labels selected with care by Head Sommelier Retheesh Kakkareth Mohanan and Assistant Sommelier Vasantha Kumar Nadarajah. Some stars in the collection favour narrative as much as provenance: a Château Cheval Blanc Premier Grand Cru Classé A trio from 1983, 1985 and 1990; Château Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 2009; Krug Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blanc Brut 2002 and Château Pavie 1982, each one a vignette of a time and place, waiting to be uncorked.
“Our intention with Vakkaru Reserve has never been to impress with excess,” says Teddy Susanto Wiryawan, General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives. “Instead, it’s about assembling a collection that invites reflection, wines that linger in the mind as much as on the palate. This fifth award is not a milestone, but a reminder to keep listening to winemakers, regions, and the guests who come here seeking something they can’t find elsewhere.”
In a setting where time is allowed to stretch and the pace remains unhurried, the wine experience is naturally immersive. Vakkaru’s cellar hosts guided tastings, bespoke pairings, and a distinctive offering — a Wine & Chocolate Pairing Experience, where artisanal chocolates crafted in-house are paired with wine labels in unexpected harmony. Think Yuzu and Matcha Bonbon with Sauvignon Blanc, or an Espresso Bonbon set against a Tawny Port, delicious, deliberate acts of indulgence.
Vakkaru Reserve remains a quiet benchmark for those who appreciate depth over display. In this place of timelessness, let your wine journey stand less on ceremony, and more on memory and discovery.
Drink
Sommeliers and hospitality leaders to gather at Ifuru Island for exclusive Liquid Tasting Event

Ifuru Island Maldives has announced the upcoming Raa Atoll Liquid Tasting, an exclusive gathering of sommeliers, F&B professionals, and hospitality leaders scheduled for 26 June 2025. This distinguished event is being presented in collaboration with The Liquid Concept, a premium beverage platform celebrated for its concept-driven approach to wine and spirits curation across the Indian Ocean region.
Established in 2021, The Liquid Concept delivers a comprehensive 360-degree beverage experience. Its portfolio includes fine wines, artisanal spirits, grower and grand marque Champagnes, vermouths, low- and no-alcohol alternatives, and innovative beverage solutions designed for hospitality and lifestyle destinations. The platform’s mission is to transform the beverage experience through purposeful curation, sustainable innovation, and immersive storytelling.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Ifuru Island, the tasting event will feature over 40 exceptional wine labels sourced from around the world. These selections, drawn from The Liquid Concept’s intentionally curated portfolio, invite attendees on a sensory exploration of diverse terroirs, winemaking philosophies, and compelling narratives.
Enhancing the tasting experience, guests will be treated to a specially crafted three-course menu, thoughtfully designed to complement and elevate the wine pairings. This harmonious fusion of food and beverage aims to showcase the artistry of hospitality and refined palate engagement.
As part of a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability, Ifuru Island and The Liquid Concept will also introduce the Bermar Wine & Champagne Preservation System during the event. This advanced technology enables the preservation of opened wines and champagnes, offering resorts a smart, eco-conscious solution to minimise waste and improve wine-by-the-glass service.
The Raa Atoll Liquid Tasting is an invitation-only event, poised to become a signature occasion that reflects Ifuru Island’s dedication to elevating the culinary and beverage scene in the Maldives.
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