JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort is set to unveil a renewed identity for Riva on 30 August 2026, repositioning the restaurant as a Mediterranean dining destination under the culinary direction of Executive Sous Chef Cristiano Goattin.

Meaning “shore” in Italian, Riva’s new concept draws on the relationship between the Mediterranean and the Maldives, with a menu combining Mediterranean culinary traditions, Maldivian seafood and produce grown on the island.

Leading the culinary transformation is Italian chef Cristiano Goattin, whose career spans more than two decades across hotels, resorts and restaurants in the Gulf and Asia. His experience includes roles with Marriott, Jumeirah, Hilton and The Luxury Collection.

Drawing on his Italian background and international experience, Goattin has developed Riva’s menu around Mediterranean techniques, regional ingredients and produce sourced from the Maldives.

“Riva represents both a personal and professional journey,” said Goattin. “It is about bringing the spirit of Mediterranean to the Maldives in a way that feels genuine, rooted in place, and mindful of the environment. My goal is to create dining experiences that are simple, honest, and memorable, where guests can taste the connection between two shores.”

The menu places Maldivian seafood alongside Mediterranean ingredients including Greek olive oils, Sicilian lemons and aged balsamic, complemented by fresh herbs and greens grown at the resort’s JW Garden.

Among the dishes are Signature Seafood Stew and Half Lobster Tagliatelle, with the menu designed to combine traditional Mediterranean flavours with ingredients available locally and regionally.

The restaurant’s interiors have also been developed to reflect its Mediterranean direction, incorporating whitewashed textures, weathered wood and blue accents. An open-air deck provides an oceanfront setting for sunset dining, alongside indoor seating.

Srikanth Devarapalli, General Manager of JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort, said the transformation forms part of the resort’s approach to developing its dining experiences.

“We believe that luxury is ever-evolving, and we are continually innovating our offerings to create experiences that feel fresh, meaningful, and deeply connected to our destination. At Riva, the sea becomes a bridge between two shores, bringing together the vibrant soul of the Mediterranean and the tranquil beauty of the Maldives. Through simple, honest flavors, warm hospitality, and unforgettable oceanfront settings, we invite guests to slow down, savor the moment, and celebrate life’s most meaningful connections,” said Devarapalli.

The renewed Riva will begin welcoming guests under its Mediterranean concept from 30 August.

Following his first visit earlier this year, award-winning Danish chef Jesper Koch returns to Vakkaru Maldives from 26 October to 5 November 2026, bringing the next chapter of his collaboration with the resort directly to guests.

Chef Jesper first visited Vakkaru in July, spending nearly two weeks working closely with the resort’s culinary and service teams. Centred on knowledge sharing and collaboration, his time on the island laid the foundation for this autumn’s programme and a series of dining experiences created for guests.

At the heart of his second visit will be three five-course tasting-menu evenings on 29 October, 1 November and 3 November, held at Vakkaru Reserve, the resort’s award-winning wine cellar. Home to one of the Maldives’ most exceptional wine collections, Vakkaru Reserve spans 680 Old and New World labels and has been recognised with Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for six consecutive years.

Working alongside the resort’s culinary team, Chef Jesper will bring together his Danish and Nordic culinary roots with the flavours and character of the Maldives, incorporating local ingredients, produce from Vakkaru’s Organic Farm, locally sourced seafood and regional influences where they naturally complement each dish. Separate wine and non-alcoholic pairing options are also being developed to accompany the menus.

The programme will begin on 27 October with a cocktail reception, offering guests the opportunity to meet Chef Jesper and welcome him back to the island before the series of dinners begins.

For Chef Jesper, his return is an opportunity to build on the connection established in July. “My first visit gave me the opportunity to spend time with the team, exchange ideas and experience the spirit of Vakkaru first-hand. Returning now feels like a natural continuation of what we started. I am looking forward to being back in the kitchen and, most importantly, to sharing our work with guests through these dinners.”

Teddy Susanto Wiryawan, General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives, added: “Chef Jesper’s first visit allowed us to establish a strong connection and lay the foundations for this collaboration. His return now brings that work to our guests. These evenings will offer them the chance to experience his distinctive approach to cooking and discover what can emerge when two culinary teams come together with a shared passion for hospitality.”

Regarded as one of Denmark’s most influential gastronomic figures, Chef Jesper brings more than three decades of experience spanning hospitality, gastronomy and entrepreneurship. He is known for combining Nordic culinary traditions with contemporary techniques and a distinctive approach to flavour.

His career has earned him wide recognition, including leading Restaurant Syttende to Michelin recognition, being named Danish Chef of the Year, representing Denmark at the Bocuse d’Or competition, receiving an Honorary Diploma from the Danish Gastronomic Academy, and being recognised as “Chef’s Chef” by the Danish Gastronomy Foundation. He is also widely known as a long-standing judge on the Danish edition of MasterChef.

Set within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, Vakkaru Maldives continues to bring new perspectives to its dining experiences through collaborations with leading culinary talent from around the world. Chef Jesper’s return marks the next stage of a partnership that began with an exchange of ideas and now comes to life at the table.

For further information about the resort, please visit vakkarumaldives.com or contact reservations@vakkarumaldives.com to make a reservation.

Summer Kamp 2026 at Kandima Maldives has delivered on its promise of a season built around Play, Create, Move, and nowhere was that spirit more visible than in the resort’s football-led guest activations. With World Cup fever sweeping the globe, Kandima Maldives welcomed freestyle football world champion Lia Lewis and Portuguese footballer Paulo Bernardo to the island, giving guests a summer highlight that blended sport, entertainment and genuine access to top-level talent.

PlaySpace and Football Fever Take Centre Stage

At PlaySpace, Kandima’s social hub for sport, gaming and entertainment, guests gathered throughout the summer for lively seasonal moments, casual bites, family fun and shared experiences, giving families, teens and active adults another way to connect after a day in the sun. The space took on extra energy during Summer Kamp’s World Cup Watch Party, becoming the island’s home for football fever this season.

This year, Kandima welcomed freestyle football world champion couple Lia Lewis and Nolan Cacheux for a beachside showcase of freestyle tricks, followed by a hands-on masterclass that saw holidaymakers of all ages picking up skills alongside the pair. Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo also brought his expertise to the island, trading passes with guests and staff in a football friendly and making special appearances around the resort throughout his stay.

With football woven into the fabric of Kandima’s active lifestyle programming, Lia and Paulo join part of a growing roster of athletes who have touched down on the island, following Italian striker Mario Balotelli’s visit at the start of the year, alongside appearances from goalkeeper Ederson (Fenerbahçe, formerly Manchester City), Joe Gomez and Daniel Agger (Liverpool), and Wes Brown (Manchester United), among others.

Music, movement and family moments

Music adds another playful layer to the summer programme, with kids’ music lessons under the guidance of the resort’s musical talent creating fun opportunities for younger guests to explore rhythm, expression and performance.

Art, biodiversity and a living island exhibition

While football gave summer its energy, the resort’s Art for Biodiversity Exhibition, developed under the long-running KULA Art Initiative and backed by a grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), takes Summer Kamp into its final chapter.

The exhibition’s island-wide art trail will continue to feature into early October, with headline artist Petra Maitz, an Austrian interdisciplinary artist known for bridging contemporary art, science and environmental activism, joining with a residency. From 21 September to 5 October, Petra will host talks and crocheted craft workshops, while curating a coral artwork built from contributions by guests, local artists, resort staff and the wider community.

Beyond the art trail itself, the exhibition forms part of a wider effort to turn Maldivian creativity into a source of conservation funding and community support, alongside raising awareness of biodiversity and ocean ecology through storytelling.

An island that never stands still

Beyond these headline moments, Summer Kamp 2026 kept the wider island busy: mornings with the Kandima Running Club, tennis and yoga, diving and water sports with the Aquaholics team. This feel-good energy is one that Kandima will carry into autumn with Oktober Adventures, which will see residencies from tennis, karting and football talent, in the next chapter in the resort’s island-wide programming.

More information on Kandima’s autumn edit will be available soon. In the meantime, travellers can seize the tail end of summer with Kandima’s Flash Sale, offering up to 55% off room rates for stays this summer or next, when booking direct at kandima.com.