News
Island gastronomy: Exploring restaurant, bar experiences at Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi
Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi, a Premium All-Inclusive resort, nestled in the North Malé Atoll, is not just a paradise for beach lovers and surf enthusiasts but also a culinary haven for food and drink lovers alike. The resort boasts five restaurants and four bars and offers a variety of dining experiences that celebrate both local and international flavours, creating a culinary journey for your taste buds.
Your culinary adventure begins at the Banyan Restaurant, where a wide array of dishes ranging from traditional Maldivian specialties to beloved western cuisines are served in a vibrant buffet style. The action kitchen, where chefs engage in live cooking, adds a dynamic touch to your dining experience, making every meal both a visual and gastronomic delight.
For a more refined dining experience, the Sunset Restaurant offers a breathtaking setting overlooking the island’s picturesque harbour. Here, you can savor an à la carte menu that features world-class delicacies from around the globe, making it the perfect venue for special occasions or a memorable evening meal. The restaurant serves a variety of sizzling dishes for dinner, including Lobster, Prawns, or Calamari, as well as a special Shark View Dinner. Ocean Villa residents enjoy exclusive access, while other guests can experience this culinary gem once during their stay.
The Indian Pavilion takes you on a flavourful journey through India’s vast and varied culinary landscape. Offering the best of North and South Indian cuisine, this restaurant brings together vibrant spices, aromatic flavours, and authentic preparation methods to create a dining experience that is both satisfying and memorable.
Lohis Wave adds another layer of flavour to the resort’s culinary offerings. Overlooking the Lohis surf break, one of the world’s premier left-hand surf points, and sheltered by coconut palms, this bar offers a serene setting where guests can watch surfers riding the waves during the season. Lohis Wave specialises in mouthwatering pizzas, perfect for a casual bite after a day of surfing or exploring the island whilst the Beach Grill serves up a variety of snacks, wraps, burgers, and salads during the day, making it a great spot for a light lunch. As the sun sets, the Beach Grill transforms into an evening venue offering a limited à la carte menu and snazzy cocktails, blending daytime relaxation with evening sophistication.
The Beach Grill Bar adds a casual yet vibrant touch to the island’s bar scene. During the day, it’s the perfect place to grab a quick snack, whether you are in the mood for wraps, burgers, or fresh salads. As the sun sets, it transforms into a lively evening destination, serving up an array of cocktails that perfectly complement the relaxed island vibes. It’s a great spot for winding down after a day of activities, offering a seamless blend of daytime relaxation and evening excitement.
For those who prefer poolside relaxation, Hiyala Bar is a must-visit. Located by the pool, it’s known for its invigorating cocktails and a wide selection of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The fresh breeze and laid-back atmosphere make it a perfect gathering spot for guests to socialize, share stories, and create lasting memories.
Meanwhile, Tiki Bar stands out as the resort’s hub of evening entertainment. With its vibrant energy and eclectic selection of signature cocktails and premium spirits, it comes alive with an electrifying DJ set, making it the ultimate venue for those looking to dance the night away under the stars. Together, these bars create a dynamic and diverse bar scene that enhances the overall guest experience at Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi.
Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi is more than just a tropical getaway; it’s a destination where food and beverages are celebrated in every form. Whether you are indulging in a lavish buffet, savouring exquisite fine dining, exploring diverse Indian cuisine, or sipping expertly crafted cocktails at one of the resort’s vibrant bars, every moment is a celebration of taste and island beauty. The resort boasts an impressive selection of over 75 varieties of wines, an extensive range of premium spirits, a variety of cocktails including 10 Adaaran specialty cocktails, and a selection of mocktails. What’s more? Your room’s mini bar is thoughtfully stocked with cans of beer, fruit juices and soft drinks, chocolates, milk, all replenished daily.
Featured
Love loud and laid-back: Valentine’s Day across CROSSROADS Maldives
At CROSSROADS Maldives, Valentine’s Day is designed as a full-day celebration that extends beyond a single romantic dinner, unfolding instead as a journey of connection, creativity and shared discovery. Set across two interconnected islands linked by a tranquil lagoon, the destination invites couples to shape their own rhythm of romance, moving fluidly between moments of energy, playfulness and quiet reflection.
Located just 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé, CROSSROADS Maldives offers a multi-island Valentine’s escape that combines barefoot island living with a contemporary sense of togetherness. From sunrise through to starlight, couples are encouraged to explore experiences that engage both body and mind.
At SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, the day begins with a sunrise couple’s fitness run along the shoreline, followed by guided snorkelling experiences and pool-based wellness sessions. As the pace builds, playful activities take centre stage, including aqua zumba, beach and pool volleyball, water polo and a light-hearted couple’s “Amazing Race” around the island.
Creative expression forms an integral part of the programme, with hands-on workshops such as coconut painting, tie-dye art, cocktail and mocktail masterclasses, and relaxed karaoke sessions at the swim-up bar. For couples seeking slower, more intimate moments, SAii Spa offers extended Valentine’s journeys for two, featuring shared rituals, massages, facials and private bathing ceremonies, concluding with champagne and chocolate indulgences.
One of the most personal experiences takes place at the clay studio at The Marina @ CROSSROADS, where couples spend time shaping a single ceramic piece together. The finished item is kiln-fired and, if guests depart before completion, shipped to their home as a lasting keepsake of their time together.
Across the lagoon, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives presents a contrasting atmosphere with its Love Loud, Live Proud Valentine’s programme. Dance-led fitness sessions, couple-focused pool games and sunset partner yoga transition into beachfront dining, live music and Latin-inspired performances beneath the night sky.
As part of the celebrations, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives has introduced the LOVE ROCKS Valentine’s offer, providing couples with the opportunity to extend their stay beyond the day itself. The offer includes savings of up to 35 per cent, with bookings available from 12 January to 10 February 2026 for stays between 10 February and 31 March 2026.
As evening falls, Valentine’s dining experiences unfold across the destination’s beach and open-air venues, ranging from intimate multi-course dinners and relaxed barbecues to DJ-led beach parties at Hard Rock Cafe. Rather than centring on a single moment, Valentine’s Day at CROSSROADS Maldives is defined by a series of experiences chosen by each couple, allowing the celebration to feel personal, flexible and unhurried.
Featured
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru blends romance and wellbeing in February Valentine’s programme
This February, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru invites travellers to celebrate love through a series of intimate and thoughtfully curated Valentine’s experiences, set against the natural beauty of the Original Maldives, where romance, inner renewal and mindful presence unfold with ease.
From 10 to 14 February 2026, the resort presents a refined Valentine’s programme designed for couples seeking meaningful connection and timeless romance. Central to the celebration is destination dining on a private sandbank, where an exclusive Valentine’s dinner is served on a secluded stretch of white sand, surrounded by the Indian Ocean. Beneath the stars and by candlelight, couples are invited to savour a carefully curated menu in an atmosphere of quiet intimacy.
Romance is further elevated at Madi Hiyaa, the resort’s Japanese restaurant, with a specially crafted four-course Valentine’s menu. The experience begins with a rose-inspired sparkling welcome cocktail, setting an elegant tone for the evening. At Naiboli Bar, candlelit tables, subtle Valentine’s touches and live music create an unhurried evening by the sea, allowing guests to linger and connect.
On 14 February, couples may deepen their celebration at the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa through the Romantic Spa Retreat, a 120-minute experience designed for reconnection. Guests may choose between Sunrise Nourished or Sunset Relief, each combining a signature body healer, a full-body massage and a mini facial, complemented by light refreshments enjoyed in the privacy of the spa pavilion.
Throughout February, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru also offers the “From Stress to Stillness” wellbeing journey, inviting guests to restore balance through a personalised consultation and a thoughtfully curated programme that includes Auricular Therapy, Counter Tech Move rituals and Yogic Sleep (Yoga Nidra). Rooted in understated elegance and a holistic philosophy of wellbeing, the month becomes an invitation to celebrate love while fostering calm, reflection and mindful presence.
Valentine’s celebrations extend to Dhawa Ihuru, where couples are invited to mark the occasion through relaxed moments by the sea. On 14 February 2026, guests are welcomed at Velavani Bar with a rose sparkling Valentine’s drink before continuing the evening at Riveli Restaurant, where a special Valentine’s sweet corner adds a romantic highlight to the dining experience. Throughout the month, guests may also unwind at 8lements Spa, where soothing treatments encourage relaxation, balance and quiet renewal, complementing the spirit of the season.
Excursions
Manta season experience returns as InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau announces 2026 retreat
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced the dates for its 2026 Manta Retreat, following the programme’s strong reception in recent years. The retreat will take place from 24 to 27 March 2026, coinciding with the Maamunagau manta season, when juvenile manta rays are commonly sighted in the resort’s lagoon just offshore.
The resort will once again partner with The Manta Trust, one of the world’s leading manta ray research organisations, to co-host the retreat and offer guests an immersive, educational experience centred on marine conservation. The programme is designed for travellers seeking purpose-led experiences and a deeper understanding of manta rays within their natural environment.
Located on the edge of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and adjacent to a known juvenile manta ray aggregation site, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau provides direct access to key research and observation areas. During the retreat, guests will be able to participate in guided reef snorkelling, manta excursions led by The Manta Trust, coral restoration and planting workshops, and a series of educational sessions. Participants will also have the opportunity to adopt and name a manta ray as part of the conservation initiative.
The partnership between InterContinental Maldives and The Manta Trust has been in place since 2019. The retreat will be led by The Manta Trust’s base leader, Meral Hafeez, who will guide guests through manta ray encounters while sharing insight into the organisation’s ongoing research and conservation efforts in the surrounding waters. The programme offers participants a behind-the-scenes look at the daily work of the research team, including observing and recording manta ray behaviour.
In 2023, Maamunagau Lagoon was recognised as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), identifying it as a vital habitat for manta rays and a priority conservation site. The lagoon continues to serve as a key research area for The Manta Trust, allowing guests to observe manta rays in their natural environment within close proximity to the resort. Certified divers are also catered for, with access to dedicated dive sites where manta ray cleaning stations can be observed, highlighting the complex marine ecosystems of the Maldives.
Beyond the retreat activities, guests can enjoy the resort’s overwater villas, unwind at AVI Spa, or explore its range of dining experiences.
The participation fee for the Manta Retreat is USD 1,550++ per night, per room, based on double occupancy, with a minimum stay of four nights. The package includes one manta ray research trip, guided house reef snorkelling, manta ray adoption, educational workshops, and accommodation in a luxury villa or residence on a half-board basis.
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