Food
Heritance Aarah: Dive into Maldives’ iconic floating breakfast trend

Heritance Aarah, a premier all-inclusive resort nestled in the Raa Atoll, a 40-minute scenic seaplane ride away from Male, offers an exceptional blend of opulence and tranquility. As a top-tier destination, it caters to those seeking a refined and peaceful retreat. Among its many distinguished culinary experiences, the floating breakfast stands out as a truly unique and indulgent way to begin your day.
Imagine starting your morning by lounging in your in-suite private lap pool, basking in the first rays of sunlight, while enjoying a breakfast spread that feels truly special. At Heritance Aarah, the floating breakfast experience pairs gourmet delights crafted by Culinary Olympians and award-winning culinary artists, coupled with stunning views, creating an immersive and serene way to enjoy your meal.
The American Floating Breakfast: A Hearty Start
For those who enjoy a traditional American breakfast, the American Floating Breakfast offers a delightful start to your day. Begin with a choice of freshly squeezed juices pineapple, orange, mixed fruit, or watermelon. Enjoy freshly baked viennoiseries and a charcuterie platter featuring assorted cheeses. Choose from a variety of cereals with almond or fresh milk, and select from a range of eggs, including omellets or fried eggs, paired with your choice of sausage and bacon. The breakfast also includes three slices of toast rye, sourdough, white, or multigrain served with butter, jams, and honey. Treat yourself to waffles topped with maple syrup, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, nuts, and berry compote. Complete your meal with freshly brewed coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. For an extra touch, a bottle of Champagne can be added to elevate the experience.
The Healthy Floating Breakfast: Nourishing Delights
For a lighter, health-conscious option, the Healthy Floating Breakfast offers a refreshing start to your day. Sip on invigorating fruit smoothies in banana, mango, or berry flavours, while enjoying a baker’s basket of chocolate croissants, fruit danish, and toast. Delight in Swiss muesli served with orange, banana, honey, and dried fruit. Indulge in smoked salmon accompanied by guacamole and capers or savour the classic Egg Benedict with poached eggs and chicken ham. Pancakes with berry coulis, whipped cream, and roasted nuts round out this wholesome breakfast. Enjoy freshly brewed coffee or hot chocolate, and if desired, add a bottle of Bollinger Champagne for a special touch.
The Sri Lankan Floating Breakfast: A Taste of Tradition
Embark on a flavourful journey with the Sri Lankan Floating Breakfast, celebrating authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. Start with young coconut and green herbal porridge (known as kola kenda) sweetened with jaggery. Enjoy traditional coconut roti or milk rice accompanied by fish ambulthiyal, dhal curry, seeni sambal, katta sambal, and pol sambal. A tempered boiled chickpea served in a half coconut shell adds an authentic touch. Relish coconut pancakes drizzled with kithul treacle, and finish with freshly carved tropical fruits. Complement your meal with tea, either with milk or plain ginger tea, and experience the essence of Sri Lanka in a serene floating setting.
The Russian Floating Breakfast: A Gourmet Journey
Immerse yourself in Russian culinary traditions with the Russian Floating Breakfast. Start with buckwheat porridge and a selection of fresh juices. Choose from poached, omelet, or fried eggs, paired with your choice of chicken or beef sausages and bacon. Enjoy rosti potatoes and rye bread topped with smoked salmon open sandwiches garnished with pickles, avocado, tomato, and jalapeno. Fresh fruit and pancakes with chocolate sauce complete this indulgent breakfast. Sip on tea or coffee while floating serenely over tranquil waters.
The Chinese Floating Breakfast: A Culinary Voyage
Experience the rich flavours of China with the Chinese Floating Breakfast. Begin with a selection of fresh juices and rice kanji, flavoured with soya sauce, Chinese black vinegar, spring onion, prawns, and fish. Delight in assorted dim sum with chili soya and sweet chili sauce and choose from fried or boiled eggs. Savour stir-fry egg noodles, sausages, bacon, and hash brown potatoes. Fresh fruits and a choice of tea or coffee add the final touches to this delightful floating breakfast, offering a charming culinary journey in a tranquil water setting.
The Indian Floating Breakfast: Spices and Flavors to Begin Your Day
For a vibrant and flavourful experience, the Indian Floating Breakfast offers a rich array of traditional dishes. Enjoy a mint sweet lassi alongside a selection of fresh juices. Indulge in dosas, poori, aloo paratha, and upma, complemented by sambar, aloo bhaji, red and green chutneys, coconut chutney, curd, pickle, and chili & onion. Fresh fruits and Indian masala tea complete this aromatic breakfast, providing an immersive culinary experience while you float serenely on the water.
In addition to its remarkable floating breakfast experiences, Heritance Aarah offers a diverse culinary experience. The resort boasts seven diverse restaurants and five bars, each offering a unique culinary experience. The resort’s all-day dine-around concept makes it the ultimate culinary destination in the Maldives. Guests can embark on a gastronomic journey with an extensive selection of global cuisines, from Asian delicacies and fusion dishes blending Sri Lankan and Maldivian flavors to vibrant street food from Tokyo and Bangkok, and sophisticated Mediterranean and French-inspired fare. This diverse offering is complemented by a premium collection of over 30 unique cocktails at each bar and over 80 premium spirits, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable dining experience throughout your stay.
Awards
Maldives secures spot in Condé Nast Traveller’s top 10 countries for food

The Maldives has been ranked among the Top 10 Countries for Food in the World in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025, securing the 10th position with a score of 94.55.
The prestigious annual list, curated from thousands of reader votes worldwide, celebrates destinations that have delighted travellers with their culinary offerings and dining experiences. This year’s results highlight the Maldives’ growing global reputation not only as a luxury holiday destination, but also as a rising culinary powerhouse.
Condé Nast Traveller writes: “The Maldives is abundant with dreamy island resorts, all of which have their own even dreamier restaurants. It’s not every day that you glide straight onto the supper table, but at Soneva Fushi, your journey to its treetop private dining space involves a breathtaking, 200-metre zipline. Plus, with most of the gorgeous Maldives hotels offering extensive all-inclusive packages, there’s never a moment spare to go hungry. Scattered across almost 1,200 beautiful coral islands, the Maldives is a master of all things seafood, so expect the catch of the day to make an appearance in breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. Don’t worry if a tuna flatbread doesn’t excite your morning taste buds either, as the myriad of coconut, mango, and papaya trees here make a wonderful fruit salad too.”
The recognition places the Maldives alongside globally celebrated culinary destinations such as Italy, Japan, and France, reaffirming its unique appeal where world-class dining meets unparalleled natural beauty. From underwater restaurants and treetop tables to island-inspired tasting menus, Maldivian resorts continue to innovate in gastronomy — blending international techniques with local ingredients such as reef fish, coconut, and tropical fruits.
Resorts such as The Nautilus Maldives, Soneva Fushi, JOALI Maldives, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, and Velaa Private Island have become synonymous with exceptional dining experiences that redefine island cuisine. Many of these properties feature Michelin-starred collaborations, sustainable sourcing practices, and culinary concepts that celebrate both global diversity and Maldivian heritage.
The Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards remain one of the most respected benchmarks of excellence in the travel industry, reflecting the opinions of discerning travellers around the world.
The full list of Best Countries for Food in the World 2025 can be found on Condé Nast Traveller’s official website.
Cooking
Atmosphere Kanifushi concludes Just Veg Festival with media showcase, culinary celebrations

Atmosphere Kanifushi recently wrapped up the fifth edition of its much-anticipated Just Veg Festival, a bold celebration of plant-based gastronomy led by acclaimed Italian Chef Fabrizio Marino. Held from 3rd to 9th October, the week-long festival attracted international media from Spain, India, the GCC, and Italy, who experienced the resort’s unique blend of culinary creativity, wellness, and adventure.

“Plant-based cuisine is not just a trend. It’s a way to create vibrant, memorable experiences that nourish both body and soul. At Atmosphere Kanifushi, we have the perfect canvas to innovate and inspire guests with bold flavours and thoughtful dishes,” said Chef Fabrizio Marino.

The visiting journalists enjoyed a curated experience featuring a plant-based cooking session with Chef Fabrizio, specialty dinners, rejuvenating treatments at ESSENS Wellness and Spa, and exciting island activities, all culminating in a gala dinner at the ‘JUST VEG’ restaurant, the first vegetarian restaurant in the Maldives hosted by Chef Fabrizio. The festival also introduced new plant-based dishes to the menu, which were met with enthusiasm and are poised to become guest favourites.

“At Atmosphere Kanifushi, we believe that true hospitality goes beyond beautiful surroundings. It’s about creating moments of genuine warmth and connection. Events like the Just Veg Festival allow us to showcase not just our culinary creativity, but the heartfelt service that defines every guest experience. Our dedicated team takes pride in delivering world-class hospitality with care and authenticity, ensuring each guest feels truly at home. It’s this spirit that continues to set us apart and keeps our guests returning year after year,” said Sanjay Rajiv, Resort Manager at Atmosphere Kanifushi.


Celebrating its fifth year, the Just Veg Festival has become a standout event on the global culinary calendar, reinforcing Atmosphere Kanifushi’s position as a pioneer of experiential luxury and sustainable dining in the Maldives.
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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